Artisans gather at 35th Oktoberfest

October 3, 2011 at 12:01a.m.

BOARDMAN

When it comes to running a business, you might say that Gerry Hefferon likes to get right to the point.

“I buy the materials, then turn them into different styles,” said Hefferon, referring to a technique he uses to make a variety of ink pens.

Hefferon and his wife, Betsy, own The Wood Crate, a 7-year-old Struthers business. The couple also was among an estimated 140 vendors who took part in Sunday’s 35th annual Boardman Rotary Oktoberfest in Boardman Township Park.

The eight-hour event gave artisans and other local, regional and out-of-state vendors an opportunity to show and sell their crafts, decorations and art pieces. Also available was information on everything from pet adoptions to respite care.

A small stream of attendees continually filled the small tent because they were drawn to Hefferon’s unusual array of pens, most of which were made from wood, acrylic or plastic.

Hefferon, who started making click- and twist-style pens about 11 years ago, explained that he buys material such as pink myrtle wood from Australia, then uses a lathe to cut and turn the wood before sanding and polishing it. Also part of his colorful mix are weighted pens for people who suffer from arthritis as well as some he converted to detachable key chains and flashlights, Hefferon added.

“I started making gifts for my kids’ teachers and [the demand] got bigger and bigger,” Hefferon said, adding that he and his wife take part in four or five shows each year.

Despite a light rain and temperatures hovering near 50 degrees, a steady flow of people came to the one-day event to browse and buy merchandise that included homemade Christmas-tree ornaments with garland, numerous wooden pieces, Halloween decorations, teddy-bear candles, colored jewelry and necklaces, children’s bracelets, pearls, hand-dipped treats, potholders and pottery by Jane P. Waxenfelter.

Waxenfelter, who runs JPW Pottery from her Grove City, Pa., home, specializes in cutting and shaping hand-thrown pottery from low-fire white clay. Such material allows the colors to be more vibrant, she explained.

“I’m always trying to do something different,” she said.

Waxenfelter, who majored in art 30 years ago at Edinboro University, near Erie, Pa., said she enjoys adding commercial glazes and unusual shapes to her mugs, bowls, vases, platters and other items that range from $20 to $100.

“The wackier the shape, the more they seem to like it,” she added.

Waxenfelter recalled that her son, Tim, took a pottery class in high school that encouraged her to get back to art after a 30-year hiatus.

Also on hand was Ed Port of Austintown, who was accepting donations for another operation and related travel expenses.

Port suffers from neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder characterized by noncancerous tumors that develop on nerve tissue or under the skin and often produce skin or bone abnormalities. He also sought to educate people about NF and thank them for their support.

Port’s second surgery is set for Oct. 19 in Chicago.

The Oktoberfest is the Boardman Rotary’s largest fundraiser, noted Dave Fiffick and Joe Ignazio, event co-chairmen.

All money raised stays in the Mahoning Valley, and the Rotary Club contributes to numerous organizations and agencies such as the Paula and Anthony Rich Center for the Study and Treatment of Autism, the Boys & Girls Club of Youngstown and Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley, Fiffick explained.

Fiffick and Ignazio also praised the 96 fellow Rotary members who volunteered at the Oktoberfest.