Their time to shine

ATHOL - As a wet, but grinning Anthony Brown walked off the Thunder Canyon ride at Silverwood Theme Park, he shouted out one word.

"Hallelujah."

His mom, Amanda Brown of Spokane, greeted her 13-year-old, who quickly began talking about finding another ride just like it. He became slightly agitated when his mom and another person couldn't say for sure where that ride might be.

For a moment, the teen was frustrated. He clenched his hands, grimaced, gritted his teeth and spun around.

On another night, at another place, people might have stopped and stared and wondered what was going on.

Not on "Night of the Stars."

Not at Silverwood Theme Park.

"There's a different level of understanding of all the people here. Everybody here has someone who is special needs," Brown said. "When you first look at my son you see a normal 13-year-old-child, and you don't realize he's developmentally delayed. So he may say or do or act slightly in a way that most people would think is inappropriate," she said.

Friday, Anthony fit right in and was having a ball.

"If it wasn't for the Night of the Stars, I would probably not be able to come out here with my son," Amanda Brown said. "You don't have normal parents staring at you like, 'What's wrong with your child.' Everyone just keeps smiling, keeps on going, like nothing is going on, which is fantastic."

More than 5,000 kids and adults, an all-time record, attended the 23rd annual event which offered free admission to anyone physically or mentally disabled as well as anyone diagnosed with a terminal illness. Each of the "stars" could bring one guest at no charge. Silverwood provided free meals, as well.

"It's going to be a great evening," said Nancy DiGiammarco, Silverwood spokeswoman.

She said the park's owner, Gary Norton, started the event when the park first opened.

"This is kind of his passion," she said.

General Manager Paul Norton said it was one of his favorite nights to work.

"This is what it's all about," he said. "It's our gift."

So on a cool, cloudy night, the stars took charge at Silverwood.

There were boys with Down syndrome, girls with cancer, men and women in wheelchairs, and seniors with Alzheimer's led gently by their caregivers.

Some walked, some ran, some laughed and smiled and pointed at the rides they wanted to try like the Roundup, the Scrambler, the Log Flume and yes, even Timber Terror.

Caregiver Jim Hoggatt was watching after a young boy who came sprinting up, excited, after trying the Roundup.

"How do we get to the log ride," he asked breathlessly.

Hoggatt smiled as the boy looked around.

"It's a great thing," he said of Night of the Stars. "There are kids here who wouldn't ordinarily get to come, and they don't have to worry about regular general population coming, bullies pushing them out of the way. It's a good deal."

DiGiammarco said it was a thrill just to stand on the sidewalk inside the park and watch people's faces as they walked by en route to the carnival area.

"They don't have to worry about anything," she said. "They come, they have fun, just play in the park."

She was in her office looking out the window as the crowd wandered in Friday, and saw a small boy with his father. The boy had no hair, and wore a small cap.

A few tears fell.

"You knew that he was dealing with something very difficult in his life," DiGiammarco said. "It makes you feel good you can do something that's going to make him happy."