BRISTOL — In 1969, Earl Hollister came up with the idea for a Bristol community picnic.

    Little did he likely know that his townwide get-together would continue to thrive four decades later.

    The 40th edition of Bristol Progress Days continued Saturday at Hansen Park, with carnival rides spinning and volleyballs flying under a clear blue sky.

    Hollister wasn’t on the grounds to see it — the longtime town chairman and Kenosha County supervisor died at 87 in 2006.

    But two of his daughters remain active participants in planning the event, and one said she believes her father would be happy to see what it remains.

    “I’m sure he’s grinning,” said Dorothy Niederer, sitting under a tent with her sister, Carol Nichols. Nichols’ daughter, Cheryl, also works behind the scenes at the event, making Progress Days a three-generations affair for the family.

    “Carol and I and Carol’s daughter, it means a lot to us,” Niederer said. “That’s why we work so hard for it. We know it meant so much to my dad.”

    From its humble roots as a town picnic, Progress Days has grown into a three-day festival featuring live music, carnival rides, sport tournaments and other activities, plus a Friday night banquet.

.r father would be happy to see what it remains.

    “I’m sure he’s grinning,” said Dorothy Niederer, sitting under a tent with her sister, Carol Nichols. Nichols’ daughter, Cheryl, also works behind the scenes at the event, making Progress Days a three-generations affair for the family.

    “Carol and I and Carol’s daughter, it means a lot to us,” Niederer said. “That’s why we work so hard for it. We know it meant so much to my dad.”

    From its humble roots as a town picnic, Progress Days has grown into a three-day festival featuring live music, carnival rides, sport tournaments and other activities, plus a Friday night banquet.

    A parade steps off at 12:30 p.m. today, starting at 82nd Street and Highway 45, continuing east and south to Hansen Park. Fireworks cap off the event at dusk tonight.

    An auction featuring some 90 items begins at 2 p.m. A bingo tent operated by Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services will be open from 5 to 8 p.m.

    Diana Jaeger, director of the Westosha Senior Community Center, was trying to drum up business for the new bingo tent Saturday, working the crowd while clad in a fullbody cow costume — udders and all.

    Jaeger said the proceeds from the games would go toward senior services in Kenosha County, including Meals on Wheels, a senior dining program and volunteer transportation services. “This is what I do to support our community center,” Jaeger said, joking that she had already been milked earlier in the morning. Town Chairman Rich Gossling said this year’s Progress Days festival was going well — especially compared to last year, when the festival’s carnival vendor backed out at the last minute, leaving Progress Days void of rides.

    This year, kids were back to screaming happily on rides operated by a new purveyor, Alpine Amusement Co. of Burbank, Ill.

    There was also the matter that organizers would have been hard-pressed to ask for better weather Saturday afternoon.

    Gossling smiled.

    “No we couldn’t,” he said.




Guillermo Garcia, center left, and Steve La Londe, center right, battle at the net as 14 volleyball teams competed in a tournament at the 40th annual Bristol Progress Days at Hansen Park Saturday.

KENOSHA NEWS PHOTOS BY BRIAN PASSINO Diana Jaeger wears a cow costume and carries a sign advertising a bingo game that benefits the Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services. Jaeger is also the director of Westosha Community Center.

Bingo numbers await selection in a tent operated by Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services at Bristol Progress Days on Saturday. Bingo will continue at the festival from 5 to 8 p.m. today.