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The Meeting Place Seniors go to Barton Fair
NEWPORT – Eighteen seniors who went to the Barton Fair were rewarded with smiles, laughter, exercise, and wonderful fair food! Jennifer Barnes, Activities Director at The Meeting Place in Newport scheduled the event which let many of the participants enjoy a nostalgic time on one of the few sunny days this summer.
A parade of vans and cars, along with an RCT wheelchair access van took a bit of coordination to bring the clients to the fairgrounds. But once there, no-one had any misgivings.
“My favorite thing was seeing all the animals,” said Mary Bliss of Brownington. Others like Sharon Bullis of Newport agreed, but Marilyn Dalley of Newport came down in favor of the food.
“They all liked the food and the animals,” said Jennifer Barnes. “But the real highlight was just getting out and having fun.”
A group of seniors gathered round an Alpaca, visited the Jersey cattle, and played with a pet kitten. They enjoyed watching the rides on the midway, but cautiously avoided going on one. A picnic lunch prepared by The Meeting Place cook, Helen Robillard was supplemented by fried dough, French fries, and a blooming onion.
The tractor pull provided a chance for everyone to sit in the grandstand, get out of the sun, and catch a bit of rest. But then it was back out to see the sights that only come once a year. For many of these seniors, the idea of going to the fair may have been part of their lost past. On this day, they all got to be young again.
The Meeting Place is a state-certified adult day service operating at 100 Second Street, Newport. For information, call 334-7604.