Alanna, 9, and mom, Leanne Davis, of Stouffville enjoy a ride on the midway during the 24th annual Strawberry Festival in Stouffville Memorial Park last weekend. Daily doses of rain didn’t dampen the enjoyment for thousands of visitors. STAFF PHOTO/SUSIE KOCKERSCHEIDT
Whitchurch-Stouffville
July 03, 2008 12:32 AM
By: Jim Thomas
The rain departed, the people arrived and on went show.
However, at 7 a.m. Saturday, with lightning flashing and thunder rolling, there were those who undoubtedly wondered if there’d be a show at all.
But just as the Strawberry Festival parade began moving east on Main Street, the inundation ceased, much to the relief of procession organizer Justin Altmann.
While the curbside crowd was limited to mainly to vendors, most of whom, I suspect, had endured inclement conditions before, I heard no complaints from participants. Quite the opposite. Most enjoyed the challenge. A tip of a still soggy chapeau to Mr. Altmann and company for a job well done.
Lions less luckyThe Stouffville and Ballantrae Lions Clubs weren’t so fortunate. It rained heavily on their parades Thursday and Saturday. The Stouffville club’s barbecue Thursday managed to squeeze most beef eaters under the roof of the park pavilion before the storm struck. The Ballantrae breakfast Saturday was harder hit.
However, both prevailed despite the whims of a fickle weatherman.
Hard to beatA command performance! This was everyone’s impression of The Vibrations, a drum band operating at Summitview Public School. The 40-member corps, directed by Ron Cross of Little Britain and highlighting the skills of 13-year-old Hayden Gibson, played before an appreciative audience last Thursday.
The after-school program is the pride and joy of staff teacher/librarian Anne Wilde. Organized four years ago, the band has appeared at many functions including Stouffville’s Santa Claus Parade. Mr. Cross has again been booked for Summitview in September.
Standing ovationsAs said here many times, standing ovations don’t come easily in Stouffville. Never have and never will.
However, for two evenings in succession, audiences stood and applauded.
The first was June 25, following selections by the 45-member chorus, ‘Men of Note’ and vocal award recipient Susan Brown. The occasion was the 19th annual Music Festival in Stouffville United Church.
But it didn’t end there. Similar responses were accorded Dr. Don Petrie, 2008 Citizen of the Year and Brent Gibson, Sports Person of the Year the next night.
No-show councillorsYes, June 26 was a busy evening, but where, I ask, were members of council? Surely, at opening ceremonies of an event the magnitude of Strawberry Festival, more than two of seven municipal representatives could find time to attend.
Acknowledged were councillors Ken Ferdinands and Rob Hargrave. Some consolation was the fact MP Lui Temelkovski and MPP Helena Jaczek were present.
On another resentful note, why would the municipality hold a public meeting to discuss the future of a Civic Avenue arts centre, the same night the festival started? Not one town politician was in attendance at the festival’s first event. They were noticeable by their absence.
Oh, baby, you wonNine-month-old Jacob Clubine, son of Scott and Meredith Clubine of Stouffville, was the grand champion at a festival baby show hosted by Christ Church Child Care Centre. Jacob brought along his own cheering section including grandparents, Bill and Sandy Clubine and Wally and Wilda Robinson.
Saturday, Stouffville’s Melissa Dunn was first in the Strawberry Pie contest. Second was Lauren Moyer and third, Isabella Arsenault. Leah Cannon was the top jam-maker with Julie Boadway second.
Niamh Draycott, 11, won the freckles contest.
Sunday serviceThe Community Service on Sunday, hosted by the Stouffville Ministerial Association, featured music by: The Springvale Baptist Worship Team including Jeff Boadway, Jen Schrepfer, Cheryl Thompson and Trevor Robert and the Hilltop Vocal Band from Heise Hill Brethren in Christ Church, Dale and Cathy Wideman; Judy Steckley and Dave Foster.
After the service, 550 were served strawberry shortcake courtesy Cook Canada Ltd. by festival committee members and Branch 459 of the Legion Ladies Auxiliary.