Messenger photos by Dedra Cordle The night before thousands of recent and not-so-recent graduates of Grove City High School descended upon the city’s ball diamonds to participate in the “world’s largest alumni softball tournament,” they took to the streets of the Historic Town Center for the annual Homecoming Celebration to gather, reminisce, and have a great time in each other’s company. Helping to keep the festivities even more lively was the musical act The Menus, who describe themselves as a “traveling rock band from Cincinnati.” For more than two hours, the rockers charmed the crowd with their multi-generational set list of bops and were able to rouse quite a few attendees to the makeshift dance center near City Hall. Shown here pumping up the crowd with his infectious attitude is lead singer Tim Goldrainer, who never shied away from any of the cameras pointed in his direction.Lead guitarist Sunil Mungur and keyboardist/vocalist Jimi Orwig rock out at the event.Working the fundraising booth for the Grove City Kids Association are (from left to right) Julie McAllister, Josh McAllister, Melanie Rawlins, and Christine Carter. The supporters of the athletic organization were selling tickets to adults to be able to purchase DORA cups at the event. All of the proceeds went toward supporting the GCKA teams.Grove City resident Jeff Dailey dances with his friend’s daughter, Lola McClanahan.Resident Bec Yura and her rescue dog Lucy pose for a quick photo before mingling with the homecoming crowd. Yura, who is originally from Pennsylvania, moved to the area five years ago and has been coming to the homecoming event ever since. “I think this event is so awesome and I wish more communities had something like this,” she said.
