1st Night Trail Walk Better Than Ever

The 1st night walk was in jeopardy of becoming a non-event earlier this year. Volunteers from previous walks had hit the burn out stage. But along came Parker Snyder a relative newcomer to town who saved the day.

Snyder lives in the Cutler Estate just up the road from the Phillips Gas Station on route 16. Snyder gave credit for this year’s event to Georgeanna Woods and Dan Gillis who assisted him with the event which had a budget of $10,000. While some of the fire pits (10) did not have any volunteers, Snyder is hopeful for next year’s event. Snyder estimated the crowd at 4,000 revelers.

700 hot dogs were passed out in the Phipps Hill Tunnel by the boy scouts and 200 lit lanterns were floated on the pond just west of Cross Street which Snyder nicknamed “Wish Pond”. The committee will purchase another 20 fire pits for next year’s event and have them ready for tenders instead of relying on individuals to bring their own.

The event which is now more than a dozen years old has the rail trail committee to thank for making the event possible. The trail committee now over 20 years in existence is still operating and recently finished a drainage problem under the tunnel.

Thank you Robert Weidknecht, Herbie Brockert, Ken Henderson and the rest of the rail committee for your volunteerism. It’s all about community folks.

Citizens of the  Year Torch Bonfire

Although there is no general rule as to when something becomes a tradition, Tuesday night’s New Year’s Eve Bonfire may qualify. We have many events in town that fall under the heading of tradition. Some traditions fall by the wayside like the Jaycees Haunted House, the Antiques Show by the Citizens Scholarship Foundation or the Craft Fair by the Newcomers. Others contribute to our culture for decades like the Sportsmen’s Club Spring fishing derby or the Memorial Day Parade. The Little League Parade and the Historical Society’s Harvest Fair are no spring chickens. It takes volunteers, time, and money to put these events on. Unlike September’s Celebrate Holliston’s Field Day which closed early due to rain, Mother Nature spared those at the community farm with clear weather and temps. In the upper 30’s.

We’ll give the bonfire event at the farm a pass at the five year mark and include the event which drew more than 375 townspeople a blue ribbon for tradition. Chili made by the Superette and hot cider now also a tradition were available in the entryway greenhouse before onlookers stepped onto the field pathway illuminated by colored lights.

All of the lighting for this event was handled by Kris Serocki also known as the farm’s decorating queen. The honor of lighting the huge conflagration fell to Holliston’s newest Citizens of  the Year, Mark Dellicker and Gina Stucchi. Dellicker recently was appointed as the town’s on-call deputy fire chief. Stucchi who chaired the recent holiday stroll has now taken on the position of Chairperson of Celebrate Holliston.

Bonfire builder Dennis Serocki stood close by with mini flame throwers to ensure the fire got an even burn. Serocki’s family has farmed the Rogers Road property for almost a century. It was all about community Tuesday night as neighbors met neighbors. The fire was extinguished by the fire department who had to return on Thursday because the wind rekindled the embers. Can anyone else think of some town traditions?