By Ellen Rose Lukkasson
In 2011 Andes Alumni got together for their first-ever weekend long summer reunion for all alumni. It was a great success with events and gatherings all weekend long. It was wonderful to see old familiar faces smiling and laughing all over town.
2011 Alumni Reunion
This year the reunion is from Friday August 16th – Sunday August 18th.
Friday August 16th is our Early Start Gathering. Just stop on by the Andes Hotel when you get into town or get off work. See who has shown up so far and start catching up with old friends. The hotel has Cans and Clams going on that night and music by Joe Chinnici from 6-9.
Saturday August 17th is a busy day.
1:00-2:00 PM there will be an open house at the school. Come wander through with your friends, share some laughs and see how much the school has changed and how it is being used now. I was quite amazed at how the school has adapted to changes (since I was there all those years ago).
2:00 PM Join us on the ball field. We are having an all ages softball game. Bring your glove and join the fun. We also hope to have a teacher/staff recognition time so if you are teacher/staff please let us know you are coming (email Wefndit@aol.com or Richwood@live.com or call 360-801-5402 or 845-676-6140) and alumni get ready to tell your favorite teacher involved stories so we can roast them a little and let them know what they meant to us. Refreshments and 50/50 tickets will be for sale.
6:00 PM We will be having a Chicken BBQ at the Andes Hotel with Mickey Weaver on the grill again. There is no sense messing with a good thing. We had a great turnout for this as well as the softball game last time so we are keeping both of them on the agenda for this year. The band this year will be Round House Rockers.
Mickey Weaver grilled up some Andes style chilen at 2011 reunion
There are event invites on the Andes Alumni Facebook page. If you are coming to the BBQ or the Pancake Breakfast please let us know so we can have a semi accurate estimate for food. Facebook, email or call, any of it works. Facebook address is:
www.facebook.com/groups/44272515278/
or just search Andes Central School Alumni. Walk-ins also welcome.
Sunday Aug 18th– 8:00-11:00 AM Pancake Breakfast at the Andes Fire Hall. This is by donation. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, OJ, coffee, hot chocolate. This will be our official reunion close out. Come enjoy breakfast with your friends and give your input for the next summer reunion. We will also hold the drawing for the 50/50 raffle.
Proceeds from refreshment sales/breakfast and 50/50 will be donated to the school from the Andes Alumni and the Andes Firemen (so please be generous).
If you get to hang around town a little longer and have some spare time, there are some great things to do in and around Andes. The Walton Fair is going on August 12-17th. (I remember when that was the highlight of my whole summer.) Remember our beautiful town pool and there is our fairly new addition of the Rail Trail which starts at 266 Depot Street just beyond RoMo Machine (the old pill factory) and Decker’s old hardware store. I can’t wait to hike this new trail, especially the Bullet Hole Spur. It is beautiful down there. There are also Ballantine Park and the cemeteries to visit. I hear that kayaking is becoming quite popular and is allowed in the reservoirs, too. There are some rental places you can check into. And don’t forget to visit the shops. So come check it out. Get reacquainted with Andes. It’s worth it. ~