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Volume 23, Number 36
Friday, December 6, 2019
Gingerbread Village kicks off holiday season at Coe
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
By Everett Bishop Town Times
that it continues to grow year after year,” said Jess Lobner, library director.
There’s a new village in Middlefield and those who wander through this whimsical place will find it’s very sweet. The Friends of the Levi E. Coe Library recently sponsored the first annual Gingerbread Village. Dozens of cozy gingerbread homes and buildings were constructed by members of the community and are on display at the library. Jennifer Gaylord and Jeff Gustafson man their posts at the Borrowed Time Emporium in the Red Barn in Durham. Photo by Everett Bishop, Town Times
Effort to promote shopping locally will get more analysis By Everett Bishop Town Times
Durham residents took to the streets Nov. 30 to shop local on Small Business Saturday. Participants could pick up a passport, from the library, to be stamped at participating local businesses, with full passports entered into a drawing for prizes. “I think it’s been going great so far,” said Lauren Redfield, head of youth services at the library. “We’ve had kind of a steady stream at our pop-up book sale downstairs and we’ve had a few customers come in to wrap gifts that they bought at small businesses in town.”
Janet Morganti, chair of the Durham Economic Development Commission, said 50 passports were handed out and 31 were returned.
in Durham, said Small Business Saturday had gone “really well” and she was seeing “spurts of people” coming into her shop.
While fewer passports were distributed than anticipated, Morganti said, “I think getting new people into any business is a success.”
“Everybody seems to be coming back to basics,” she said.
“There were so many people out getting Christmas trees as we saw around town. I don't know if this was a factor,” she added. “At least the tree farms were busy.” “We will be sending out a survey to the businesses for input,” Morganti said. Jennifer Gaylord, owner of Borrowed Time Emporium
“Those of us that are of a different generation are more interested in having a personal conversation and not on social media. We struggle with that. Both things work but it’s so much more valuable to have people come in, chit chat, and talk about their holiday and what they’re doing for Christmas.” ebishop@record-journal.com 203-317-2444 Twitter: @everett_bishop
“The library is very excited to host the first annual Gingerbread Festival hosted by the Friends of the Levi E. Coe Library. We’ve had lots of interest and we hope
The Gingerbread Village also doubles as a competition and fundraiser for the Friends. Raffle tickets will be sold to visitors who then will be able to vote on their favorite gingerbread creation. “We made three houses for our first attempt this year. We had a great time but what we learned is that more than frosting goes into making a gingerbread house,” said Sue Dorvilliers, director of senior and social services. See Coe, A4
The Levi E. Coe library staff completed a gingerbread library for their contribution to the village. Photos by Everett Bishop, Town Times
The King/Painter family created Strawberry Lane Farm, complete with ducks, pigs and chickens.