Rye400 Committee brings community together
In August, the Rye400 Committee sponsored a successful Rye Day event that brought the community together. To keep that spirit going, Eileen Behan of Rye, had an idea to invite Rye residents to a communal meal.
“Eating together is a small act but it fosters communication,” she said. “It can even change our perspective toward others.” And so Eileen’s idea of a Rye Community Picnic was born and planned for Sunday, Oct. 29, from 12 to 2 p.m., on Parsons Field, with the help of committee members Lisa Connors, Karlene Stecher and Lydia Tilsley. Sponsored by the Rye400 Committee, the Bring-Your-Own-Picnic was to be a friendly gathering, appreciating Rye’s natural beauty and fostering a sense of community.
This past Saturday, the day before the picnic, it was 80 degrees and the sun was shining. Parsons Field was the perfect setting. The long row of tables was formed, the chairs were set and all was ready for Sunday. And then, the next day, it rained just as the festivities got under way. Did that stop attendees?
“No,” said Eileen. “We are New Englanders who improvise!” Working with the police and fire chiefs, everything was moved into Rye Junior High School, where attendees quickly adapted to the setting and set out their picnics on the school cafeteria tables.
“We just shifted everything indoors” said Behan, “and the program went on as planned!” She welcomed everyone and introduced Rye400 Committee member Lew Karabatsos who read Robert Frost’s poem, “A Time to Talk.” That was followed by a napkin twirl – where everyone twirls their napkin in the air at the start of the meal. Rye400 Committee Chairman, Andy Stecher, spoke about the importance of community and reviewed upcoming events and local historian, Alex Herlihy, gave a short history of Parsons Field.
The afternoon’s festivities ended with a Rye Trivia Contest and an apple-pie-baking contest, judged by Rye Select Board members — Tom King, Bob McGrath and Bill Epperson — Police Chief Kevin Walsh, Fire Chief Mark Cotreau and Rye400 Vice Chair, Debbi Toohey. After sampling nine apple pies, the judges announced the winners: First Place - Lindsay Murphy; Second Place - Abbie Hordon; Third Place - Nancy Braese.
Behan’s goal of bringing community together was a success. “Despite the rain and relocation, we came together as a community to laugh, have fun and get to know each other,” she said. “My hope is this was the first of many annual community picnics to come.”
For more information on upcoming Rye400 activities, please visit www.ryenh400.org.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Rye400 Committee brings community together
