Deering Public Library: Annual Deering Holiday Festival

Last Saturday’s annual Deering Holiday Festival, organized by the Trustees of the Deering Public Library, was the cause of a happy rambunction in our Town Hall. About seventy kids along with complicit old folks created a scene of jollity and merriment for a few hours. The first hour of the afternoon was an Elves workshop for the manufacture of Old Timey Christmas ornaments, sugar cone Christmas trees, pine cone critter feeders, and decorating yummy sugar cookies. Scenes of intense concentration and radiant pride were sprinkled among the kids working at the seven craft tables. Then Roger Tincknell, a multi instrumentalist and vocal pied piper, travelled from Massachusetts to be with us again. For a solid hour he led us in singing and dancing to Old Tyme songs played on banjo, guitar, mandolin and harmonica. He had us! So rapt was our attention, and he did not tire. The energy flowing back and forth between Roger and all the kids, of all ages, could easily have powered a mid-sized town. Right on cue Roger ushered in Santa, who arrived at Town Hall in a firetruck with all its lights flashing. The Jolly Old Elf took his place in a comfortable easy chair at the side of a sparkling Christmas Tree. Santa heard to a lot of requests, and we are certain that he will do his best to fulfill each. And as a small gift, he presented the hopeful petitioners with a little bag of goodies from the Library Trustees. In addition T shirts and books were given to the kids. It was a happy scene with at least seventy school children in attendance! Scooping up the byproducts of the craft tables, the sparkles and baubles and sweet confection, and the general cleaning up of Town Hall following the happy mayhem was undertaken by a cadre of much appreciated Friends: the Enchanted Town Hall was returned to its usual staid condition.

Roger Tincknell and the advertising were the only expenses for this party!! The rest was all donated by many townspeople.

We especially thank Kathy Lassey, who was involved with this from the start and who provided continuity with Holiday Parties Past. She made the arrangements with Roger Tincknell and organized all the press releases and signs.

In addition, the following people, businesses and organizations pitched in.

Crafts supplies provide by:

Sugar Cone Christmas Trees (Nicole and Lois Wilmot)

Pine Cone Feeders (Beth Kelly & Lou Ellen Beard)

Snowflake ornaments / Gift bags (Lou Ellen Beard )

Salt dough ornaments (Gary & Patty Samuels)

Paper birds and paper chains (Lou Ellen Beard)

Stick snowman (Klumb children & Lou Ellen Beard)

Christmas Cookies (Loni Kustron & Robin Hill Farm)

The Christmas Tree was donated by John & Lisa Christenson and was decorated by Savannah Beard

Chair & Rug loaned from the Deering church (Stuart Huggard)

Refreshments were made by:

Andrea Cashion

Barbara Cavanaugh

Barbara Clark

Judy LeBlanc

Tammy Ford

Gretchen Kunzler

Ed Cobett

Kathy Lassey

Hannah Kelly

Denise Belanger

Lou Ellen Beard

Becky Parisi

Gary Samuels

Coffee Dunkin Donuts

Juice Mc Donalds

cookie sprinkles Shaws

Candy Canes (Lou Ellen Beard)

Santa (Ed Ferguson Sr)

Books donated by Beth Kelly

T shirts and gifts by the Deering Library

Police Explorers helped with set up and cleanup /as well as parking.

Deering Fire Department supplied a fire truck and driver for Santa

We Library Trustees are extremely happy to have been the cause of so many of our fellow residents joining together to make this party a shining light in this season of joy. We hope to continue with this by organizing readings and other events throughout the coming year.

Here are some pictures!