Last year, the church council of St. James Lutheran Church in Union Bridge realized that their congregation was celebrating 130 years in the same church building, and 40 years with the church's pastor, the Rev. Richard Michael.
The council started planning an event to mark these milestones with the community, but things came up and the celebration was postponed, said Pam Fink, church council president.
The calendar rolled over into 2014, and the desire to have a community outreach through a fall harvest event was still there. The planners got back together, and the church is now excited to celebrate a delayed anniversary "Festival of St. James" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 4, offering a wide range of old-timey activities for both children and adults.
"We thought we're going to roll with it this year and have it anyway," Fink said. "We'll have games, they'll be able to make a scarecrow, decorate a pumpkin, bob for apples, all that kind of good stuff."
All games and food are being offered for free, she said, including sandwiches, chips, desserts, drinks, cotton candy and a cakewalk.
The church is hoping that many of the community youths will come out and be a part of the event. St. James doesn't have many families with young children, she said, but the church is familiar with the youths through its outreaches at Christmas, Easter, the back-to-school season and the food pantry.
"We'd like to see them more often, that's all," Fink said.
At the festival, visitors will be able to see the 130-year-old church building, which survived a fire caused by lightning at the turn of the 20th century and led to the church's roof being lowered about 15 feet. "If you go up in our attic, you can see all the burns," Fink said.
Attendees can also meet the pastor, who is in his 41st year with the church.
"It's the only call he's ever had," Fink said of Michael's calling to the pastorate at St. James. "He came here in '73 and never left."
Michael originally hails from the Hanover/York, Pennsylvania, area but has long been a resident in Union Bridge and a member of the Union Bridge fire company, and has previously served as fire chief and Emegency Medical Services captain.
Michael said the church council didn't tell him that the "Festival of St. James" would also be in recognition of his time at the church.
"It kind of took me by surprise," he said, but he appreciates the gesture.
St James Lutheran Church is at 14 S. Benedum St., Union Bridge. The event will be held rain or shine.
Yard sale day
The town of New Windsor is having a community yard sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 4, similar to an event the town sponsored in conjunction with its May Day celebration this spring.
The May community yard sale had more than 50 yard sales, said Mayor Neal Roop.
"And by what people told me, I feel about $20,000 was spent in six hours," Roop joked. "People said they had never seen so many people walking around town before."
Shoppers will be able to get a map of all participating sales Oct. 3 from Town Hall, at 211 High St. in New Windsor, or maps will be available at the participating yard sales Oct. 4.
New Windsor residents have until Sept. 29 to let the town know if they would like to be listed on the map. To be listed on the map, call Town Hall at 410-635-6575.
A rain date of Oct. 18 has been scheduled as a backup, Roop said.
Crab cake sale
The New Windsor fire company auxiliary is having a crab cake sale Oct. 14, but orders are due by Oct. 3.
Crab cakes are being sold for $5.50 each, and may be picked up raw or fried or some of each in the same order.
Raw crab cakes can be picked up between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and cooked between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Oct. 14.
The sale will take place at the fire hall, 101 High St., New Windsor.
To place an order, call 410-775-7402 or 410-635-2909.
Ticket deadline
Tickets for the Oct. 18 banquet honoring six new inductees to the New Windsor Hall of Fame must be purchased by Oct. 1.
The banquet will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 18 at Windsor Station, 101 High St., New Windsor. Tickets are $27 per person and may be purchased by calling Ginny Ashmore at 410-635-2135 or emailing her at ginashmore@verizon.net.
Carrie Ann Knauer covers Linwood, New Windsor, Union Bridge, Uniontown and Johnsville. Contact her at 410-596-9248 or carrie.knauer@gmail.com.
