If you didn't make it out to the Goose Creek Island Fall Festival and Halloween event this weekend, you certainly missed a treat. With the help of volunteers and a some creative geniuses, a group came together and produced a successful event for our Island. Proceeds from the event benefitted the Community Center, the Fire Department and for future events.
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| photo by Jordan Hopkins |
Me and Joe were so humbled and inspired by the outpouring of community spirit when we arrived to support the event. Hot dogs, chili boats, popcorn, kids running around, games, sweets, friends and family fellowship and an overall sense of goodwill were evident in the atmosphere. By the way, Joe said they were the best hot dogs he's ever ate!
Many of us remarked about the past Haunted House and Halloween events - boy if the kids today could have been around 40 years ago! We also reminisced about the camaraderie and service of that special Island group called the Tidewater Ruritan Club and how those members supported so many community service projects in our community. But most importantly, the conversations turned to, "we need more of this on the Island."
Friends, the wheels are turning. In order for a community to survive we have to support its needs. Whether it is putting together a community event such as the Fall Festival or even doing a road-side cleanup, community fellowship, goodwill, and spirit is essential for a community's survival. Let's face it, our community leaders are not getting any younger and their fine example of community service exemplifies so much of our Island spirit. Us younger folks have to step up and keep the torch going.
50 years ago, the Tidewater Ruritan Club was formed with over 40 charter members from our Island. Their commitment to supporting our Island was phenomenal. They charted the course in providing for the needs of the community as a whole. They maintained and kept the Hobucken School available for a wide variety of events, promoted and fund-raised to build our Volunteer Fire Department, and were a driving force behind our Annual Island Homecoming Event. They were also stewards to benevolent causes on the Island as well as assisting whatever need that involved community.
I'm putting it out there and will be willing to help, organize, or even promote - we need to re-establish the vision and mission of the former Ruritan Club in forming a civic organization. By coming together as a community voice, we can help support the Goose Creek Island Community Development Association in maintaining the Community Center. We can step forward and help the Volunteer Fire Department with fundraisers. We can come together and begin planning our 150th or Sesquicentennial Celebration in 2024. We've got many cemeteries that need volunteer clean-ups. We've also got a 120 year old church that needs a helping hand with a few maintenance projects. And we all know, come February we will need to clean-up our roadways after hunting season.
If you are interested in keeping this past Saturday nights community spirit alive, let's talk!
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! to those who made it happen Saturday night! It was wonderful and we look so forward to more in the future!
PS - Save The Date! Santa and Mrs. Claus is coming to Goose Creek Island December 17th.
