'Thank you' from Christmas in Harrison

To the Editor:

The Christmas in Harrison Committee would like to thank everyone who generously gave to make the 25th annual celebration possible. To all of those who make the Silver Bells ring, the lights glow and the village sparkle, we extend our deep gratitude. We are grateful for the Christmas Spirit of all those who participate. We would like to recognize everyone who made the magic happen and apologize if we have missed anyone.

Thank you to the Harrison Old Home Days Committee for providing a wonderful event at which we could sell raffle tickets; the Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce for letting us use their mobile building to set up our raffle items during Old Homes Days; all of those who have purchased raffle tickets and items for sale; Adam and Aaron Gosselin of Cook’s Tree Service for hanging the lights on the outside Christmas Tree at the Town Office; the Congregational Church of Harrison for allowing us to have Soup and Song and for putting on the Saturday breakfast; all of those who made soup and desserts; John Anderson and Theo Ross for providing music and leading us in song; Martha Merrill for organizing the evening program and Nativity; the Christmas Choir; Rev. Frank Anderson, Melanie LaFrenea, Debby Dabczynski, Kemsen Searles, John Schiefferstein, Becky La Perle, Whitney Schiefferstein, Riley and Quinn Schiefferstein, Riyder La Perle, Nick Soucy, Bill Melby, Averill Davis, Robert Baker, Donna; Mark Contonio and his mini equines; Becky and Dwight Smith and their llamas and Russ Merrill for participating in the program and Nativity.

Plus, Decorating Contest sponsors The Market Basket, The Village Tie Up and Reliable Rubbish Removal, all those who decorated their home or business and of course, our judges.

Also, the Girl Scouts for caroling; John Sparrow and The Harrison Brass Band for providing wonderful music; Richard Cerone for contacting Santa and Ernie Field for bring Santa on the antique fire truck; the Lions club for having the food booth, open house, Christmas tree sale, raffle walk and generous donation; Mary Tremblay for decorating Santa’s area at the Town Office; the Lakeside Grange for providing space for the Craft Fair; all of the crafters with their wonderful wares; Harrison Friendly Riders Snowmobile Club for having their food booth; the Harrison Ballroom for having the Zumba Class/Demo and open house and Claudia Hodgdon for organizing and announcing the parade.

Parade participants include Harrison Fire Dept. trucks #4, #1, #3 - Lynn Foss, Ernie Field, Tom Thomas and Kevin LaPlante; Bridgton Fire Dept.; Kate Donahue and dogs Jazz and Ringo; Christmas in Harrison Banner - McKinley, Julie and Kirsten; Jaci’s Jazzettes Dance Team of West Paris, Jaci Lorrain, instructor; Waterford Twinkle Twirlers of Waterford, Jen Carter, instuctor; MacDonald Motors Double Ended Truck driven by Ed Crowell; Western Maine Fish & Game Club ATV driven by Jody Bedard; Woodstock Oil & Propane Co.; Harrison Friendly Riders Snowmobile Club - Nancy and Henry Hudson; Pulpit Rock Trail Blazah’s of Waterford, driven by Linda Mercer, Pres.; Nelson and Travis Cummings; Vaughn and Blynn Thurston; Maggie May; Pearle Hemingway; Mara and Nevaeh; Averill Davis-Antique Car; Friends of Shawnee Peak of Bridgton; Melissa Rock and Kyle Warren of Warren Excavation; QC Services; the Schieferstein Family; Ronald G St. John VFW Post 9328 of Harrison with Post Commander Brian Spaulding; Ladies Auxiliary President Cynthia Moxcey with members Beulah Holden and Ginny Spaulding; Equine Riders -Haley riding on Coors Two Below Zero, Abbey riding on Jasmine, Jordan riding on Orrin and Chris Kane leading pony Sassey Chica; Angelica Plante and Jay Milo with Julia, James, Mae, Sophia and Irina, Kelly Howard, Elise D, and of course Santa Claus; Evergreen Landscaping for use of their driveway; Anne Plummer for allowing our banner; Pam Stock, Pete Gaouette, Hank Dumont and Gary Pagel for traffic control during the parade; Ed Crowell, Mike Morrisette, Bob Celeste, George Maguire, Don Dickerson, Lou Bernier, Bud Finch, Adam Berecz, Lloyd Robinson, Hank Dumont and Pete Gaouette for traffic control throughout the day; Darcy Winslow for organizing the Craft Fair at both the Grange and the Town Office; The Farmer’s Draft Horse, Mule and Pony Club with Stan Merrill, Pen-Beth Farm, Harrison, with Bill Winslow, High View Farm, Harrison and Bob Creighton, Pine Hill Mules, Berwick for providing Wagon Rides and Tom Thomas for making sure everyone got on and off safely; Ann Petroska for organizing and conducting the Children’s Crafts at the Town Office; Cathy McMahon for organizing and conducting the Children’s Treasure Hunt; Christine Kane for providing Pony Rides; The Olde Mill Tavern and Rick Albert for hosting Santa and an Open House; the Harrison Village Library for hosting the Cookie Walk and Gingerbread Man Decorating; the Gateway Marina, Jerry Knapp and family, for providing space for the Greenery Swag Making; Martha Pinkham and Iris White for helping with the Swag Making; Haki-Sacc for putting on the Spaghetti Supper; the Waterford World’s Fair for sponsoring the dance at the VFW; Crooked River Lodge for having Wassail and cookies; Elihu Upham of WUPH Radio for interviewing the children; Averill Davis and Russ Merrill for hanging flags, putting up signs and the star on the Block Building; Lloyd Robinson for putting up sign toppers; Barbara Dalgaard for the donation to light the star and the Ballroom, Crystal Lake Spa and Wellness Center, Market Basket, Heritage Realty, The Village Tie Up, Northeast Bank, Caswell House Restaurant and The Greenwood Manor Inn for their open houses.

It takes a town full of warm, generous people to put on an event like Christmas in Harrison and the Christmas in Harrison Committee works year round to pull it all together. We are thankful and blessed for each and every hand, heart and mind that joins us in creating the magic. We are sure we may have missed one or more of the wonderful people that helped make the 25th Christmas In Harrison sparkle and shine and we apologize wholeheartedly. Please know that we cherish every act, donation and idea and would not be able to make this happen without you.

Thank you to the members of the Christmas in Harrison Committee for your hard work and sparkling personalities: Judy Gaouette, Claudia Hodgson, Sheila Baxter, Martha Pinkham, Marge Levesque, Iris White, Anne Kallander, Kelly Howard, Pat and Don Dickerson, Marilyn and George Maguire, Muffett Crowell, Lorene Miklos, Jen Edwards, Heather Robinson and Robin Mayes.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Muffett Crowell

Christmas in Harrison Committee