Longview Link by Michele Geistlinger ~ Longview Prepares for Build Day after ARTS Days Success

Our Night of Foolishness was a great success. The meal was spectacular and the company even better! We were treated to some amazing local musicians who entertained us for the evening. The silent auction was packed with really unique items and the bidding was a hot competition. Our performers included "The Highwood Hillbillies" with Florence Hummel, Barb Knox and Gerald Herriman, 15 year old Tanya McLaren, 15 year old Dallas Jade, surprise guest a very much alive, geriatric Janis Joplin and her partner "Slash", John Storch, Eva Levesque and Cody Follis, Kenny Peterson and Rich Tason. What a great celebration of our wonderful local artists in conjunction with Alberta ART Days! Thanks to all who played and all who watched, enjoyed and contributed to our profits which will be applied to our Playground Building fund. We made close to $3000 profit from our "Night of Foolishness". I have to add that many have requested we do this on a regular basis just for the fun of it and the chance to laugh and have fun with our neighbours! Great night, great food, great entertainment and great people! The night was made possible through the acquisition of a grant from the Alberta Government in honour of Alberta Art Days. We truly appreciate being given the opportunity to explore and celebrate our local artists. The turnout for the children's ART Days events on Saturday at the school was very disappointing but also a learning experience. If we are lucky enough to get this grant next year we will schedule the children's activities during school time. We had chosen Saturday this year in an attempt to include the parents so they could participate as families. Oh well, can't hit the right plan every time!
Well the Build day is almost here‼! Saturday, October 15th we will be installing our new playground, fitness equipment and new benches, picnic tables and litter receptacles in Centennial Park and the Veterans Memorial will be installed at the Village office. We will be starting at 8am with hopes that the playground will be ready by around 3pm. Prior to the ribbon cutting we will be doing the dedication ceremony as we are naming our playground in honour of two local gentlemen who have been fantastic role models for the children of Longview both past and present. Our new playground will be called the Bert Smith-Lorne Fuller Playground. Many older residents will remember how involved Bert was with them as children and I am sure there is not one child in Longview who doesn't know Lorne Fuller. Lorne is rarely without a gaggle of children somewhere nearby and many new residents recall that Lorne was one of the first people who talked to them when they first moved here. Bravo to you gentlemen and many thanks to my ARC Society members for choosing you unanimously‼
We still can use volunteers and tools so please go to our website and register right away so you will get the information you need for build day prior to the actual day. We need to register everyone and have completed waivers signed before you can help. It will save a lot of confusion on Build Day if you have your papers all filled out ahead of time except for your signature which you must sign in front of our registration crew. There will be water and coffee on site and we will feed you lunch and then beef on a bun and cake after the ceremony. If you go to our website you can also see the tool list of what we will need. We have a construction crew who will be drilling holes and placing the stringers, grid work and posts on Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th so everything is ready for Build Day. At the time I am writing this column we could still use another ticketed welder for the Thursday, Friday crew. And the countdown begins……..