Chalk it up to fun
Celebrate Poland continues to delight
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POLAND -- Like many people three years ago, Jennifer Downie was disappointed when a family-friendly funfest was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but she dealt with that feeling with a little creative and colorful improvisation.
"People walked on my street and took pictures or posed with it. It got them out of their homes to see the art," Downie, 51, of Poland, remembered.
Since the health crisis shut down all activities associated with the yearly Celebrate Poland in 2020, including Chalk the Walk, Downie decided to chalk the bottom of her driveway -- to the delight of passers-by.
On Saturday, though, Downie was among those who decorated slabs of sidewalk with acrylic chalk, this time to create a large patriotic portrait of the Snoopy character wearing red, white and blue, and complemented with fireworks.
She also was among the registered artists who brought added delight to many people of all ages who attended the 17th annual Celebrate Poland, which kicked off Friday at the Village Hall on South Main Street.
The event's first day included a strawberry festival, a graveyard tour and entertainment by the House Band, Cindy Best, Celebrate Poland's president, said.
A new and special feature for this year's gathering was a noon fireman's parade to honor and celebrate the Western Reserve Joint Fire District's 100-year anniversary. The parade, which featured numerous area fire departments, marched more than a mile from near Poland Seminary High School to College Street, Best added.
Departments represented included those from Poland, New Middletown, Coitsville, Pulaski, Pa., Struthers, Columbiana and Lowellville. Additional parade entries included the Poland Seminary High Bulldogs football team, as well as vintage vehicles.
Jim Stewart, a WRJFD assistant fire chief, served as grand marshal.
A Poland Idol contest that had been scheduled for Saturday morning in the Village Hall gazebo was moved to Oct. 7 because of the parade, Best noted.
Last year's idol competition is still fresh on the mind of Marina Stamos, 8, of Campbell, who came in third place for her rendition of the 2017 song "A Million Dreams," by Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams and Ziv Zaifman, and from the film "The Greatest Showman."
"I want to be a singer when I grow up; I think I'm really good at it," Marina, a Lowellville K-12 School third-grader, said.
On Saturday, however, she was learning more about the habits and characteristics of honeybees, courtesy of Lori Mowad, who runs a Poland-based business called Let it Bee Honey.
Mowad brought an enclosed bee farm that showed how a clustered and coordinated network of honeybees work together to protect the queen bee and gather pollen. She also had for sale several varieties of honey, as well as items made from beeswax.
Other Celebrate Poland-related activities Marina planned to take part in Saturday were a petting zoo and "lots of stuff for kids," she added. Marina came with her parents, Pete Stamos and Valerie Lombardo.
Also among the more than 50 vendors Saturday in the marketplace were the Poland Historical Society, Animal Charity of Ohio, Poland Village Baptist Church, 1054 Designs, Stitch Witch, Lotus Spa & Salon, Make 'n' Take Bows, Celebrate Recovery and Rust Belt Comics. The historical society was selling old school books and other merchandise associated with Poland's early days.
Matt White, a Rust Belt Comics' co-owner, was selling his own merchandise from back in the day -- to the tune of about 2,000 vintage comic books with easily recognizable names such as Spiderman, Dennis the Menace, Batman, Thor, GI Joe, Ironman, the Avengers, Flash and Captain America.
His price range was $1 to $600. The oldest one White had at his booth was a 1948 Giggle Comics book he was selling for $25.
In addition, the beloved two-day event featured a baking contest with two divisions -- one each for adults and children, and with a lemon theme, Best said.
Additional activities included miniature golf, courtesy of the Poland Lions Club, along with a walking tour of South Main Street's historical homes and church, the appearance of several area authors and a book sale at the Poland branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, a children's scavenger hunt and several inflatable bounce houses.
Celebrate Poland ended with a 10 p.m. fireworks show.