Olde Tyme Christmas a success

December 09, 2003|by PEPPER BALLARD

FUNKSTOWN - Despite inclement weather Friday, the annual Olde Tyme Christmas in Funkstown went off without a hitch, Rich Gaver, the event's co-chairman, told the Funkstown Mayor and Town Council on Monday.

Gaver said 450 to 500 people passed through the Funkstown Town Hall Friday between 6 and 9 p.m. to participate in the activities held there, which he said was a surprising turnout.

He said more than 70 people took guided wagon rides through the town while snow fell steadily throughout the evening. A parade that was scheduled to run through the town that night did not happen, Gaver said, adding that it was "probably a good thing it didn't."

Gaver said the event's dinner, sponsored by the Funkstown Fire Co., sold out. About 35 children got their faces painted and the cookies left over from the children's event were donated to the town's firefighters, he said.

Del. Christopher Shank, R-Washington, and Sandy Miller judged the ornament- and house-decorating contests, he said.

Children Ryan Stewart, Laura Cooper and Dawson Hottinger won prizes from Prime Outlets for their decorated ornaments. The 19 children who submitted ornaments for the contest each received a free movie rental from Blockbuster Video, he said.

The first-place house decoration prize of $75 went to Charles Snodderly of 219 E. Chestnut St.; the second-place house decoration prize of $50 went to James Aleshire of 21 W. Green St.; and third place, a prize of $25, went to Richard Barnes of 101 N. Antietam St.

Gaver thanked Town Council Member Robert D. Rodgers and his family for placing luminaires in the town cemetery. He thanked wagon guides Tom Crawford and Buddy Rizer, whose cheat sheets were soaked with snow by the end of the second ride, for putting up with the chilly weather.

"All the shops I talked to did well," he said of stores open late for the event. He said vendors selling crafts and pottery also reported a steady stream of business.

"Everything just went extremely well, considering the weather," he said.

"It was perfect weather," council member Robert D. Rodgers Jr. said.

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