By Staff
While much superstition has long surrounded the number 13, which is often thought to be a sign of misfortune, just the opposite was true for 13 individuals, who this week received Universal Dowagiac Gift Certificates or a basket-full of toys, courtesy of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and corporate sponsors of last weekend's Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration.
Ten-year-old Sara Wright, the daughter of Jane Wright of Dowagiac and the late John Wright, won the girl's gift basket, which was filled with Barbie dolls and accessories, and stood nearly three feet tall.
The boy's basket, filled with Hot Wheels, was claimed by 7-year-old John Hassle Jr., the son of John Sr. and Michele Hassle of Dowagiac.
Both gift baskets, which were topped with a plush white Teddy bear that sported a bright red holiday bow, were valued at approximately $100.
During the holiday celebration, presented by the Chamber of Commerce and Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, children were invited to sign up for the giant gift basket drawing, while visiting the Old-World Santa at Beckwith Park on Saturday.
According to Vickie Phillipson, program director of the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority (DDA), who organized the event, 238 youngsters entered the drawing.
Corporate sponsors of the $7,000 community-wide celebration, in addition to the hospital and the Chamber of Commerce were: Matthew Cripe Dental P.C., Family Fare and Spartan Stores, dentists Dr. Charles Burling and Dr. Jon Gillesby, Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union and Williams A-1 Expert Tree Service.
Phillipson presented the children's gift baskets to the winners Tuesday, along with the once-in-a-lifetime invitation to accompany jolly ol' St. Nick in the upcoming holiday parade.
Dowagiac's 105-unit Candlelight Christmas Parade steps off in the central business district on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m.
Phillipson said parade-goers can watch for Santa, along with Sara and John Jr., who will appear as parade unit 19, in the three-seat carriage driven by John Touse of Constantine.
Reminiscent of the role the historic Dowagiac train depot played in the early development of the community, this year's celebration featured a new marketing look, built around a bright red and green train organizers called "The Holiday Express," as they introduced a storefront scavenger hunt to the line-up of family activities.
Jody Crandall of Dowagiac won the scavenger hunt's $100 Universal Dowagiac Gift Certificate, after correctly unscrambling letter blocks, displayed in storefront windows, that formed the correct phrase, which retail organizers announced Tuesday as being "Santa says: Climb aboard the Holiday Express, shop Dowagiac."
The winning entry was pulled from 16 correct entries of the 48 games sheets, which were turned in to participating retail locations during the Nov. 21-23 Christmas Open House Weekend.
The correct phrase was also unscrambled by: Rebecca Thiessen of Downers Grove, Il.; Judy Thiessen of Lockport, Ill.; Darlene Sieber, Rosemary Weaver, Lisa Bennett, Christine and Amanda Van Husan, Linda Zeilke, Darci Busby, Linda Alexander, Mary Ivey, David Garrelts, Reuben Hodgson and Linda Wade, all of Dowagiac; and Pat Cloutier of Niles.
The Universal Dowagiac Gift Certificate drawing, which opened Friday morning and ran through Sunday, awarded 10 $25 gift cards to shoppers, who registered during the holiday celebration.
The winners and the locations they registered at included: Mary Adams of Niles, Booth's Country Florist; Audrey Hart of Eau Claire, Caruso's Candy Kitchen; Michelle Yoder of Elkhart, Ind., Front Street Winery; Lillian Schoetzow of Dowagiac, Imperial Furniture; Wendy Larson of Portage, Laurie Anne's; Diane Petlick of St. Joseph, The Marshall Shoppe; Donna Jordan of Dowagiac, Underwood Shoes; Pamela Mullen of Vandalia, Vincent J. Jewelers; Barb Burton of Niles, Who Knew? Consignment; and Ronnee Greathouse of Buchanan, The Wren's Nest.