Event to take place at Lawrence fairgrounds

ROME TOWNSHIP — Darlene Green has been planning since November.

The director of the Sybene-Chesapeake Senior Center has worked, along with a committee consisting of Mary Cogan, Marcia Foley and Rick Slack, to secure vendors for the center’s annual senior fair, set from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds in Rome Township.

“The community has really come forward with donations,” Green said of the event, which will feature more than 70 vendors.

Admission is free and all seniors can drop by to visit booths from businesses and organizations such as the American Association of Retired Persons, American Electric Power, the Big Sandy Superstore and Bob Evans.

Items will be available at the booths, at no cost, Green said.

McDonald’s will provide free coffee in the morning, while Southern Baptist Church in South Point will be give out danishes, Green said.

In addition to the vendors, Green said there will be services available, such as students from Collins Career Center, who will do nails.

She said the group from Collins will also act as valets to help seniors with parking for the event, and are helping to prepare the beans and cornbread on the kettle to be served during the event.

There will be bingo from 1-2 p.m. and a cakewalk, with prizes donated by the Proctorville Kroger. The store will also have two pharmacists on hand to help seniors determine which vaccines they are eligible for.

The Proctorville post of the VFW will conduct the opening ceremonies, and entertainment is scheduled throughout the day from Carlas Leep, as well as local dulcimer players.

“We’re expecting a big crowd,” Green said. “I hope every senior who is able to come can.”

Green said the event took a lot of planning, and that she couldn’t have done it without the hard work of the committee.

“They’ve worked so hard,” she said. “We’ve been to churches, businesses.”

In the event of rain, Green said the event will still go on and will take place under the shelters at the fairgrounds.