GALLERY: Magic and Art Take Over Veterans Park

The Limerick Township Parks and Recreation department hosted a sundaes in the park event tonight with a magician and art show. Under the pavilion in was where you could find ice cream served up by Continental Bank.

After the sundaes, everyone went inside to watch Sam Sandler, the only deaf illusionist in America, perform his act. Sam is an illusionist and a magician who went completely deaf two years ago. Facing this was one of the hardest struggles he has ever endured, and it really made him question if he should continue with magic.

"When I lost my hearing two years ago, it changed everything for me. I had to relearn my entire show," said Sandler. "I’ve been performing for the last 20 years hearing, and all of a sudden, being deaf, I can’t hear my music and I can’t hear my cues."

He explained during his show that he knew where he was supposed to be and what he should be doing based on the vibrations coming from a single speaker facing him. Sandler created a new show called "Silent Magic."

"One thing I noticed when losing my hearing was I was frustrated, upset and angry, but I turned that around," Sandler said. "I had two choices in life: I could get upset or I could move forward. So, I put together a show and go to schools and teach about deafness and deaf culture. But more importantly, when you believe in yourself and work hard, you truly can accomplish anything because you will discover that the magic is within each and every one of us."

Karen Hegedus, parks and recreation director, loves the response they get from doing things like this.

"Doing parks and recreation, it’s been great," Karen said. "We were working with families and community events like summer camps, sports camps and camps trips. The community has actually welcomed us very well and it’s been four years with the department and we have lots of new ideas. I love it and it’s been great."