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Community Corner

'Tis the Season to be Shopping

Locals shopped at the Christmas market and craft fair at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Local shoppers found a way to dodge the lines and crowded malls but still get their holiday presents. On Saturday, Dec. 4, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church welcomed the public to its Christmas market and craft fair featuring clothes, jewelry, toys, holiday decor and handmade items with reasonable prices.

Like all non-profit organizations and churches, Gloria Dei relies on its members and donations for financial support."[The Christmas Market] is a way for us to help out the bottom line for the church…and deal with expenses," said Church Council President, Donald O'Neil. Funds are generated through the event by selling space to small retailers from around the area who in turn can keep all of the profits that they make.

Spread out over two floors, 25 vendors were at this year's Christmas market. The doors stayed open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but more was to be desired of the day's overall turnout. According to O'Neil, despite advertising efforts to promote the event in newspapers, on Facebook and even strategic sign placement along the surrounding roads, traffic was "slow this year."   

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Business varied from vendor to vendor. Saleswoman Jody Cardillo didn't have too much luck pushing her wooden roses. Cardillo, who attends several craft fairs a year, said they can be unpredictable.

"Sometimes it's very good and sometimes it's not," Cardillo said. "You can sit here all day and nothing happens."

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Dorothy Beriss, a photographer selling framed prints and wooden boxes mounted with her work, described sales as "on and off," and admitted, "It would be nice to see more people coming through."

One of the Christmas market's most successful vendors was Ursula Wurich of Ken Craft. With a display of handmade wooden crafts such as birdhouses, mangers and moving Christmas-themed figures, she went through several boxes of merchandise within the first few hours. "It's fun for me to see what people liked," said Wurich, who was pleasantly surprised to find that during an age where everyone is vying for the next best electronic gadget, people still appreciate handmade gifts.

With jewelry being a popular gift item for the holidays, visitors were commonly spotted by the bracelets, necklaces and earrings; among the most frequented jewelry displays were Paul and Marianna Mundhenk's handmade sterling silver and Swarovski crystal pieces.

With all profits going toward the school, Gloria Dei Nursery and Preschool sold ornaments crafted by their two- and four-year-old students. The sale brought in business to the fair, with many of the children coming with their family members to purchase the keepsakes.

Satisfied customer Joan Hubbard walked away from the Christmas market with jewelry and Christmas cards in tow.

"If you find something you like, you are happy. If not, it's still interesting," Hubbard said of the event, who added, "I also like to support the community."

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