The joyful spirit of the holiday season has filled Verrado bringing family and friends together to enjoy heart warming and meaningful traditions.
The 12th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration on Saturday, December 5, kicked off Hometown Holidays, with over 3,000 residents and their guests gathered on Main Street and the Village Green to experience the charming festivities sponsored by the Verrado Assembly and generous community partners.
Bashas’ for provided 1,500 cups of complimentary hot chocolate to support Joy of Giving and raised $706.50 in donations. Blue Daisy Day Spa and the Barber Shop offered a beaded candy cane ornament craft to every good little girl and boy who attended.
The Goddard School® helped 1,032 guests decorate sugar cookies and KD’s Art Studio and Vitras Swim Club assisted in the creation of 400 gingerbread houses.
The Boy Scouts hosted games and activities for the little ones to burn off their sugar highs while parents mixed and mingled nearby. Verrado Realty gave away 500 festive light-up bracelets and hosted the Gingerbread House Display.
The tractor-drawn wagon rides, sponsored by DLC Resources, Inc, escorted Santa as he greeted the anxiously awaiting crowd and then provided merry rides around the Green throughout the evening. Over 321 children had an opportunity to visit with Santa and share their wish list before leaving with a souvenir photo provided by Main Street Dental.
What would a winter wonderland be without snow? Thanks to Summit Community Church snow fell in the Village Green, 15 tons of it to be exact, creating Snow Summit for all to enjoy.
Thank you to EPCOR Water for their overall support of the event. Last, but certainly not least, Anderson Institute of Music and Performing Arts along with their students and Phoenix Hill band entertained with delightful vocal and instrumental holiday music and caroling.
The highlight of the evening was the lighting of the tree with the honors performed by Verrado High School’s amazing football team, the Verrado Vipers. The tallest tree thus far, standing proud at 50 feet, the beauty was lit as the crowd watched in awe and marked the beginning of the much-anticipated season.
Earlier that day 46 residents attended the Blood Drive held at The Center on Main™ resulting in 38 procedures for our community and helping the United Blood Service to reach 119% of their blood drive goal. Thank you to resident volunteer, Cathie Pitts, for leading this important effort again this year.
The following day, the Joy of Giving Celebration was hosted at the Verrado Golf Club®. The generosity of the community filled the room with toys, diapers, clothing, non-perishable food items and collected nearly $5,000 in monetary and gift card donations in support of local non-profit organizations All Faith Community Services, Homeless Youth Connection and Buckeye Super Heroes who will then distribute to thousands of families in need helping to make their season a little brighter.
The We Heart Christmas Home Tour, another resident-inspired philanthropic endeavor, took place on Sunday, December 13th. Verrado residents opened their homes to share the spirit and sparkle of Christmas traditions. And new this year was a stop at The Big Patio™ for refreshments, music and an opportunity to meet with the members of New Life Center whose organization benefited from this year’s proceeds. Reporting a record number of attendees so far at approximately 400 guests raising over $3000!
New Traditions introduced in 2015
Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
Houses were judged during the Tree Lighting Celebration and then on display for a week following the event at The Center on Main. The 15 fabulous entries made for tough competition but the judges awarded the following winners:
Group Entry
1st: Connie Lenski & Michelle Rogers
2nd: Hydro Hotties
3rd: Vitras Swim Club
Individual Entry
1st: Carmen Ganam
2nd: Veronika Patti
3rd: Cialyn Quin
Holiday Home Decorating Contest
Judging took place December 15-18 and homes were selected in several categories. The proud winners were announced on December 21 and display a sign in their yard. Be sure to take a drive through the community and check out the creative work of your neighbors.
Originality
Unique design and creative use of lights and decorations
2854 North Heritage Street, Charles and Liliana Hydeman
Arrangement
Display and placement of decorations
20825 W Main Street, Joseph Cash
Theme
Story line or scene
20367 W Lost Creek Drive, Larry Dial
Overall Presentation
20555 W Daniel Place, Chris Macholl
From the entire Verrado Assembly team, we wish you a very Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year!