Once again, I attended the annual Rossburg Ice Cream Social on Saturday night. I did as a teenager and now do it with my son Jamie who truly enjoys it as well.
And, this year’s event didn’t sway our expectations.
We enjoyed the chicken dinner that was served and played as much bingo as we could.
Didn’t always win but we met a lot of people.
Like I said, I’ve been going to it for years. Grandpa and Grandma Moody and Aunt D’Arleen Waymire and her husband, Uncle J.C., all lived there for a number of years and sometimes Rossburg was a second home to us especially in the summertime.
They are all gone now, so we have no relatives living in the village of Rossburg for the time being, but, that wouldn’t stop me from going to this festival as long as I am able.
This social is always held the first Saturday in June of each year. This is its 67th year and people, just like us, head for the social every year, even when COVID hit. Fire Chief Rob Widener reminded that they still held the social in 2020 during that time only via a drive-thru and I’m pretty sure we participated in that….with masks and all.
I am glad they did it that way so the festival would always be special.
The fire chief was asked about what he thought of this year’s attendance and he replied, “I’d say we had 400 easy. It was a very big crowd.”
He also said that all 660 chicken dinners were sold and noted that this year they even sold out of ice cream.
“We had to set up extra tables this year where the chicken dinners were sold and some people still went over to the bingo area and ate their chicken dinners on the tables there,” Widener said.
Bill Roll, a local auctioneer, returned this year to auction off the 21 pies that were made specifically for the auction.
“The top bid was $260 for a peach pie,” Rob said.
The profit from this auction, of course, goes back into the fire department’s fund.
This event is always centered around families and activities are available to all ages. That’s what makes it so popular I am sure.
There is a room in the firehouse where the children have games to play for prizes and it also featured the annual cake walk.
Of course, elsewhere, there are the adult games such as the Queen of Hearts, a raffle drawing and the giveaway of a $500 in cash to a lucky recipient.
Dalton Horne served as a deejay with sound provided by Troy Kammer’s Darke Thunder Entertainment.
The kiddie tractor pull went on as planned but the rain that fell a little later kept the outside extrication exhibition and dunk tank activities from happening.
Yes, you never know what kind of weather is going to occur during the Rossburg Ice Cream Social. It rained quite a few times in the early days as well and I remember splashing through puddles when crossing the street to get to where the action was. Yet it was still fun.
It’s a place to reunite with old friends and a great opportunity to meet new ones.
Thanks to the fire crew for entertaining us once again!
*****
Jamie and I extend our condolences to the families and friends of Elaine Holzpafel, Sharon Goffena Treon, Terry Richhart, Russ Royer, Larry Linder, Donald Rieman, Dorothy Westfall, Frank Wheelock and John D. Schwabenland.
*****
Seeking prayers for these people: Justin Fritz, Lisa Lockhart, Renee Kreitzer McGhee, Jeremy “Jerm” Burke, Mike Hopkins, DeWayne Yohey, Katrina Hoening, Kent Snyder, (cousin) Carol Byrd, Kinley Bernard, Kathy Burke, Gladys Neff, Kara Didier, Carl Francis, Craig “Cheese” Thompson, Bridget Brown, Don DeBord, Otis Stewart, Chris Clark, Kyle Kaiser, Tina Ruble Ullery, Slug Midlam, Bob Peters, Phyllis Brumbaugh, Judy Collins, Linda Gasper, Carol Hemmerich, Stephanie Klingshirn, Brenda Schlechty, Betty Burnfield, Dan Lockhart, Roberta Hall, Pam Norman-Penticuff, Kelly Kelch, Mike Mayse, Steve Waymire, Jamie Knick, Nikole Baldridge, Chester Bryant, Lester Beisner, Delores Beisner, Kermit Foureman, Chuck “C.W.” Cruze, Mark Lovejoy.
Also, Judy York, Donald Booker, Dennis Leeper, Connie Stachler, Randy Heck, Ronnie Norton, Gary Eichler, David Pretzman, Clinton Randall, Ralph Byrd, Doug Winger, Sonja and Dan Coppess, Bruce Kaiser, Amanda Mote, Paul Gigandet, Doug Whittington, Tracy Pratt, John Rimmer, Joan Keen, Larry P. Fitzwater, Jim Thomas, Neal Gray, Judie Hathaway, Randy Garrison, Kathy Gragorace, Becky Everhart, Donna Bixler, Cathy Melling, Scott Clark, and all others who are suffering from other life-altering illnesses.
******
Happy birthday to:
June 6 to Taunya Buxton, Beth Cottrell Cooley and Lillian Hunt.
June 7 to Eli Meyer, Johnny Brandt, Dr. Thomas Brown of Family Health, Joey Thobe, Betty McKenna and Chris Clark.
June 8 to Tracy Luce, Jared Faller, Ashley McEldonwey, Ginny Towne Cox, Slug Midlam and Jodi Bennett.
June 9 to Cynthia Downey, Susan Harbison, Velma Campbell, Terry Stammen, Deloris Miller and Peggy Hollingsworth.
June 10 to Martha Duncan, Teresa Clark Cromes, Kathy McGlinch Dapore and Amy Aukerman Stump, Michelle Young, Becky Everhart, Kathy McNutt Dapore and Jeremy Giesseman.
June 11 to Rick Campbell, Phil Lawson, Al Greiner, Jennifer Beam Plessinger and James Miller.
June 12 to Rhonda Enicks Werner, Michele Smith and Michelle Gibbs Dale.
Happy anniversary to: Phil and Roberta Crawford on June 9; Darrel and Erin Jones on June 11; and Marilyn and Galen Wetzel on June 12.
******
Think about it: “Don’t ever think it can’t happen to you.” –Author Unknown
