Olde Fashioned Community Christmas exceeds expectations

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

The 3rd annual Olde Fashioned Community Christmas in Presque Isle far exceeded expectations. Building on the success of the first two years, which centered around horse drawn rides around New Presque Isle Lighthouse Park and a trip back in time to see what Christmas was like in 1905, activities were dramatically expanded throughout the township this year.

Children played a live version of Candy Land, people enjoyed soups and chilies until every spoonful was gone, and if the New Day Singers at the Grand Lake Community Chapel didn?t get you into the holiday spirit, then not much will. ?It was a lot of work, but I do think it paid off,? said Sharon Jacobs, chairman of the Olde Fashioned Christmas committee. ?Overall, I thought it was very successful. ?We will have a meeting to go over all of our thoughts, to see if there are areas where we can improve.?

One area that will probably be ta

lked about is the need for more space. Jacobs said there wasn?t enough room for Candy Land at the Presque Isle Harbor Association, nor for the visits with Santa. ?We need more room,? said Jacobs. The same deduction was being reached on Sunday at the arts and crafts holiday bazaar. ?The arts and crafts show was a huge success,? said Sharon Paltelky. ?We received several comments about the high quality of items that were for sale. It was so successful, we?re moving it to the association clubhouse, so we can have more.? Paltelky said they had to turn away three or four vendors because there wasn?t enough room.

?We had an excellent turnout,? said Jacobs. Numbers for all the events were not available; however there were about 250 people at the chili cook-off at the East Grand Lake Fire Department?s and enough food to feed 350 at the soup and salad luncheon. Additionally, Skippy and Dave?s Rock & Roll Christmas performed before a packed room at the Presque Isle District Library. Township supervisor Patrick Pokorski said, ?All I wanted was for community to come together, and for people to see what we have. Exactly what I was hoping for happened.?