Linneus Field Day is a hit

Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
PARADE ENTRY — The Desrosiers family of Linneus entered a family float into last Saturday’s Linneus Field Day parade. The Desrosiers held to the patriotic theme.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    LINNEUS — Last Saturday, Route 2A was lined with parade watchers, as the Linneus Field Day kicked off. The parade had a good turnout of entries, with many dressed in the red, white and blue to celebrate their patriotic community spirit.
    Prizes were presented after the parade to several float entries.
    After the parade, the grills were lit for the community barbecue. Chefs Rob and George Brown, along with Shawn Campbell cooked up chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs to go along with a variety of salads, which residents supplied.
    “The food was wonderful,” said Mike Lane, Linneus recreation director. “We had plenty. It was awesome.”
    The Linneus Recreation Department sponsored the one-day celebration, which drew more than 340 people, including some from the surrounding area, as well as a lady from Romania.
    Linneus has a population of around 800 residents.
    “We were extremely pleased,” said Lane. “We were just elated [with the number that came out].”
    The first Field Day was held in 1991 as a way for the community to get together and show its community spirit. That same feeling was recreated on Saturday.
     The celebration was held annually until its last year in 2003.
    “It actually worked out a lot better than we expected for the first year of starting it up again,” said Lane. “It was as good as any year we’ve had in the past.”
    The day was set up for the young and old alike. Children’s game were played, a bouncy house was set up, Linneus Fire Department crew let children try on their gear and pull the fire truck’s horn, which had plenty of attention as it blared.
    For the older population, it was a time to socialize and watch a couple of fun activities such as Houlton’s Cameron Clark doing his juggling act to the ever-popular dunk tank.
    Clark performed his juggling with knives, bowling pins and of course, fire batons.
    The first “victim” in the dunk tank was Tony Brown, who taunted the wrong thrower, as Donnie Scott hit the lever and down Brown went. But, Brown came up smiling. He hopped back up on the seat and began his playful teasing to others, including the youth whose jaws became set and serious to adults like Mary Irish, who made the motion of spitting on her fingers and rubbing the ball before letting it go.
    The bouncy house was well used by children of all ages and the children’s games were a big hit for the younger ones.
    “We had to herd the kids out because they didn’t want to leave because they were having so much fun,” added Lane.
    As people were leaving, Lane noted, many were very appreciative for the effort.
    “A lot of people helped,” he said. “A lot of older folk came out to watch and play. They were thrilled. As they were leaving many said ‘thank you.’”
    Hoping to make this once again a yearly event, Lane believes it may just happen.
    “The rec, as a whole, was pleased,” he said. “All the board members were happy.”
    During the parade it was overcast, with a drop of rain, but the day cleared to a warm, sunny afternoon.
    “It was a rousing success,” Lane said. “It was just lots of fun.”

Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin PRETTY AS A PICTURE — Emma Folsom waves to the crowd as she goes by donned in patriotic colors and sporting flowers, stars and flags, as she is pulled in her cart down the parade route by her mother, Crystal.	Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin HAVING FUN — Youth on a parade float wave to the crowd and have a good time riding in the parade during last Saturday’s Linneus Family Field Day event.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin GET IN THE SPIRIT — Fran Hutchinson, left, former Linneus Town Manager and now town treasurer, and her sister, Marie Peabody get in the spirit of Linneus Family Field Day with their very own fireman hats.	Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin SMILING — Amelia Scott smiles ear-to-ear as she rides on her family’s float in the Linneus Family Field Day parade last Saturday. The float was sponsored by Scott’s Tree Farm.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin COOKS — Cooks, left, Rob and George Brown make adjustments to the grill during last Saturday’s community barbecue for the Linneus Family Field Day celebration.	Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin A BIT BIG — Linneus Fire Department firefighter Brent Estabrook helps a young lady put on firemen’s gear. The fire department was part of the Linneus Family Field Day celebration.
	Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin SHARE A LAUGH — Tina Brown, left, serves up barbecue chicken with a smile during last Saturday’s Linneus Family Field Day celebration.