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Community Corner

New Blood Needed – Not Vampires, Volunteers

The day after the Old Home Days festival, volunteers were working hard to tear booths down and clean up.

What most people forget is that all the work that goes into the year-long planning, setting up and taking down of the equipment, booths, dance floor, etc. for Old Home Days, is done by volunteers. One would think there were hundreds of helpers behind the scenes of this spectacular three-day fair. Unfortunately, that is not the case. A small cadre of less than 20 volunteers worked all year to bring the community this festival.

One of the reasons they get so much accomplished is that each person on the committee has their own tasks to perform.

President Jim Vick had the responsibility of securing all the entertainment.

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“I have to get eight entertainment acts," Vick said. "This year instead of a band on Thursday night, we had a magician. It was a good decision. The kids loved him.”

The money raised from this year’s Old Home Days will pay for next year’s event and Nancy Ninesling as treasurer for the association keeps all records straight, with the assistance of Shelley Gredeinski. Keeping records of what goes on at the meetings is the responsibility of Jennifer Collingwood.

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“This is a thankless job but Jennifer does it great,” Vick said.

Sue Berescik maintains the web site and does all the press releases and ads.

“I’ve been on the Old Home Days Committee for at least 25 years," Janet Cook said. "The last few years I’ve been selling souvenirs. We definitely need some more volunteers.“

Said Vick, “Stephen Kelly helps us out wherever we need him. Pam Joslyn, with Mattie Walton’s help, takes care of food booths and books vendor booths.”

As the MC for the parade, Red McKinney makes each unit of the parade that comes by the viewing stand feel special. He also takes care of the donor mailing effort for the committee.

Stanley Michnowicz is in charge of the soda booth with Neil Alan’s help. Non-committee volunteers Mary, Marlo and Dwight are always counted on to work at the soda booth.

Sheila Oakes has been in charge of the Glorious Gallop Road Race for many years. Russ Oakes, with Sheila’s help, puts together the biggest parade in Middlesex County.

Linda May, with help from Ann White Sullivan, handles the raffle, which includes getting all the prizes. This is an important fundraiser for the organization.

Lynda Krasnitski and Art Marsden are accountable for there being 60 bicycles available at the fair to give away. Melissa Engel books the carnival and takes care of all issues to do with the grounds.

A few volunteers not on the committee help during the event. Steve Banning assembles the dance floor. Danny Cook and Doug Bevin jump in wherever they are needed.

 “Old Home Days Association is a very small group of dedicated people, many of whom have been doing this for years and years. We need more people. We need new blood to help us put on this big party for the town,” Vick said. “The vast majority of people are supportive. It’s a great community. For those that have complaints, we invite them to come and join the committee and make changes from the inside out.”

For the Old Home Days Association, it is time to start planning for next year.

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