By Patricia D. Fiske

Correspondent

COVENTRY – Saturday, May 7 started with a light misting rain, and the general understanding of most of us – it wasn’t supposed to rain until later in the day—one person thought after 2 p.m., and another thought after 5 p.m. Mother Nature had other thoughts. But, I have digressed.

After parking my car, I grabbed my camera and started filming. On hand was the TASIS emergency wagon, with Robert H. Benton Jr., on standby. For those unfamiliar with TASIS, (Tactical and Strategic Intervention Services), it is a volunteer organization contracted with hospitals, airports, schools, Colorscape Chenango, and events such as this, providing safety and security through communication teams, safety and security teams, search and rescue teams, etc. For those who may be interested in joining TASIS, their website is www.tasis.org, or you may e-mail Benton at benton@tasis.org. They will train people for service in their organization.

The registration and coffee was from 9 to 11 a.m. Cora Williams and Nichelle Guldy worked the registration tent, accepting the donations and registering the riders. I was invited to have some coffee and a sweet bun, which I did, a lemon filled sweet roll ... very good! I chatted with the coffee maker, Allen Smith, and was encouraged by Gwen Hinman to take a picture of him with his coffee cup. He told me he didn’t have the particular cup she was talking about, but he did have a mug of coffee in his hand. He and his grandson, Trey Nerzak were tending the fire. Marshmallows on a stick and some campfire stories and song would have been great about that time; however, I had a mission. My mission was to report this event through the media and my website, helping the folks at St. Jude’s Hospital through the Rex Farm Saddle Up Event.