Ice Jam in Parker (2014)
Two months ago, I was at the Parker House playing pool when someone yelled out “the river is breaking up!" This past winter was quite cold which caused the river to freeze over and ice jams to occur. It was around midnight when the ice jam broke loose. About 20 bar patrons and myself walked across the road to get a closer look at the raw power of ice flowing down the river. Chunks of ice the size of a large pick-up trucks smashed into each other and anything in their path. The sound of rushing water and mini glaciers grinding against each other was enough warning to keep a safe distance. Drivers that were passing by pulled off the road and positioned their vehicles so their headlights illuminated the raging river. One gentlemen that was with the group of bar patrons was a volunteer firefighter. He turned up his hand-held radio so everyone standing in the area could hear an announcement that the road we were standing on would soon be closed. The firefighter warned us all to be prepared to run if the river would happen to jam again and quickly flood the area. This was the week that Larry Cratty passed away. He was the longtime owner of the Parker House and many of us felt the raging river was Larry messing with everyone one last time. We all raised our drinks in honor of him.
Stink Fest (2014)
The second annual Stink Fest. There was a Leek dip competition, Leek recipe competition, outhouse derby, bands at The Parker House and Riverstone Bar, and lots of fun to be had by all. VFW won first place, Riverstone Bar second place, and the Parker House took third in the Outhouse Derby.