Annual Picnic Newsletter

Post date: Jul 31, 2019 3:11:49 PM

2019 Annual Picnic Newsletter

Dear Friends and Neighbors, sure hope you were able to attend the picnic and boat parade this year. As a matter of fact, the attendance was over the top….400-500 people, which indicates that this annual event is really getting good reviews resulting in a larger group every year. It’s great that our community is coming together at a fun-filled family event.

The Boat Parade had 9 participants this year.

Third Place was awarded to:

The Maid of the Mist

Second place was won by:

Bubble Bath

And taking First Place this year!

The Quack Pack

Congratulations to Mary Boyle and her family!

We tried a new idea of having the meal catered this year by the popular and highly recommended “Angry Sandwich”. The pulled pork and Italian sausage with pepper and onions, seasoned potatoes, baked beans, homemade coleslaw and refreshing garden salad were great. Last year the volunteers cooked 485 brauts and 350 Koegels, 5 cakes and we had way too much food. However, and this is a good thing, the word is getting out and we have more homeowners than ever joining the picnic. We had 500 people this year! Fifty, yep, 50% of our volunteers were new people who wanted to participate! This is an amazing community!

From those who were there at 8 am putting tables, chairs, and tents together, to serving tables, serving racks, table covers, drinks and on and on. Thank you to new volunteers, Terry and Michelle Bome for bringing the 6 cases water and making sure the water, lemonade, and ice teas were ’iced’ all afternoon! Arnold and Debra Chema stored and iced 2 of the large coolers of iced tea and lemonade and brought them ready to serve. Noelle and Tim once again bringing and hanging balloons and decorations. Sara’s family and AJ doing table covers, and candy. Arnold Chema brought his covered trailer with all the necessities from the pole barn inside (his kids helped pack the trailer the night before, thank you!) We were able to pull out items as needed….really helpful when the rain began! John and Linda Bovair again picked up and delivered three fresh delicious sheet cakes with strawberry filling from Family Fare. Jackie carefully cut and tried to serve them to twice the amount of people we had last year! A new resident introduced herself, Chris Korycki, and said “I’m new here, I want to meet people, I want to help, put me to work!” And we all laughed as she announced: “get your hot dogs here!” Our volunteer servers were organized and fun (don’t know what I’d do without your cool, calm organizational demeanor, Jackie!). Linda Bovair, Eugene D’Andrea, Pat Loewen and her sweet niece, Elizabeth, Sandy Fauser, Debra Chema, Noelle, and Tim Mutter and AJ too, Sue Williams, Jackie Hillman, Gayla Houser, Lee Ricelli and Terry and Gayle Vesco. Terry volunteered to run out a few times for more ‘dogs’ (cooked them at home!) and buns and finally again for 10 pepperoni pizzas from Hungry Howies. Wow, what a guy! You were all amazing!

And once again ‘Punk’ Gary and Cindy Kochensparger led the parade with good ole USA music and made announcements of events during the afternoon. Jim and Sandy Fauser signed up the boat parade participants. Laura Lisiscki was busy taking pictures and Sara Roberts kids were busy selling koozies. Frank Wilczewski and John Kelmer were keeping things hot at the grill. And Basil the Clown ‘Pappy’ was at his best this year…kids and adults were clamoring around for balloon animals as well as his magic. Sweet Treats Ice Cream had quite a line of young and “old” waiting for their favorite ice cold treat!

Noelle and Tim Mutter still had energy left early Sunday to suggest we go to the pole barn to clean and organize. John and Jan Kelmer, Sara and Tom Roberts and family, Arnold and Debra Chema, as well as Frank and I, unpacked, reorganized, and cleaned for next year. All done in less than an hour! Her energy and enthusiasm are amazing!

All said and done….looking around the people with smiles on their faces Arnold Chema said it made the work worth it. We thank you for all the compliments many of you gave to us that day. It’s always great to hear when people appreciate the effort! However, this size of the event could never be pulled off without the help of our FANTASTIC VOLUNTEERS

Have a great summer one and all. Be safe Be kind….