Springtime in Lulawissie

It is a fabulous time right now down here in Lulawissie. There has been a steady pattern of warm air, a few thunderstorms, and clear and warm sunny days. Spring is here at last! The town’s folks came out to Lakeshore Park this weekend to celebrate the season. There was the sound of children running and playing, kites were flying, and the air was full of the wonderful smell of barbecues blazing everywhere.

The local Boy Scout Troop brought out their canoes and paddled out to Fahy’s Island to hike around and came back with some great information about our Ivory Billed friends. Apparently they have spotted several nesting sites in the trees and they have taken some remarkable video footage of them with their cameras and cell phones. Our feathered friends are very elusive and it was very fortunate the boys were able to get such footage. A time will be announced in our local paper when the footage will be available for public viewing.

Our stern wheel Riverboat, the “Lulawissie Missy” will be kicking off its springtime schedule on Saturday, April 2. Passage between Lulawissie and O’Brien’s Ferry will be free of charge to all Lulawissie County residents and only $1.00 each way to all non-residents. The 3 hour trip will include music and dancing, and food will be sold at the on board café. These special ticket prices will be in effect all weekend, and again the following weekend. All are welcome.

Coming up Easter weekend there will be an all town barbecue the Saturday before Easter (April 24) at Lakeshore Park, followed by an evening of music and fireworks. Mr. Gilmore will be graciously donating the meat from his meat market out on route YY for the barbecue, and the Lulawissie Philharmonic will perform an outdoor concert in the Lulawissie Amphitheater, also at the park.

There will be a special Easter Mass Sunday morning at the Catholic Church. Father Michael Fahy will lead the mass, which begins at 7am.

The Lion’s Club will hold an Easter Sunday pancake breakfast (with the help of the Boy Scout Troop) down at the South End Marina at the picnic shelter and boathouse. The breakfast will start at 7am sharp, and will be first come, first serve. The breakfast will run until 11AM, or until we run out of batter and the latecomers will probably not get any bacon or ham. If it went like last year, they won’t get any syrup, either.

After the pancake breakfast, there will be an Easter egg hunt at North Beach on Fahy’s Island. Karl Schnitzel has graciously donated his small fleet of rental patio boats to ferry the egg hunters and spectators from the marina out to the island. We ask that all participants stay in the beach area and do not attempt to hike around the island, as we do not wish to disturb our Ivory Billed friends as they tend to their nesting.

Also after the breakfast, Father Mike will kick off the festivities with his benediction at the beer tent, which will be set up next to the picnic shelter. Sister Veronica will be serving the beer as usual. The beer will be provided by Fahy’s Pub in downtown Lulawissie.

There is so much more to look forward to in our little town. Our town baseball season kicks off this month, for both the kids and the young adults. The church softball leagues and horseshoe teams will also begin their activities.

It was a great spring weekend. I was glad to be part of it and I am happy to share it with you. Don’t be a stranger, come down and visit us in Lulawissie. Come for a day or two and the memories will last forever. Nobody is a stranger in Lulawissie.

_{©2011 By Del Banks}