Hollister fall festival a success

By Maurice Emery
Editor Emeritus

One of the largest fall festivals in the area was held in Hollister last Saturday.

Hollister’s senior group, the Between-agers, put on the annual fall festival. More than 200 people showed up at the R.E.A.C.H. center to make the event a success.

Smiling senior greeters made you feel welcome as you entered the grounds. Activities were held inside and out.

The weather was beautiful for the outside activities. Kids, like Aloka Richardson, were playing around enjoying themselves as their parents looked on. There were plenty of games to play and live music to entertain everyone. 

Walking around the grounds you could not help but notice the face paintings on many of the kids.  John Richardson was on hand to do the paintings. Kids like Kyriek Alston sat motionless to allow John to make them stand out with the paintings. 

There was plenty of live music throughout the day. Included in the all day music entertainment was Wayne Lynch and Company. 

Festival goers could also go inside the Center to take part in more games including bingo. The basement was filled with mainly seniors with their grandkids enjoying the game.  Everyone applauded when a youngster would yell out joyously – bingo.

The basement was also the lunchroom where Betweeners served hot dogs, deserts and sodas.  Before the day was over they sold over 160 BBQ dinners.

The Hollister Between-agers have been around for over a quarter century and the annual fall event has been going on for about the same length of time, but this is the first year the betweeners have sponsored the festival. 

Mary Alice Richardson served as Chairperson of the event. She was helped by many members of the Between-agers.

The event has been supported by local business people for years. The club asked the Observer to thank the businesses of Littleton for all their generosity in supporting the event. They also received financial assistance from groups and organizations throughout the east coast.

The 43-member Between-agers club is proud of the fact that they welcome members from 50 and older.  Lillie Williams is the enthusiastic president of the group.

They work with Hollister R.E.A.C.H., which is led by the Reverend James Johnson. 

The seniors were assisted by Charlotte Richardson the Hollister representative of AmeriCorps-Vista a national group. AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.

Charlotte brought her years of experience in marketing and community organizing in the private sector to Hollister to assist in fund raising and coordination of events for citizens in the area. 

The next fund raiser for the Between-agers is their annual sale of Christmas ornaments.  Follow the Observer for further details.