A crowd estimated at 350 by Mayor Lawrence Sena attended the traditional back-to-school picnic last week at William Howland Memorial Park.
    Sena thought the attendance was down a little from the previous year, but he noted that many children also enjoyed swimming in the pool adjacent to the park.
    “I saw some new faces this year,” the mayor added.
    He said the organizers had planned on cooking 400 hamburgers, but had about 100 left over. With some people eating hot dogs instead, the major guessed the attendance was in the 350 range.
    The city and the Bent County commissioners each contributed $125 towards the picnic and the Las Animas School District provided the condiments.
    At one point the line backed up a little for several minutes but volunteers kept the crowd moving fairly efficiently.
    The mayor noted that for the size of the crowd the annual event does not cost very much and provides a nice way for people to get together.
    Sena said the large grill they have been using is getting to “be a bit too much.”
    He said he has asked Superintendent Scott Cuckow if the industrial arts class could make a smaller grill that would be more compact and easier to work with.
    The picnic has been a way for the community to ease into the school year while providing a large social venue