If you did not head to Scot Greene Estates around 4:00 p.m., on Saturday, July 12, 2014, you missed the big picnic party. The Bar Association Social Committee in conjunction with the Young Lawyers Division developed a fantastic concept for a good mixer at Phil and Kathy Cosentino's 'barn'. The weather complied as well.

What did you miss...Well, if you were not carefully reading the Causeway, you missed the Young Lawyers Division, YLD, trash talking the OLD about the new trophy. It seems that YLD had heard about some of the ventures of the past such as the softball games and the Anything Goes challenge between the Bar and the medical profession, so they set up a series of challenges to attorneys who were non members of YLD. YLD designated all members of the bar who were not members of YLD as belonging to OLD, Other Lawyer Division.

The challenge was to win Beer Pong (Beirut), Golf Chipping, Horseshoes, Bocce Ball, Corn Hole, Volley Ball and Giant Jenga (rectangular blocks were used). FYI no one competed in Volley Ball or Golf Chipping. The former probably because of the probability of injury...OLD does know how to spike a ball...and the latter probably because of fear of eliminating a ringer handicap. With the shortened contest, the games came down to one last game of Beer Pong with Eileen Finucane against Jason Kelso. YLD took the trophy this time.

Giant Jenga was a tower of blocks, three deep. The objective was to remove a lower block and place it on top of the tower without toppling the structure. Amelia reports that contest as even, as were Horseshoes. Bocce was also even, at least as reported. Although YLD won the Corn Hole (pitching a bag of corn kernels into a hole on a sloped board), the OLD were ahead on Beer Pong. By virtue of Jason's defeat of Eileen, YLD took the day. Eileen has warned the group that they now have a title to defend.

Phil had to clean out his barn before we came. He houses miniature horses and barn swallows in the structure...But by the time we arrived, the building looked brand new. There were wine bottles, beer kegs, margarita dispensers. When the food arrived, there were barbecued brisket, pulled pork, grilled chicken, mac 'n cheese, fruit and too much to eat. The star food attraction, however, was Abby Salawage's cake: a white shirt with a blue bow tie to honor the guest of honor Forest Myers and his wife Becky. Abby surrounded the cake with two varieties of cupcakes that, upon sampling, led to overeating. Abby admitted that she made the two varieties that are well received at the Mercersburg Fire Company.

Kristen Hamilton, aided by her husband Tyler, took charge of the leftovers. Although the food was great, we filled up quickly. While the food was still safe, the leftovers were donated and delivered to the Homeless Shelter.

Kristin Nicklas' mother, Sherian Diller, brought cut flowers from her home and decorated the tables. The decorations added a festive touch that made us all feel welcome.

Jeff Evans, when asked about the picnic, could not resist telling me that he thought the picnic was great. Janice Hawbaker suggested that we should revisit Phil's place next year. Overheard was a comment that the setting could have been used to film The Godfather. A number of the younger attorneys lamented that they had baby sitter problems and could not stay as long as they wished. It was really great to see so many different members of the Bar at this social function, citing Marty Walker. Including members of the bench, forty-four members of the Franklin County Bar Association and their companions enjoyed a fun afternoon and evening mixing and laughing instead of the stylized fight our profession requires. If you missed the picnic, adjust your calendar for next year...