Community days celebration revived in West Deer

WEST DEER -- For the first time in 18 years, the township is having community days this weekend.

Shawn Maudhuit, who coordinated the event, attended the last celebration in 1986 -- when he was in high school.

Maudhuit said he doesn't know why officials discontinued the event, but a few years after it ended, the decision was made to bring it back.

"The idea came up every year that went by until probably four years ago when I got on the board," said Maudhuit, who is chairman of the township's parks and recreation board.

"The first week I was on the board, I said I wanted to bring back community days. Last year, we said we're just going to do it, and here it is."

When he says "we," Maudhuit is referring to residents.

Maudhuit does not have a planning committee. He said the residents planned the event together.

"Basically, it's the whole town coming together to prepare the park for community days," he said.

Maudhuit said the real challenge is restoring Bairdford Park to a state that can accommodate hundreds of people. The park housed the celebration in the 1980s, but hasn't been used on this scale since.

This weekend, the park will be home to local bands, games, rides, fireworks, a car cruise and a tractor show.

"This year is just step one," he said. "In 2005, we'll start in January and an actual planning committee will be picked for this event to help community days get bigger and bigger every year."

Additional Information:

If you go

What: West Deer Community Days -- food, games, bands, fireworks, vintage tractor show, car cruise.

When: 6 to11 tonight.

11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.

11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Bairdford Park

For more information, visit: www.westdeerparksandrecreation.com .