Annual Howland fest debuts homemade wine contest

The festival’s first wine- maker competition attracted 27 entrants from several communities.

BY JORDAN COHEN

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

HOWLAND — The deep freeze and scattered raindrops apparently did little to discourage turnout at the township Fall Festival on Saturday.

“It’s been one of the best days for us,” said Melissa Miller, Kinsman, owner of a company that raises only grass-fed livestock, who was among the vendors at the weekly farmer’s market. “We’re getting regular customers out of this.”

Kristin Hughes, Howland, was happy, too, with the results of her display. “My mother makes electric candles and snowmen out of fence slats, and we’ve sold some of each,” she said.

One of the festival events that may have attracted the most attention occurred out of the public’s eyesight — an amateur wine-maker competition. A panel of seven judges tasted 51 entries from 27 home wine-makers from Howland, Warren, Niles, Cortland and Hubbard in the basement of the township building. The judging lasted several hours.

“This is the first time we’ve had this competition at the festival, and to get this number of entries is pretty good,” said Gary Casterline, Howland, who supervised the judging.

The wines were divided among the judges in categories of red, white, sweet and dry. Each bottle was covered with a numbered brown bag.

“We’re looking for wines that are clear and appeal to the eye, smell and taste,” said Rocky Mitolo, Niles, a veteran wine-tasting judge. “They have to be appealing in a number of ways.”

Five best wines were selected and included in displays of bottles from nearby professional wineries in the wine-tasting tent on High Street.

Howland police sought to bring attention to the perils of drinking and driving with their “Fatal Vision” goggles that simulate the impairment of motorists with a blood-alcohol content of 0.12 to 0.15, well above Ohio’s legal limit of 0.07.

Goggle-wearers were told to turn around three times and walk. Officers steadied at least one volunteer who staggered.

“We use these goggles when we speak at colleges,” said Detective Nick Roberts. “People should realize we still arrest drivers whose [alcohol] levels are far worse than those in the goggles.”

Nearby, the fire department offered young children free bicycle helmets and a course to ride their tricycles.

Senior citizens age 60 and older were treated to a free lunch at Howland Senior Center, which attracted 50 people for a spirited bingo competition.

Other displays included pumpkin-carving and a group of birds being cared for by Birds in Flight Sanctuary of Niles.

Despite the chill, Matt Dreher, owner of a Howland music store, played his guitar in the township gazebo for three hours with almost no breaks.

“The cold doesn’t bother my fingers, and I’m enjoying this,” Dreher said.