Frewsburg Gala Days, Old Home Week End Today
By Sharon Turano sturano@post-journal.comArticle Photos
FREWSBURG - Jamestown's Shawn Simpson turned a mistake into a way to make money and put a smile on the faces of those visiting area festivals including those at Frewsburg's 85th Old Home Week.
The annual volunteer fire department fundraiser began Wednesday and continues through today.
The carnival is complete with bands, food, rides, games and more. It is also where Simpson set up his craft.
Simpson said he was making candles about 15 years ago, when something accidentally fell into the pot of wax he was using. He reached in to get it and ended up with a waxed hand. He worked on the craft and offers it to those attending area festivals, just like Frewsburg's Maddie Howard, who dipped her hand into the wax Friday to take home a souvenir of her time at the festival, being able to keep forever just how her hand looked at the time she visited the event.
"I thought it looked cool," she said, adding she plans to put the replica of her hand in her room.
"I usually get stuffed animals," she said about the usual carnival souvenir, admiring the hand instead.
"I can always remember it's me," said Maddie.
"It's a good, fun thing," said Simpson.
Those attending the festival were not the only ones enjoying the night.
Alex DiMaio has worked at the food tent for about eight years "to help the fire department."
"It's part of a small community," he said about why he has chosen to do the cooking. For the first time this year, he said the volunteers ran out of fish fries Friday, even though the volunteers got the same amount as they usually do. Today, they will serve something else at the festival and fire department fundraiser.
Fire Department Treasurer Donna Elderkin volunteers her time, too. Not only does she like helping the fire department, which uses festival proceeds for equipment, but, she said, she enjoys working at the festival, also. She said it is a way to meet people and make sure fire department equipment is kept up to standards.
The festival opens at 1 p.m. today, and the grand parade is planned for 5 p.m., today with fireworks to be held at dusk. "New Wave Nation" takes the stage at 9 p.m. prior to the 85th annual Old Home Week coming to a close.
"It's a good fundraiser for the fire company," said Tom Moore, chairman of the Gala Days Committee. He said funds raised at previous events went toward purchasing and maintaining equipment for the fire department. He said that is important as older equipment has become outdated due to new technology.
"Our ambulance is up to snuff," he said.
In addition, he said he enjoys the gala, which he has worked on for 29 years.
"It's kind of a gathering," he said, adding you run into people you never see. Then again, he said, many firefighters also come together to work the event.
"I enjoy it," he said.
"People come out from the community," he said, adding about 5,000 were expected.
