Garrard County's Community Spirit Shines at Party on the Square August 10th

On behalf of the people of Garrard County, I would like thank all of you who joined us at the very successful Party on the Square this past Friday night. Each person’s energy added to the over-all excitement of the evening, helping to rekindle and reignite the “I Love Garrard County” spirit!

Nineteen groups, organizations, businesses and many individuals joined together to bring this party to you. … many coming up with their own ideas of something they could do for, share with, or give to the community. Each contributed to the whole… one part was not more important than another… and without any of them; the night would not have been the same…

I could give example after example of enthusiastic support, but for lack of space I would like to share with you the following:

Judge Executive John Wilson and Lancaster Mayor Don Rinthen have been fantastic in their support, right from the very beginning.

A few days before the party I went to the Christian Care Center to tell them about the party and to see if some of their patients might be able to come. When I was talking with Activities Director Melody Jones her eyes lit up and she said, “We can give away popcorn. We have a popcorn cart… we just got popcorn in today… we need to order more bags… let me check with my boss.” And guess what? On Friday night Jones showed up with her popcorn cart, set it up at the entrance to the “food court” and was so popular she said she would bring even more popcorn next time.

When Big John, with the Big John & Lil Rhonda Show (859-885-1653), heard that (his friend and M.C. for the evening) Melvin (and his wife Linda) Price’s business had burned and Price’s sound equipment with it, he called Price and arrangements were made to use Big John’s sound equipment. (Price said that several other friends also contacted him; volunteering the use of their equipment.)

One call to The Steppin’ Stones Dance Club of Harrodsburg and they were there… leading us in line dancing… and “breaking the ice” for others to just get up and dance.

At our first Party on the Square on June 1st, The Garrard County High School Band Boosters cooked hotdogs and band members served drinks. Belinda Vance, wife of band director Chris Vance, was helping to wrap hotdogs and came up with an idea. The Band Boosters could buy and give away lemonade at our next party… it was something they could afford to do… and it would be a way of saying thank you to the community for supporting the band.

And give away lemonade they did… gallons and gallons and gallons of it, in addition to ice water… all much appreciated by happy partygoers, served by band members and backed up by The Boosters. Along with serving drinks, they cooked the all-beef Ball Park franks for Farmers National Bank and pitched in with all of the clean-up…staying until everything was taken down and packed up.

Gary Sefcak, my husband of 39 years, has stood behind me all the way as we have worked together for The “I Love” Garrard County Beautification and Anti-Litter Awareness Campaign. Many have seen him out and about in his power chair taking pictures but probably don’t realize how much his years of managerial experience, generosity, heart and love for Garrard County have gone into the success of this campaign.

Our apologizes to those who didn’t get to eat… Having no idea how to plan, we bought 504 hotdogs, ice creams, etc. With such a fantastic response from the community, an estimated 800 people, we’ll know to buy more the next time The “I Love” Garrard County Beautification and Anti-Litter Awareness Campaign hosts a party on the square.

If you would like to receive e-mail notices of our future community events, send request to beautifygarrardcounty@yahoo.com.

Groups, organizations, businesses or individuals wishing to contribute in some way to the community events we are planning, please e-mail the above address.

Submitted by: Karla Sefcak, coordinator, “I Love” Garrard County Beautification and Anti-Litter Awareness Campaign.