To the Editor:
Many heartfelt thanks to everyone (volunteers and attendees) that helped make my eighth annual holiday party for town of Verona residents Dec. 10 a huge success! Fabulous volunteers worked together to make this event happen and festive attendees shared the Christmas holiday spirit. Some pictures from this event can be found on my website www.fritzscherz.com.
Thanks to the following people for taking part in the programmatic portion of the event (listed in order of appearance): Gretchen LaSalle of Kids Oneida for face painting; Trooper Mark Buzzard and K9 CT (both from the New York State Police) for interacting with the attendees and showing some of K9 CT’s abilities; Richelle Singer of Cornell Cooperative Extension for make & take activities; Liz Friedel performing songs on her violin; the following Christmas story readers: Honorable Rob Maciol (Oneida County Sheriff), Honorable Philip Rougeux (New York State Police Major), and Honorable Gregory Pflieger (Oneida County Sheriff’s Office); Santa Claus for giving gifts to the children; Honorable Rob Swenszkowski (Oneida County Undersheriff) for singing Christmas songs, Jason Barady (of Floodwood) for performing tunes on his mandolin; Elena Bartlett for performing songs on her violin; and Christopher Wiehl (of The Magic of Chris Wheel) for the family – oriented magic show.
Thanks to the following people for helping in a variety of ways: Jay Aiello, Glenda & Steve Bartlett, Mary Jo Beach, Steven Bulger, Jennifer & Megan Centore, Honorable Mike Clancy, Dave Coombs, Andrew Derminio, Rachel Dunne, Frank Elias, Martha Group, Jeff Hull, Dan Hunt, Bill Keeler, Rocco LaDuca, Jeff Monaski, Carole Nowak, Craig Semans, Fred & Sue Stefanik, Margaret Visalli, Mary, Owen & Spencer Walker, Tami Whooten, Diana Wilson, and Mary Margaret Zehr.
Thanks to the following businesses and/or organizations for donating baked goods and/or gifts or simply helping out: Circle K, Colgate University Football, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Dunkin’ Donuts (Verona), Kids Oneida, New York State Police, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Oneida Indian Nation SavOn, Price Chopper (Oneida), Recovery Sports Grill, Staples (New Hartford), Utica Coffee, Villa Verona Vineyard & Bistro, Walmart (Oneida) and the media that helped publicize the Holiday Party.
Thanks to the Verona Fire Department for providing the venue for the Holiday Party and for helping make Santa’s arrival special via a parade. Thanks to Durhamville Fire Department, New London Fire Department, Sylvan Beach Fire Department and Verona Fire Department as well as the New York State Police and Oneida County Sheriff’s Office for taking part in the parade, too. Special thanks to my wife, Kathy, and our children, Katherine, Marissa, and Freddy for being so supportive, encouraging, and helpful during the weeks leading up to the Holiday Party and during the event itself.
In closing, the bottom line is that so many people worked together to make this event happen. It is people like you that make a community great! I am so honored to call these great people my friends and Verona my hometown! Thank you!!! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!!
Fritz Scherz, Councilman, Verona Town Board and President, Oneida County Association of Towns