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To the Editor:
On behalf of Altamont Community Tradition, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who helped make our 11th Annual Victorian Holiday a rousing success.
This year was the biggest year ever with over 350 touring our Holiday Houses. We are especially grateful to our House Hosts who so graciously opened their homes for the festive occasion. These hosts include Father Girzone, the Loparcos, the Owens, Laura Shore, Barbara Harris, and Frank Williams; their tremendous efforts were greatly appreciated.
The visitors were guided by house volunteers including Prudy Ciaccio, Mary Hughes, Judy Newcomb, Michele Paulson, Kate Provencher, Irene Peck, and Nicole Waggoner of the State Employees Federal Credit Union.
We also want to thank our SEFCU volunteers — Nancy, Shelly, and Ashley — without whom we would have been lost.
The children were delighted with the balloon hats created by our clown, MacIntosh, played by Tom Person, and were busy making crafts at the activities table of Meg Seinberg-Hughes and Pam Crounse! I am sure that parents, as well as ACT members, appreciated their efforts!
The People’s Choice winners for the Festival of Trees were: first place, The Spinning Room; second place, Altamont General Dentistry; third place, SEFCU. Mio Vino got an honorable mention.
Our thanks go to our business sponsors that actually enable us to put on the event. They include SEFCU, Altamont Country Values, First National Bank of Scotia, SMS Trains, Key Bank, and Big John’s Portable Toilets.
Prizes for Festival of Tree winners were donated by the Home Front Café, Mio Vino, ReNue Spa, and Subway. We urge readers to support these businesses that have so generously supported our festivities and our community.
We cannot forget those wonderful folks who decorated trees and wreaths for our Festival of Trees, as well as the children at Altamont Free Library who made gingerbread houses; their efforts and talents added the beauty and Holiday pizzazz that was evident everywhere.
Many attendees were enchanted with the musical abilities of Girl Scout Troop 1133; the girls sang carols at two of the houses, and then transitioned into the angels they are for the re-creation of the first Christmas, presented by the Altamont Reformed Church. Thanks so much, girls!
Let’s not forget the Boy Scouts who ably manned the fire pits in Orsini Park where families awaiting Santa could warm their hands.
Of course, we at ACT are so grateful for the Masons who allow us to use their hall for this yearly event as well as for our meetings all year long. They are so generous to us and the community and have always been a great village presence.
The ladies of the Eastern Star supplied baked goods and hot drinks for sale during the Event hours as well.
To end this lengthy list of appreciation, I personally wish to thank the ACT Board of Directors that pitched in on the planning, executing, and cleaning up this wonderful seasonal effort; the board members and their spouses are the best!
Judith Dineen, president
Altamont
Community Tradition