It's that time of year again for the annual community cookout.
ATTENTION
After much consideration, I have decided that this will be my last Cookout event. After not being able to have it last year, I enjoyed being relieved of the added stress of pulling the event together. I will still have other events. Just not this one. Thank you for your understanding.
This is my tenth year hosting this event! What better way to celebrate than with a Community Event! Since this will be the last, lets go out with a bang! (Figuratively speaking!)
Current COVID19 guidelines for the state of NH do not require the use of face coverings, but are greatly encouraged as well as social distancing as requested by New Castle on the parks webpage. (See link below)
Location: Great Island Common
New Castle Island, NH
Please join us
Saturday, October 9, 2021
from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
The Great Island Common (see Web Page) is comprised of 32 acres of seaside greenspace and beach. The park is open to the public 365 days a year from 9AM to 9PM.
Why so late in the year you ask? Well, for one, there are much less bugs! The other is because it's much cooler for hiking, if you choose to do so, and we don't have to worry about the soaring heat. It's much easier to warm up by adding layers. You can only take off so much!
There is plenty of parking available nearby. Chances are we won't have the park to ourselves since this is a public place.
This Event will be Rain or Shine! Please dress accordingly!
There are three Pavilions on the Common, and there are a few picnic tables available at the park for our convenience, but you may want to bring your own chair with you. I'm going to try to grab Pavilion 2, which is the closest to the water, practically on top of the artist easel facing the water, which is a great spot/frame to do the group photo! My next choice would be Pavilion 3, which is the closest to the bath house (which should be open? I'm told they close it the second week of October) and closest to the playground. I'm hoping to get at least one of them. The last option would be Pavilion 1 which is furthest from the bathrooms and about equal distance from the water as # 3 I will have signs up directing you in the right direction.
I have a table top grill that I will bring. If someone else has one that they can bring, that would be great. There are also stationary grills available throughout the park. We will also need a few easy-up portable folding canopies (just in case we can't get a Pavilion). If someone has one to bring, please let me know. There can never be too many canopies! 
A folding table or two would be a good idea as well for the trackable table and registration/raffle table. If you have one you can bring, please let me know.
The Group Picture will be at 1:00 PM with the raffle beginning shortly after at about 1:15 PM. If you have an item you would like to donate to the raffle, please let me know.
I will provide the Hamburgers and Hot Dogs so please be sure to log in and let me know if you can come & how many will be in your party so I can get an estimate on the amount I will need to get. Due to the rising cost of beef and the number of people attending this event, I will be putting out a donation jar to help offset the cost. It is not required for you to donate, but it would be greatly appreciated.
This event is open to any and ALL cachers. You do not have to be from the Granite State to attend.
Please bring a dish that you can share with everyone! You will find a list of needed and suggestions below of items to choose from to bring. Please let me know in your "will attend" log what you will be bringing.
Volunteers are needed for the following. If you can be a volunteer, please let me know.
- Login Registration & Nametags - ...
- Raffle Table Registration - mckwayne
- Grilling - proudmommy552011
- Trackable log in table - mjbuzz
- Cleanup - Mckwayne, Mckmarye, batgirlmd
We are in need of the following items. If you can definitely bring it, please let me know in your post and I'll cross it off the list.
- Buns for the burgers - PattiNH
- Rolls for the dogs - PattiNH
- Condiments (
mustard, relish, catsup, mayo, diced onions, pickles etc.) - ...
- Cheese for burgers - CarriVT & bren1467
- Paper Plates - batgirlmd
- Napkins - batgirlmd
- Plastic Utensils - mjbuzz
- Bowls - robinjune&hubb
Ice - ...coolers - ...Bottled Water - ...
The following is a list of food suggestions you can bring. You can choose from the list, or bring something entirely different.
- Chips
- Dips
- Pasta Salad
- Potato salad
- Finger Sandwiches
- Cupcakes
- Veggie Platter
- Deviled eggs
- Cookies
- Brownies
- Fruit bowl
- Cheese & crackers
- Baked Beans
- Chili
- Pasta/chicken/rice casserole
- Meatballs
- Sandwich meat
- Appetizer dish
PLEASE NOTE: You do not have to bring ALL of one item. You can choose to bring partials, for example, you can bring 2 or 3 dozen hamburg buns or hot dog rolls, or for the condiments, you can choose to bring just mustard, or you can bring both mustard & catsup or whatever combination you choose. Please put a note in your will attend log of what you will be bringing so that we have some idea what to expect.
Additional Note: There are no outlets for crock pots, but I'm sure they should stay warm for a while if insulated.
The following people are bringing these items.
- Hamburgers - Me
- Hotdogs - Me
- Veggie platter & chips - ____jdutcher
- Baked Beans - martycook
- Case of water - mainiac1957
- Chips & Dip - mckwayne
- Chips & Cookies - robinjune&hubb
- Taco Salad - krymesolvr93
- Cookies & Cupcakes - mommeex5
- Deviled Eggs - EckoVT
- Meatballs - HerdingMama
- Catsup & Mustard - Maine to Massachusetts
- Brownies - mckmarye
- Case of water, cooler & ice - papollo & wifey
- Relish, Mayo, Plates & Napkins - batgirlmd
- Finger Sandwiches - BluEyz and Bugsy
- Salad Assortment - PattyNH
- Chips & Dip - friendship-7
- Donuts & Pretzels - HerdingMama
- GF Chicken & Pasta Salad - solid-rock-seekers
If there is something that I forgot to suggest, I will add it to the list as I think of it. If there is something that isn't on the list that you would like to bring, please let me know!
If you would like, you may want to bring your bikes with you. There are many trails here and a bike will help you get around much faster if you are going after the various caches in the area! The trail terrain is fairly level in most spots.
Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Special Announcement
HerdingMama is collecting Milkweed pods to be used in the DOT's right-of-ways. If you have any to donate, see the link below on how to collect and store them.
NHDOT Bureau of Environment is working with NH Fish & Game and the UNH Cooperative Extension to improve the habitat for the pollinators.
https://nhfishgame.com/2021/09/15/residents-asked-to-collect-milkweed-pods-to-benefit-pollinators/
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This is a Community Celebration Events - 2020/2021
This Event is part of a limited release of Community Celebration Events to celebrate 20 years of geocaching. Geocachers hosted events between May 2, 2020 and December 31, 2021. Learn more about Community Celebration Events on the Geocaching Blog.