OWASCO - Time flies.

For Jerry Vevone, a member of the Owasco Fire Department and long-time organizer of the Welcome In Summer dances the department has been hosting for the past 21 years, time has gone by quicker than he realized.

“It is a good thing though,” Vevone said. “Looking back, it brings back a lot of memories. Guys that were with us when we started this that aren't here with us anymore, this brings back a lot of really good memories over the past 21 years.”

For this momentous milestone night, the department brought back Nik and the Nice Guys to perform along with special guests, the Prison City Rockers.

“Nik and the Nice Guys were here with us for the first one 21 years ago,” Vevone said. “And the Prison City Rockers got started here with us too. And they've both been back off and on over the years to play again.”

But it wasn't a night that was strictly about nostalgia.

Vevone estimated that the dance attracts between 2,200 and 2,300 people a year. An event of this magnitude takes a great deal of planning and assistance to make it run smoothly.

“We usually start planning in December or January,” Vevone said. “And we have a lot of help to get this all together. This year, we have IGNITE here with us helping out and we get the Boy Scouts out to help set up and clean up and we get a lot of support to make this happen.”

For the department, the dance is used as one of its larger fundraisers. Vevone said that over the years the dance has helped raise funds for a variety of items ranging from equipment to larger items such as ambulances.

This year, Vevone said that the goal is to raise enough money to help purchase a rescue squad, a four-wheel drive vehicle for special units of the department.

And while the 21st anniversary did bring back some fond memories, it was also a reminder to look toward the future.

“This is something we'll definitely keep going,” Vevone said. “We have a great facility here at Emerson Park and it is a beautiful place to spend a summer night like this and people really seem to enjoy this. We appreciate all the support. So as long as people keep coming to these and we keep getting new guys and women in the department to help keep these going we'll be here.”