Warm Weather Encourages Christmas Strollers
Author: MT43 News Staff Reporter
Warm Weather Encourages Christmas Strollers
MT43 News Staff Reporter
The weather was almost balmy Saturday, 53 degrees at one point when the annual Christmas Stroll began on Broadway. Crafters and food vendors plied more than usual booths all over town.
Theo Peachey, a fifth grader at an East Helena grade school, stood behind his woodcraft booth along with his father in the Jeannie Steel building. Under the watchful eye of his father, Menno, Theo explained how he gathered reclaimed wood from his father’s lumber mill and old barns to make exceptional crosses, birdhouses, bread baskets and lighted Christmas trees. A quiet, but direct young man, he said he had already learned how to use a nail gun, a chop saw and a table saw. He comes by his artistic talent honestly. His mother Kaila displayed pottery dishes as well.
On the opposite end of Broadway, the Rocky Mountain Rough Hands 4-H club was selling their usual steak sandwiches. According to Club President Cassidy Flynn, this is the second year the club offered sandwiches at the stroll. Her father Warren Flynn is the official griller. When asked if he had any experience grilling steaks for large numbers of people, he laughed. Warren has been cooking for the well-known nonprofit Bible Camp since he was young. “I can’t even count how many steaks I’ve grilled through the years,” he said. Cassidy explained the money raised goes to events such as Deep Creek Cemetery cleanup day, Townsend baseball, tree plantings and Broadwater Fair and Rodeo events.
Halfway down the street James Blythe from Banshee Entertainment of Helena played the Christmas music. Blythe, a Scotsman, dressed in full regalia with hat and kilt. He has been acting as a DJ for 14 years with the business bringing karaoke to venues such as the Commercial Bar here in town, and in Basin, Montana.
At the gazebo, a tree stood silently in memory of Mary Alice Upton, a long-time State Bank of Townsend employee and huge supporter of all things Townsend. She organized the Christmas Connection for toys and clothes for those in need. She helped start the Christmas Stroll through Townsend Area Chamber of Commerce where she served as secretary for years. She also served as Mayor of Townsend for 29 years and was active in the American Legion Auxiliary. Mary Alice passed away in September of this year.
Chamber member Doug Sitton was more than pleased with the success of this year’s stroll. “The Christmas spirit was alive and well in Townsend. That kind of spirit and joy can’t be bought,” he said.
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks, MT43News Photographer
Image 1 Caption: Theo Peachey and his dad take care of their wood carving and pottery booth at Jennie Steele's building during the Stroll.
Nancy Marks, MT43News Photographer
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Image 2 Caption: DJ James Flythe worked the music booth to create a great atmosphere for the Stroll.
Nancy Marks, MT43News Photographer
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Image 3 Caption: Mr. and Mrs. Santa, Gene and Jim Hoff, welcome little ones at the gazebo. Hoff and his wife also were Santa at C Hangin' C open house and the East Helena Stroll. They live in Helena.
Nancy Marks, MT43News Photographer
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Image 4 Caption: Snow Globe friends Lilli, KK and Kenzy
Nancy Marks, MT43News Photographer
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Image 5 Caption: Steak Griller Warren Flynn and his daughter Cassidy help make sandwiches for their 4-H clubs' fundraiser.
Nancy Marks, MT43News Photographer
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