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Long Meddowe Days promises to be fun family affair

A replica of the eight-foot canvas-covered ball used in 1840 to promote the election of William Henry Harrison will be a large addition to this year's Our Town Parade, beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Reminder Publications submitted photo
By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW This year's Long Meddowe Days have a goal of pleasing everyone, according to Eileen Tremble Pisarski, president of the 2008 Long Meddowe Days Committee.

"My philosophy this year is to really have a family orientation," Pisarski said. "We are striving to make it a family function. We want everyone from the littlest guy to the oldest to have fun."

The 2008 event is the 29th annual celebration of commemorating Longmeadow's history. Taking place on the Town Green on May 17 and 18, Pisarski stated she and the committee behind Long Meddowe Days have "made it better" than ever before.

In addition to her duties as president, Pisarski is also a co-chair of crafts for the event, along with Linda Abrams of the Longmeadow Historical Society. Pisarski said 40 of the 84 craft spaces will be filled by new crafters this year and will display everything from jewelry to clothing to accessories.

"That's exciting because in the past the vendors have always been the same," she stated.

While the vendors will be on the Green all weekend, other unique events will be taking place throughout the two-day event.

For the athletic and the supportive, the 15th Annual Tim Paige Memorial 5K Road Race opens registration at 6:45 a.m. on May 17 and both walkers and runners will begin the course at the Storrs Library. Funds raised from the race will benefit the Tim Paige Intern Program, which allows two Longmeadow High School juniors to spend their summer break working with Historical Society Curator Linda Abrams on special projects for preservation of the town's history, according to Jim Gurzenski, the committee member in charge of the race.

Gurzenski said there are only about 30 pre-registered runners as of press time, and the first 100 entries will receive a commemorative beverage glass. The race is limited to 300 runners.

From 7 to 10 a.m., a pancake breakfast will be hosted for hungry runners, walkers and town residents by the Longmeadow Parks and Recreation Department.

The Our Town Parade, which officially kicks off Long Meddowe Days, will begin at 9 a.m., starting at the St. Mary's School. One very large addition to this year's parade is a replica of the eight-foot canvas-covered ball used in 1840 to promote the election of William Henry Harrison. The original ball was rolled all the way from Boston to Baltimore in America's first media campaign, according to Sonja Ashe, publicity chair for Long Meddowe Days.

"Being an election year, we needed to bring something in," parade chair Arlene Lang said. The replica ball is on loan from Old Sturbridge Village.

"[The ball] is something new and I think it's awesome," Pisarski said. "There's a great history behind that and it'll be interesting for both the historical-minded person and the mom with three kids under five."

The Grand Marshall of this year's parade is Peter Thomsen, who has been a music teacher in the Longmeadow school system since 1973 and will be retiring this year. He began the music lab program at the high school and has traveled with some of the school's elite vocal ensembles to Italy, Austria, Canada and Hungary.

"I feel very gratified and surprised they honored me in this way," Thomsen said. "I'm just a music teacher. I didn't think I was doing anything special, but now our music program is a hallmark of the town. We have something to be proud of."

Thomsen added that it was "really cool" to see only Longmeadow students providing the entertainment for this year's festivities. Vocal and instrumental ensembles will be performing on the hour both days.

In addition to the pony rides and climbing wall for entertainment, this year will introduce the Big Red Engine for both young and old to enjoy. "I think everyone will find the train really nifty," Pisarski stated.

The Sunday half of Long Meddowe Days will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include a memorial service at noon. Delivering the Key Message will be Colonel James Linder, the Commander of the 439th Operations Group at Westover Air Reserve Base. The service will be a "Tribute to Honor Those Who Fought and Died for Our Country," with prayers led by Rev. Curtis Preston of the First Church of Christ and Deacon Donald Higby of Saint Mary's Church.

At 2 p.m., "the gentlemen of the Meddowe will engage in a spirited contest of base ball against the Orators of Bridgeport ... Regardless of the outcome, they intend to put forth a vigorous effort while focusing on gentlemanly play and good sportsmanship. They are confident that the cranks that attend will have a fine time."

In other words, the Meddowe Vintage Base Ball Club will be playing an 1860s-era game, complete with uniforms and equipment of that time, in Storrs Park.

"This year's Days are about keeping the family together," Pisarski reiterated. "It's about having something for everybody."

For more information about the various aspects of the 2008 Long Meddowe Days, visit www.longmeadow.org.