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A Successful Vergennes Holiday Stroll

photo provided Santa and his elves attended, making children and adults smile in Vergennes on December 2nd.

Tuesday December 12, 2006

    The Vergennes Chamber of Commerce, a division of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce, wishes to say thank you to all who helped to make Vergennes Holiday Stroll a success:  Addison County Gospel Choir, Beth Crosby of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce, Bixby Memorial Library, Boys & Girls Club of Greater, Champlain Valley Christian School, City of Vergennes, Clock Shop, Deirdre Counter Real Estate, Gaines Insurance, Jackman Fuels, Jon Gailmor, Kinney Drugs, Landmark Financial, Lions Club, Maiden Vermont, Northlands Job Corps, Park Squeeze, S T Griswold & Co., Tim Buskey of Vergennes Residential Care Home, Vergennes Area Merchants, Vergennes Area Rescue Squad, Vergennes Opera House, VUHS Cheerleaders, Vergennes Community Forum, VUHS Friends of Music, and VUHS music students.

    As you can see this was truly a community effort!  The merchants had their store windows decorated with holiday trimmings.  The Boys & Girls Club acted as Santa's elves and wrapped over 100 gifts to place in Santa's BIG green bag.   Elves handed each of Santa's little visitors one of these gifts and had their picture taken by Beth Crosby.  The proceeds derived from the sale of these pictures benefited Toys for Tots! Vergennes Kinney Drugs sponsored the picture developing and have them ready for parents to pick up!

     The Champlain Valley Christian School spent hours decking out the Vergennes Opera House with their Festival of Wreaths Silent Auction and Winter Wonderland.  Prior to the event, the bare wreaths were given to area merchants and anyone who wished decorated one with items or gift certificates from their business.  The 45 wreaths that were sold were beautiful, each adorned in a different manner from $100's worth of twenty dollar bills, Carhartt clothing, jewelry, dining coupons, an antique tea set to a free dental cleaning!

    Free concerts by the Addison Gospel Choir, Jon Gailmor, and Maiden Vermont drew a large number of people. The “Stroll” with Santa and his elves brought the largest number ever of children with parents in tow!  They even paraded through Vergennes Residential Care home on their way down to the Bixby caroling as they went!  The Children's room at the library was packed with children for Santa's reading of Clement C. Moore's “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. The Bixby held a very successful Festival of Baskets Silent Auction.  Local merchants and Bixby patrons donated the items, totaling over $3000.

    Northlands Job Corps outdid themselves baking goodies to give to all!  Students dressed in their white uniforms and chef's hats, looked very professional as they doled out the free food which consisted of delectable quiche, crab-stuffed mushrooms, corn chowder, warm artichoke dip, cookies, mulled cider and hot cocoa.

    The VUHS Friends of Music and students did an outstanding job putting together Breakfast with Santa-Santa had over 200 young visitors while his elves were in his workshop doing face painting and helping children make holiday crafts. The Park Squeeze was home to Historical Tales and Gingerbread cookie decorating.  Over 60 children took part in the age-old holiday tradition of decorating gingerbread boys and girls.  Northlands Job Corps students baked the cookies and Deirdre Counter Real Estate supplied the trimmings as well as the expertise!  An enthusiastic group, led by David Welch of the Clock Shop, shared historical tales of Christmases past as well as tidbits of history pertaining to Vergennes and its residents.

    To the delight of children of all ages, an S T  Griswold truck made an appearance in City Park.  It came decked out with 28,000 colorful Christmas lights-a sight to behold!  Mayor April Jin, gave a speech from the bandstand and asked for the park to be lighted.  As if magical, the park went from darkness to trees bathed in light while the large group of attendees joined the Addison Gospel Choir in “Joy to the World”!

    Vergennes Holiday Stroll has something that appeals to everyone, the young and the young at heart!  See you next year!

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