LAHARPE When Duwayne and Debbie Bearden were mingling with diners at LaHarpes community Thanksgiving meal, they noticed a recurring topic.
Do you live next door to me? one diner asked another.
I think I do, the other responded. You look familiar.
Turns out, the pair had lived just down the street from each other, Debbie Bearden noted, and never realized it.
Its not uncommon.
We have folks who have lived in LaHarpe for years, but theres a large number of people who havent been in town very long, Debbie Bearden said. People just dont get much of an opportunity to get to know each other.
With that in mind, the Beardens, who organize the annual Thanksgiving meal through their affiliation with Light of LaHarpe Church, reached out to others in the community to organize a community get-together. LaHarpe WinterFest was the result.
WinterFest kicks off at 6 p.m. Wednesday at LaHarpe City Hall, and will feature a number of activities, from board games, an arts and crafts table, cookie decorating station and an area dedicated to the basics of pickleball.
The impetus from WinterFest stemmed from the realization that the days and weeks following Christmas often lead to depression and withdrawal, Debbie Bearden said.
We just thought this would be a good way to help people to remain connected, and to feel like they have a valuable place in the community, she said.
This weeks temperatures notwithstanding, January usually is littered with cold, dreary days, with most not arriving home from work until after the sun has set.
We didnt know the weather was going to be like this when we started planning this, Bearden laughed.
Birdhouses will be built at the arts and crafts station.
Pickleball enthusiasts, including Iolans David and Lisa Fontaine, will be on hand to show the sports basics. Pickleball, for the uninitiated, combines tennis, badminton and table tennis.
The gymnasium inside City Hall is the ideal size for a pair of pickleball courts, allowing local enthusiasts to continue playing during the winter months.
Alexis Laird and Lindsey Temaat, coordinators for the LaHarpe Fitness Center, also will be on hand to visit with residents about what activities are available at City Hall on a regular basis.
FOR THOSE interested in city governance, Wednesdays activities include a LaHarpe City Council meeting at 7 oclock.
