The legacy of McLean’s Happenin’ in the Hamlet

McLean’s 24th annual Happenin’ in the Hamlet celebration at the McLean fire station will take place Thursday, May 9, through Saturday, May 11, to kick off your summer fun with a fabulous lineup of things to do for all ages.

Beginning in 1954, the McLean Fire Department held what was then known as its Firemen’s Field Days on the grounds of the Cassavant Elementary School, where community members could enjoy a carnival and all that that entails, until it came to an end in 2002. For more than 50 years, the late George Totman was the chairman of the committee responsible for putting on the event.

George was a lifetime member of the fire department. His son, Mike, followed in his footsteps, and his grandson, Nick, followed suit. In fact, Nick joined the department when he was 14 years old and was a fire lieutenant during his senior year of high school.

Nick graduated from Dryden High School in 2005. Around that same time, the McLean Community Council, of which Nick was also a member, wanted to rekindle the spirit of community that had been so prevalent around the field days event.

“The council came up with a one-day event and named it ‘Happenin’ in the Hamlet,’” Nick said. “We started out with vendors, food and bounce houses, and did that for two years. But by 2007, we partnered with the fire department and moved the whole thing to the fire department’s grounds so we could expand it and go back to the days of the carnival.”

And expand it they did! Nick explained that the event started out with a small carnival, vendors and food prepared by the McLean Fire Department Auxiliary. Through the years, live music, local beer companies, more food and vendors and a much bigger carnival have been added.

Nick has chaired the Happenin’ in the Hamlet committee since 2006 and has been the president of the McLean Community Council since 2020 when his father, Mike, who had been its president, passed away. By day, Nick is the owner and operator of Fire Dawgs BBQ & Catering food truck. Most of the rest of his time is devoted to the fire department (of  which he is the deputy fire chief), the council and Happenin’ in the Hamlet.

“A lot of people call it [Happenin’ in the Hamlet] my baby,” Nick said. “I’ve invested a lot of time and effort into it, and I like that I can carry on what my grandfather tried to create for the community. All the profits support the fire department and community groups that support the community, like McLean Beautification, the Disciples Fellowship at the McLean Community Church and the McLean Community Council, to name a few.”

The “Happenin’” festivities will officially commence at 6 p.m. Thursday, with food and a cake wheel by the McLean Firemen’s Auxiliary. There will be amusement rides with a wristband special for $20.

Food and rides will open at 6 p.m. on Friday, as will the cake wheel, and there will also be a fish fry prepared by the fire department. From 6 to 11 p.m., gift baskets will be raffled off by the McLean Community Church Disciples Fellowship. At 5:30 p.m., there will be live music by Billy and The Therapists, and Chasing Neon will be on stage at 8 p.m.

The fun will continue beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday with food prepared by the McLean firemen and auxiliary members. Rides will open at noon with wristband specials, and raffle baskets will again be offered all day until 9 p.m.

Billy goat bingo will take place at 3 p.m., Cayuga Twister Balloon Creations will be there from 5 to 7 p.m., and pulled pork sandwiches by the fire department will be available at 5:30 p.m. Also happening at 5:30 p.m. will be the Community Service Award presentation.

The grand parade steps off at 6 p.m., followed by the Tompkins County Dairy Princess handing out free ice cream sundaes. At 5:30 and 8 p.m., respectively, the Romer and Company Band and the Chasin’ Crazy Band will fill the air with their sounds, and beer from Homer Hops will be available for purchase.

For more information on the festivities, find the McLean Community Happenin’ in the Hamlet page on Facebook, or contact Nick at totman81@gmail.com or 607-283-6250.

“I also want everyone to know that there will be bins for donations for Toys for Tots on site, and that we collect those new, still in packaging, toys at every event we have,” Nick said. “Anyone who would like to help support the fire department can call Chief Calvin Carr at 607-838-3700.”

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922. 

In brief:

Outstanding CTE students

The following Groton students were recognized as outstanding students of the month at the Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES Career and Technical Education Center: 

• January: Hunter Webster, Auto Technology 
• February: William Booth III, Auto Technology; Cayden Dryja, Heavy Equipment; and Riley Lockwood, Exercise and Health Science 
• March: Emily Cargian, Culinary Arts; Damian Cobb, Auto Body; and Nick Hall, Welding

The outstanding students are chosen based on qualities such as character, leadership, citizenship, work ethic and attendance. They must also be compassionate, honest, trustworthy, responsible and a positive role model.

Taco Tuesdays at the Legion

Thursday Grill Nights at the Groton American Legion Post 800 are from 5 to 7 p.m. weekly, but if Thursdays don’t work for you, or if the delicious offerings of Hoffman’s hot dogs, Gianelli’s hot or sweet Italian sausage with peppers and onions, Angus sirloin hamburgers, cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers and an assortment of homemade sides and desserts aren’t your thing, you might want to come out for Taco Tuesdays.

The newest thing at the Legion, tacos and taco salads are now being offered every Tuesday beginning at 5 p.m., either eat in or take out. It’s a nice way to get out during the week and enjoy a reasonably priced meal, prepared and served by volunteers, with all profits going to the Post.

Do you like to bake?

The McLean Community Happenin’ in the Hamlet will be “happenin’” May 9 through 11, and the McLean Fire Department Auxiliary asks for donations of baked goods for its cake/dessert wheel. Donations will be gratefully received by 9 a.m. on any of those three days. Please call Jerri at 315-702-3306 with any questions.