Lots to do around the holidays

Written by Cathy Finnegan Saturday, 17 December 2011 00:00

Excited children and their parents lined Asbury Ave. on a clear, moonlit Friday, Dec. 2 awaiting the arrival of Santa in the Christmas parade. With a night off from the Texaco station, Allen Emenheiser brought his mom to the parade. The shops were open and restaurants were busy until the sirens on fire engines signaled the start of the parade. The mayor and council members along with reigning beauty queens rode by in convertibles followed by bands and floats. Jim and I enjoyed watching the parade with Gay Dillon-Donovan and her poodle; Jack and Lauralee Wiliford stopped by to chat. When Santa rode by in a white horse-drawn carriage he waved and called me by name and I assured him I’d been a good girl. After the parade, we strolled the avenue and caught up with Lynn and Jim Rybicki who recently enjoyed a trip to Disney World with their children and grandchildren.

Marcia Shallcross said she’s going to get white mums next year since my white mums are still thriving and look great with my outside Christmas lights. Muriel and Bill Elliott enjoyed the parade with daughter Jennifer Adamchak and 2-year-old granddaughter Anna Katherine. Muriel and Bill were delighted to run into good friends Chris and Earl Knaus, who drove up from Charlotte, S.C. for the weekend. Chris and Earl summered in O.C. when growing up and now own a condo in Ocean Colony. The Knaus’ son , Christopher, who is finishing medical school, graduated from the Naval Academy with John Elliott, and the families have been friends ever since. Chris’s mom, Millie Gibboni, who lives at The Shores at Wesley Manor, will be 100 in March. Chris, who worked at Bob’s Grill, Chris’s and Hogate’s during high school and college, would love to live in Ocean City year round, but can’t convince Earl.

Members of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church were hard at work decorating the sanctuary for Christmas when I arrived Saturday morning. Don Paul was up on a ladder on the chancel hanging garland and large wreaths that Jodie Lovett handed up to him. Phoebe Lindacher and Margaret Schock were so engrossed in placing garland around the altar rail that they missed having their picture taken. Anne Landolfi placed candles and garland in front of the stained glass windows while Andrea Paul, who coordinated all the decorating, placed wrapped packages under the tree in the narthex. Gene Lindacker and Steve Croft donned their coats as they headed outside to place wreaths on all the doors to the Sanctuary. Dave Wagner was busy fixing lights on the tree in Fellowship Hall while wife Merry ran over to Wallace Hardware to get more lights. Mary and Bob Mohr set about decorating the rest of the stage. I caught up with Judy Kelly single-handedly decorating the Stainton Room. Beautiful music filled the air as John Bate held a rehearsal of sopranos and altos in the music room, while Nancy Caine presided over a United Methodist Women’s board meeting in the Susannah Wesley room. Kara Hill set up a selection of Silpada Designs jewelry collection for Christmas shopping. Phil Young and Bill Bateson were everywhere lending a hand wherever needed and Brian Roberts stopped by to make sure all the decorations would be set for the Advent worship services Sunday morning.

On my way home, I stopped by the Community Center where they were holding a Holiday Craft Show to benefit the Arts Center. Once inside the center, I stopped to check out Shep Taylor of Custom Barrel Finishings featuring wine barrel staves, candle holders and coat hooks by The Mad Farmer. Laurie Howie was on hand to lend Shep a hand. Fred Marcell stopped to check out Barrel Finishings after attending a library meeting. When I whipped out my camera Paul Anselm rushed back into the Historic Museum. Dot Turner had a table featuring her handmade aprons, totes and scarves. Business was brisk for Edith Little at her Jazzy Jems Jewelry table where ladies lined up to select Christmas gifts from this fabulous collection. Joanne Budnick, Carla Migliaccio and Ginny Mulford shared a table of their handcrafted gifts. Ginny was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her third grandchild as son, Billy and his wife’s first child, a daughter, were due any moment. Ginny was headed down to Asbury Avenue to paint faces with daughter Shawna. I enjoyed meeting Pat Garza and Jane Alvino who had their handmade, eco-friendly dish and pet clothes for sale. Pat asked if I could get her a Charity League poinsettia pin they made several years ago. Jane has lived in Ocean City year-round for the past eight years, but summered here since 1948. Before retiring, Jane taught school in the South Bronx School system in New York City. Mary Daly, who lives down the street from the Community Center, is a “basketcase” as she’s “crazy about baskets” and had a large selection for sale at the craft show. Mary has lived in Ocean City 17 years, and teaches classes at the Arts Center. John Van Stone tapped me on the shoulder as he passed by after his workout in the fitness center.

The ladies of Eve Circle of the United Methodist Women were in a festive mood when they arrived at The Crab Trap for their Christmas dinner. Waiter Steve Gurss was putting the finishing touches on the private dining room when Andrea Paul, Lois Werner, Joan Wilson and this columnist arrived. I enjoyed dinner chatting with Anne Landolfi, Gretchen Bingham, Barb Adams and Mary Woods. Gretchen and husband Ralph were headed for New York City early the next day to hear their granddaughter, Sarah, sing at Carnegie Hall with her school choir. Marion McCaughey, who took up kayaking last summer, regaled the ladies with tales of her adventures with kayaker, Andrea Perry. Chris Sauer, who’s singing a solo at the Renault Winery annual Christmas dinner, Saturday, has been rehearsing with the Tuscany Singers along with Leslie Clarke and my son, Jimmy. Marie and Jerry Abarno stopped by to wish everyone a “merry Christmas.” I caught up with Maryann Jones, Brigette Walls and Dottie Hassett enjoying dinner in the main dining room. Jon Werley was celebrating his 58^th birthday with friends Denise and Gary Jessel, Gail and Bob Blevin, Steve Katsiff, Jim Kerrigan and others. The ladies were waiting when I finally got back to dinner as my number was the first one called for the Pollyanna, so I got to select from 17 wrapped packages. Everything was going along smooth until Gretchen’s number was called and she picked the gold angel I had, then I reached over and took Anne’s snowman picture frame and that was the start of a long gift swap.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.