Saturday, the people of Elsmore showed they might be little, but they can host a fine party.
People young and old, from near and far, came for the annual Elsmore Day celebration.
Main Street was the venue to shop the city-wide garage sale, watch the parade, pet some animals and share a homemade community lunch.
At 11 o’clock, clubs from all over the county lined up for the Elsmore Day parade in front of the community building.
Sheryl Wallis entertained the crowd by cracking jokes, talking to passersby and introducing the floats.
Wallis had the help of her little dog Molly Jo who “thought she should come along,” she said.
AMONG THE city-wide sales was a bake sale provided by the Elsmore Ruritan club.
“It is our 45th year as a club and our 43rd year participating in Elsmore Day,” club secretary Clara Cunningham said.
They were selling a variety of baked goods for a steal price. Cupcakes, carrot cake, corn bread and Rice Crispy Treats went for as little as 25 cents and no more than $4.
All the proceeds went back into the club for “community needs and scholarships,” chairman of concession stand Kay Lewis said.
The club gives scholarships to high school and college students and last year gave out $1,200, Lewis said.
Some of the community needs include a house burning down, a community member going to doctors, giving to the Allen County D.A.R.E program, dog and cat vaccination clinic, ice cream socials and donations to school functions, Cunningham said.
The club members’ attitude is similar to that of the town of Elsmore — little but mighty.
“We help in any way we can,” Lewis said. Cunningham added, “no wonder we are so tired.”
THE MARMATON Valley FFA club offered a petting zoo free to the public.
Dun, a quarter horse, was one of the animals there. He is 20 years old and Saturday was his first petting zoo.
“My brother usually rides him now because he is getting older,” said Trent Johnson, FFA member and Dun’s owner.
Johnson feeds Dun a bale of hay and a gallon of oats a day.
Also at the petting zoo was a rooster named CatDog, after the late 90s Nickelodeon cartoon show.
CatDog stayed calm in the arms of his owner Krystin Shaw as she visited with people.
“Chickens are the closest relatives to dinosaurs,” FFA member Megan Weiwes would say as people stopped by to pet the animals.
THRIVE ALLEN County set up a booth at the celebration where people could register early for the fourth annual Allen County Meltdown.
At the booth participants would be weighed in and given a folder full of essential Meltdown information, such as a list of rules, a calendar and a list of incentives.
“It is a live calendar so it can always change,” program director Damaris Kunkler said. “We are encouraging anyone who has anything going on to call the Thrive office.”
Kathy Ward and Helen LaRue were among the people stopping by and signing up for the eight-week, county-wide program.
“When I was listening to (the Thrive members) talking about the Meltdown I decided to join,” Ward said. “Kathy and I are going to try and get our Bible study group to join the program,” LaRue added.
Registration begins today and participants can register at the Thrive Allen County office at 2 E. Jackson St., Marmaton Valley High School and Terri’s Flower Shop in Humboldt.
