When life hands you lemons

Lessa’s last Lemonade Land

TOP SERVER: Head Waiter Brayden Blackmar, 6, waits on his father Derek and grandmother Jean Lamb. (SunRise photos by Steve Popiel)

Johnston SunRise photos by Steve Popiel

THE HOSTS: Teacher Mrs. Margaret Lessa, with greeters Isabella Horning, 5, and Sophia Joa, 6, pose for a photo outside the final Lessa’s Lemonade Land.

Johnston SunRise photos by Steve Popiel

THE CLASS: Above, Mrs. Margaret Lessa’s entire 23-kid class pitched in to the Last Lessa’s Lemonade Land effort on Thursday, June 6.

Johnston SunRise photos by Steve Popiel

TOP SERVER: Head Waiter Brayden Blackmar, 6, waits on his father Derek and grandmother Jean Lamb. He had to apply for his job before the big day.

Johnston SunRise photos by Steve Popiel

THE CLASS: Mrs. Margaret Lessa’s entire 23-kid class pitched in to the Last Lessa’s Lemonade Land effort on Thursday, June 6.

Johnston SunRise photos by Steve Popiel

ON TAP: Bartenders Julian Sanchez, Sophia Clapprood, and Lucas Orellana, served up the lemonade.

Johnston SunRise photos by Steve Popiel

THE CLASS: Above, Mrs. Margaret Lessa’s entire 23-kid class pitched in to the Last Lessa’s Lemonade Land effort on Thursday, June 6.

Johnston SunRise photos by Steve Popiel

HOT DOGS: Cook Julius Kheiv stands with teacher’s assistant Mrs. Rooney. They were tasked with cooking the day’s meal.

Johnston SunRise photos by Steve Popiel

TOP CUSTOMERS: Head Waiter Brayden Blackmar, 6, waits on his mother, Nicole Bucci, and grandmother, Jean Dagostino.

Johnston SunRise photos by Steve Popiel

Posted Wednesday, June 19, 2024 3:18 pm

By RORY SCHULER

The head waiter was young but efficient.

Brayden Blackmar, 6 and ½ years old, filled out his first job application with clear, bold letters.

Under “positive qualities about myself” the young job-seeker answered, “I am kind,” “nice” and “handsome.”

The Johnston kindergarten student had hoped to land a lucrative spot inside the last Lessa’s Lemonade Land. He picked “waiter” as his preferred position (“because I am kind and have good patience”), and busboy as his second choice (“because I am good at cleaning”).

Peggy Lessa has been a Kindergarten teacher in Johnston for 35 years. For 25 of those years, she’s held an annual event called Lessa’s Lemonade Land. She plans to retire at the end of this year, ending the annual life lesson-learning experience.

When the final Lemonade Land opened, Blackmar worked as its head waiter. The experience was bittersweet.