Mill Creek Park revives memories of Christmas past

By SEAN BARRON

news@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Sylvia Bustard

watched proudly as her 7-year-old daughter, Maria, dropped off a small gift to make this Christmas a bit happier for another child.

“We wanted to donate to the tree because we’re trying to teach our kids that Christmas is about giving,” Sylvia, of Braceville, said of her daughter’s contribution to the “Giving Tree,” set up to receive gifts and brighten the holidays for children in need.

When she wasn’t giving back, Sylvia was with her family enjoying a little levity and magic, courtesy of a juggler who was part of this weekend’s festivities at the annual Olde Fashioned Christmas at the Mill.

Sponsoring the free, two-day family-friendly holiday funfest at Lanterman’s Mill, which got underway Saturday, are WBCB-TV and 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner. The festivities continue from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.

The event, which began in the 1980s after the mill had been renovated, has 15 craft and artisan vendors, including two woodcarvers, and plenty of entertainment. New additions this year include carved birds and various primitive items, noted Carol Vigorito, Mill Creek MetroParks’ recreation and education director.

“We want to be sure the homemade items fit the theme of an old-fashioned holiday or something to do with the Mahoning Valley,” Vigorito explained.

Also, attendees are encouraged to donate scarves, gloves, mittens and hats at the “Giving Tree,” though coats will not be accepted, said Van Ford, a park volunteer. The items will go to the Mahoning County Educational Service Center to be distributed to its programs such as Help Me Grow, which is committed mainly to educating families about early childhood development and parenting, Vigorito said.

Howard Mincone of Pittsburgh, a comedian, magician and juggler, fit the theme of fun for Maria, as he pantomimed comedic moves and gestures while performing a series of sleight-of-hand tricks with clear balls, and juggling up to six other balls. Assisting Mincone with one of his efforts was Maria’s father, Joe Bustard, as her 5-year-old brother, Johnny, also looked on.

“I’m the most blessed guy in the world. I get to do this for a living,” Mincone said.

A large crowd quickly filled the mill Saturday morning as people of all ages came to get a jump- start on their Christmas shopping or simply to receive an added dose of the holiday spirit.

Traditional items for sale include handmade scarves for $5 each, a wide variety of ornaments, scented candy canes, room sprays and fresheners, Christmas earrings, bracelets and necklaces, small wooden baskets and gifts, and holiday-themed rice bags to relieve arthritis, headaches and soreness. Also being sold are scented candles, body lotions and soaps, courtesy of North Jackson-based Black Crow Primitives.

For those carrying around a bit of local nostalgia, prints that depict Youngstown’s steel mills and downtown decades ago, along with iconic images of Idora Park and Mill Creek Park, are available for $15 apiece.

Patrons who were in the mood to depart somewhat from the more typical tree ornaments probably found Sheryl Wheatley’s offerings to their liking.

“Years before this, I was at a craft show and saw somebody making them … then I read an article showing how to make them,” the Poland woman recalled, referring to items she had molded in beeswax, which is the main thrust of her business, Beeswax Treasures. “It makes a gorgeous tree.”

For about 20 years, Wheatley and her mother, Pauline Barna, have been making and selling such ornaments, some reminiscent of folk art and an old German Christmas. In addition, Wheatley had German stars, made from four strips of paper, dipped in wax and sprinkled with glitter, that were popular in the U.S. during the Great Depression, she noted.

Many attendees stopped by to watch Gregg Kristophel in action as he hand-carved a variety of wooden utensils before his wife, Deb, sold them. Both run River Wood Trading Co. of Harmony, Pa.

“He’s been making spoons since about 1980,” Deb said of her husband, a carpenter by trade, who attracted a small crowd that watched him hold several large spoons in place with a shaving horse while delicately and intricately carving them with hand tools such as a draw knife and gouges before beeswax and mineral oil were applied.

The couple’s items include spatulas, teaspoons and tablespoons, dippers, ladles and mixing spoons.

Further helping people get into the Christmas spirit was entertainment from three members of One String Short, a group that specializes in traditional and Celtic music; Jon Mosey of Akron, who played Christmas tunes on his guitar and banjo; and a bagpipes player.

Also on hand was a display of calendars, notecards, photographs and canvas wraps that show scenes of Mill Creek Park from C. Scott Lanz, a local photographer who runs LanzScape Photography Ltd.