Lakeshore fest splashing success

The Lakeshore Volunteer Fire Department uses a lot of water for serious things like putting out structure and grass fires, but it also uses water for fun and fundraising.

Take the example of Lakeshore VFD President Dr. George Manchester.

At the annual Lakeshore Spring Fest on Saturday, May 29, he was the top target at the dunk booth.

At the beginning of an interview with the Bulletin, a very wet Manchester chuckled as he pointed to two women, one 85, who dunked him in back-to-back throws.

Manchester said the levity and laughter at the event was in stark difference to last year, when LVFD had to cancel Spring Fest, their largest event of the year.

LVFD Vice President Katherine Richardson echoed the president’s comments about last year and how the community supported the 42-year-old fire department.

“We had to do our fundraising piecemeal, and so many parts of the community stepped up when we needed help, and it has been great,” she said.

Manchester said there were multiple benefits to this year’s event.

“It brings the community together when LVFD helps folks and when the folks help the fire department. The second value of this event is that we can all enjoy each other, the fun, food, being together,” the president said.

The funniest fun was at the dunking booth, where some serious sibling jokes were being planned.

Amber Anders, 17, was sitting in the dunking booth seat and watching several people fail to dunk her. Then, sister Ann Anders, 15, ran up to hit the target and dunking Amber.

LVFD Fire Chief Brian Gillaspy said a good thing coming from the past tough year is the number of volunteers has risen, helping the department be strong and robust in covering their area and helping neighboring volunteer fire departments.