Various vendors display their Campbell pride

October 20, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

CAMPBELL

The candle wax that Joyce Gumble sells will emit a variety of pleasant scents, but they also promise to perform another pleasing and important task long after the aromas fade.

“It’s been a roller coaster,” the Canfield woman said, referring to fundraising efforts on behalf of her 18-year-old son, Cameron, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 13.

Gumble is an independent sales representative for Boise, Idaho-based Scentsy, a business that specializes in selling wickless candles and scented wax for electric warmers that use light bulbs instead of wicks and flames.

Gumble was selling the wax and warmers during Sunday’s first October Fun Fest to raise money to get a diabetic-alert dog for her son, she noted.

An estimated 22 local and regional vendors were part of the seven-hour indoor and outdoor fest in Roosevelt Park off Struthers-Liberty Road. The event was to bring in funds for Campbell Pride, a 4-year-old community group that conducts city cleanup projects and decorates the area for the holidays, noted Annette Tovarnak, event coordinator.

Other offerings included a variety of ethnic meals and desserts, hayrides, games and activities for children, plenty of merchandise for sale and a basket raffle.

Also part of the festivities was a pumpkin-carving contest for youngsters in kindergarten through 12th grade. Children in kindergarten through the fourth grade decorated the pumpkins; those in grades five to 12 carved them.

During the fest, Gumble sold small packages for $5 apiece that contained more than 90 types of wax cubes, with scents that resembled coffee, melon, cinnamon, coconut and cherry. Each cube that’s added to a warmer is placed on a small attached dish and slowly melts from a 25-watt bulb beneath it, which creates a scent that spreads throughout the house. The cubes are replaced when their aroma fades, she explained.

Funds will go toward the dog for Cameron, who plans to attend a golf academy in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Gumble noted. The animal is being trained to react if he has problems associated with his blood sugar, Gumble continued, adding that the animal should be available in December or January.

Just as colorful — though minus the pleasing aromas — were the bright purses, wallets and related accessories that Lori Rusu of Campbell was selling.

“I started doing this a little bit here and there and it grew from there,” said Rusu, who also was referring to the birthstone jewelry she had on hand, courtesy of her business, Bead-Jeweled Creations.

Rusu, who started designing jewelry about five years ago, noted that customers typically contact her regarding orders and that she makes the pieces to fit their needs. Rusu also attends many craft shows, festivals and school fundraisers, she added.

Another eye-catching display was a multitude of neatly lined headbands laced with rhinestones and insignias.

“We sell these at school fundraisers, and the schools buy them from us at a discounted rate and make a small profit,” explained Nick Galantis, who runs a business called Soup City Designs with his wife, Danielle Galantis, from their Campbell home.

Nick and Danielle specialize in embroidery, screen printing and rhinestone apparel. They also add to the headbands logos such as local high school teams’ mascots as well as those of favorite teams, including the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Ohio State Buckeyes, said Nick, a sales representative for Grange Insurance.

In addition, the couple had a variety of pink, embroidered hats in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Many attendees took advantage of the sunny but cool day to enjoy Greek foods that were prepared outside, such as fela (stuffed grape leaves), rizogalo (rice pudding), spanakopita (spinach-and-cheese pie) and koulouria (traditional coffee cookies). Plenty of baked goods also were available.

The festival provided lots of activities, items for sale and good food, but perhaps Tovarnak, the event organizer, best summed up its underlying purpose.

“We wanted to have a community event that brought people together and raised funds for Campbell Pride,” she said.