Garden Spot Village Will Celebrate 13th Fall Festival And Auction

Photo by Ann Mead Ash
Garden Spot Village resident Ray Hutton (left) and director of development Linda Dodge are preparing for the celebration of the 13th annual fall festival and auction at the Village on Saturday, Oct. 10. This year, new additions to the event include a chicken barbecue and moving the auction outside to a tent in front of the Garden Spot Village chapel.

By Ann Mead Ash

Garden Spot Village (GSV), 433 Kinzer Avenue, New Holland, will celebrate its 13th annual fall festival on Saturday, Oct. 10. The auction will be held outdoors, where attendees can enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the annual event, such as the chicken barbecue, which is a new addition to the food offerings. The auction, which was traditionally held in the Village's chapel, will move to a large tent located in front of the chapel entrance. The chapel will become the food court, and several activities, including the art show, train display, and apple dumpling sale, will be held inside. All proceeds from the event will benefit the GSV benevolent fund.

Also new this year will be the addition of a Share-a-Meal program, which will allow individuals and groups the opportunity to purchase tickets for a meal to be prepared by a GSV resident or staff member at a future date. Share-a-Meal experiences will include a four-course lasagna dinner, an Indian dinner, and breakfast in the GSV main kitchen.

Other foods for sale at the event will include soft pretzels, hot dogs, beef barbecue, chili, chicken corn soup, chips, and beverages, such as cider. Linda Dodge, director of development at GSV, said that the apple dumplings and the homemade baked goods are always popular at the event. "More than 600 apple dumplings were sold last year," she said. "Our residents and staff step up to the plate to make wonderful things for our bake sale," she added.

Auction items will be available for preview in the chapel beginning at 8 a.m. Bidding on silent auction items will begin at the same time and end at 11 a.m. The live auction, which will begin at 10 a.m., will feature a variety of handmade items such as quilts as well as and furniture from the GSV woodshop,

Wooden furniture will include a pie safe made by Bill George, rotating bookcases made by Harry Black, and a pendulum cradle of pine built by Ray Hutton. Hutton, chair of the 50-plus member woodshop, said that he became involved in the auction because the benevolent fund, which helps residents who have exhausted their funds, is a cause he feels strongly about. "We're doing a bit of good for someone. All of us feel very close to that. It's an important part of our lives here," he said.

Along with the many wood crafts, the auction will include artwork, hooked rugs, glassware, and concert tickets.

Activities for children, which will begin at 10 a.m., will include face painting, pumpkin decorating, model airplane flight simualtion experiences, and visits to the model train room, which will be open until noon.

Other changes in this year’s event include adding four GSV residents to the planning committee. They include Harry Black, Chuck Nemee, Fay Strickler, and Ken Wendel. "The residents have been delighted to be on a committee and have been such an unbelievable asset," said Linda Dodge, who is the new director of development for the retirement community.

Last year, the event raised a total of $58,000 thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, who matched the funds raised by the auction.

Readers who would like to learn more about the fall festival may visit www.gardenspotvillage.org or call 355-6000.

New Holland Penny Saver - 10/07/2009

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