Among the city workers gathered for the event were two longtime employees of the Gainesville Parks and Recreation Department. Jeff Morrison said he's seen a lot of changes in his 32 years with the city.
"[The construction of] Green Street pool and then it closing and then the opening of the Frances Meadows Center...of course, City Park Stadium," remembered Morrison.
Beth Morris said what she has enjoyed most about her job is working with kids during her 26-year tenure with the city.
"A lot of the part-time employees that work for me now as umpires, scorekeepers, and those kinds of people, they were once participants [in parks programs]," said Morris.
While the city hosts a luncheon for Gainesville employees every year, this year's event coincided with the city's 190th birthday, so there was a bit more of a party atmosphere at the Georgia Mountains Center arena.
Jessica Tullar has worked for the city for over 10 years in the Community Development Department. She remembered celebrating Gainesville's 180th birthday when she first started working for the city in 2001.
"We did a big celebration with a group singing, city employees who sang, right here on the steps in front of the building here," said Tullar. "And, we had a birthday cake competition."
Tullar said she remembered that celebration as being bittersweet, since it happened just after 9-11.
For 27-year employee Janice Leonard, Wednesday's party was a chance to reflect on the resilience of Gainesville residents and workers who came before those who work for the city today. She noted that she is not a Gainesville native, but she now calls Gainesville home.
"They survived tornadoes and everything...the people were so resilient that they came back and said...this is what we want to do [rebuild] and we have survived."
Janice Leonard (right) has worked for the city of Gainesville for almost 27 years
Students from Enota Elementary School perform as part of the celebration
City employees enjoy lunch catered by Johnny's Barbecue
A large crowd of city workers fills the Georgia Mountains Center arena
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/11/243957