Friday Afternoon at the Fall Festival

Sponsors of the McLeansboro Fall Festival–THANK YOU!

I had a great time Friday at the McLeansboro Fall Festival and I know I wasn’t alone as there was a huge turnout for the various happenings and goings-on including the Little Miss Fall Festival Contest and the great  music of The Van-Dells.

 

I started off the day by visiting the McCoy Memorial Library book sale where there were tables piled high with books on all subjects and novels too at prices that couldn’t be beat, and I had a very nice chat with the gals out front as well as Librarian Mrs. Drake. I probably talked their ears off but I hope they didn’t mind too much. You know, in this day and age the library is the best value going. Books at a regular bookstore can cost a fortune and at the library you get free access to books and other materials like magazines, DVDs, and  newspapers, and if the library doesn’t have what you want, they can usually order it for you. A love of reading starts early so I’m encouraging all mothers and fathers to get their children a library card. McLeansboro is so blessed with a great library and library staff as well who do everything they can to help you. Let’s get those young minds reading and learning and take advantage of a city treasure that any other town would give their eyeteeth for.

  

Next on my agenda was a casual walk around the courtyard where I ran into some old friends from way back. I have to admit it’s hard for me to recognize people sometimes but it seemed my friends have no trouble placing me. As I waited for some of the food stands to open I happened to wander by a booth where local authors Robert Meyer and Viva Richerson were talking literature and local lore. Robert and Viva have a new book out called Are You Really Alone After Midnight ? , a collection of short stories about various things that go bump in the night. I really enjoyed talking to these two. Robert grew up locally and Viva is from Kansas so it was a lot of fun getting her perspective on McLeansboro. If you’d like to get a copy of their new book and didn’t get a chance to get one at the Fall Festival, you can email them at frosty@mvn.net  to order one or go to their publisher’s website: www.publishamerica.com and enter their book title in the search box. There’s even a place to leave a review after you’ve read the book. Robert and Viva are going to do some book signings in the region in the next few months so be sure to get a copy and get your book signed by two of McLeansboro’s up-and-coming authors. Later on then you can brag that you knew them when. 

 

 

    

 After walking around a bit more I stopped to have a chicken breast sandwich at the Rotary Club tent. They were doing a brisk business in ice cream and if I wasn’t in training for the next Olympics I probably would have had some. One of my fellow cross-country runners was working in the booth. If you go to my website Media page you might be able to guess who it was.

 

My next stop was at the dunking booth ran by The Turning Point Church Youth Group. I think several members had volunteered (or is that “was” volunteered) to take turns being a dunkee. When I was there Olivia Soltanipanah was good-naturedly egging on some boys to dunk her and despite the chilly weather I only saw her shiver once when a big cooler of ice was dumped into the tank.

 

Turning Point Youth Group Dunking Booth

 

Across from the dunking booth was a tent being manned by Dr. John Maurer and Professor Brian Sanders of the Hamilton County Martial Arts studio on the south side of the square. When I happened upon them it looked like several of Dr. Maurer’s students were loosening up and getting ready to break a few boards and demonstrate their prowess at self-defense. As many parents know, martial arts training is a very good way for children of all ages to get physically fit and learn  mental discipline. And it’s not a bad way for women to learn how to protect themselves too. Why not check into it ?

  

 

Well, folks, this post is running a little long and I still haven’t covered all of Friday. Check an upcoming post for coverage of the Little Miss Fall Festival contest, The Van-Dells and all of Saturday’s big events too.