Published: July 21, 2009 07:18 pm         

Rosedale celebrates successful Strawberry Fest

Planning sessions abound in Rosedale this year as citizens wrap up from their recent Strawberry Festival, move on to Covered Bridge Festival activities and Christmas events, and begin work on yet bigger things. At the July 7 meeting of the Town Board, the stage was also set for Rosedale’s 200th birthday celebration, scheduled to coincide with Strawberry Festival 2010 on June 4 through 6 of next year.

With the highly successful 2009 Rosedale Strawberry Festival behind them, citizens of the town are now gearing up for Rosedale’s segment of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, running Oct. 9-18 this year. A daily tour bus Red Route stop, Florida Township Civic Center will welcome visitors with plate dinners, seasonal treats, and an abundance of genuine handcrafted products, artistic works and specialty items. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, this site has no admission charge and ample parking available. For more information on Civic Center vending space, persons may call Civic Center president Julia Hickman at (765) 548-2252.

Applications are also now available for booth space at the Rosedale Christmas Craft Fair to be staged in the gymnasium and main hall of Rosedale Elementary School. A growing event, it will be expanding this year to two days, Dec. 11-12. Original crafts and artisan works will be featured, as will other seasonal favorites. Santa will take up residence for its duration, and his elves will provide day care for parent shoppers. Meals and children’s treats will also be offered. More information on this PTO-sponsored project is available by calling (765) 548-0529 or the school office at (765) 548-2454.

The town’s bicentennial will give an additional impetus to 2010 Strawberry Festival activities as the incorporation itself joins in to create a far larger event in honor of the 200th anniversary of Rosedale’s founder, John Doty, laying claim to the first piece of land in Parke County. While details of the event are far from firmed up, it is anticipated to bring a wealth of fresh activities and attractions. Persons interested in joining in the festival’s special planning sessions or contributing their ideas may call the Rosedale town hall at (765) 548-2528 or the Community Association of Rosedale at (765) 548-0529 or (765) 832-9455 or may e-mail to historicrosedale@yahoo.com. The Community Association of Rosedale, organizers of Strawberry Festival, stages meetings open to the public at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Civic Center, at the corner of Main and Central streets in Rosedale. The Town Board meets regularly the second Tuesday of each month. The public is welcome to attend.

The success of any festival can be shown in many ways from its crowd count to the net proceeds of its nonprofit organization participants. A professional crowd count identified over 500 visitors gathered to watch Strawberry 2009’s Saturday evening concert lineup, strawberry shortcake sales set a new record, and nonprofit dinners sold out daily. However, yet another measure of success comes from the numerous high-quality participants in pageants and contests throughout the event. Among the many results of the recent 2009 Strawberry Festival was crowning of Rockville High School graduate Pam Padan as winner of the 2009 queen pageant and recipient of the event’s $500 college scholarship. First runner-up in that competition was Sara Yelich, with Page Fetter receiving the second runner-up title.

Outstanding Man and Woman of the Year, chosen by essays submitted on their behalf, were Rosedale citizens Art Jones and Pat Manley. This year’s two new Golden Strawberry Awards for teaching excellence, patterned after the Golden Apple selection process and chosen through both student and parent recommendations, were presented to second grade teacher Mary Ann Williams of Rosedale Elementary School; and to Josh Douglas of Riverton Parke Junior-Senior High School, who teaches agriculture and shop courses and sponsors the school’s FFA chapter.

In the Junior Miss pageant for ages 12 to 15, Laura Haase was crowned winner with runners-up Megan Bullington and Page Fetters as her court. Matt Dickerson fiddled his way to a cash prize in this year’s Strawberry’s Got Talent competition for those age 15 to adult, and a vocal and guitar presentation by Maria Lysandrou of Bloomington won her the prize for the age 14 and under category. In other competitions, Erin Silotto, daughter of Vicky Carlson of Dana, was crowned Little Miss 2009. Lillie Henderson, age 4 of Rockville, won the Mini-Miss title, accompanied by Mini-Mister Aaron Dickerson, age 2.