Stow Cancels Annual Winter Wonderland Celebration
The parks and recreation department plans to offer new community events throughout the rest of the year.
Photos
Santa's not coming to Stow City Hall this year.
But, that's only because Mayor Sara Drew said Santa and Mrs. Claus have so many visits to make in Stow this year that he simply does not have the time this Christmas.
The city decided to not continue its annual Winter Wonderland Celebration to offer a variety of more programs throughout the year.
In past years, hundreds of children and parents have attended the event, where there are crafts for children, pictures with Santa and caroling.
"Because of the amount of staff time and preparation, we decided to move on," said Drew. "There are a lot of opportunities for residents to visit with Santa in shopping plazas and during the Breakfast with Santa event. We are not taking away opportunities for families to celebrate holidays — we’re looking to do new and different events where there are gaps in the community."
The parks and recreation department is beginning to plan a Spring fling event and just recently, for the first time, the city offered trick-or-treating indoors at city hall.
"We have limited resources and instead of blowing them on one or two events, we want to have lots of variety for families to take advantage of," Drew said.
The mayor says she's no Grinch though — the holiday lights will still be up around city hall soon.
Lester B. Dewey
8:26 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
I'm sorry this just sad, the events this city does put on are pretty lame, but to blow of
Christmas, that is just the one thing this town needs. Less we not forget our roots that this town was built on. Bring in the horse and carriage, Santa's workshop, etc.
Scrooge !!!
Sue
8:35 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Ditto! Just another secular-progressive move!
Melissa Bysura
8:59 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
I never even knew the city had a Winter Wonderland Celebration so I guess we won't miss it but it's sad for the 100's that attended, and probably looked forward to it. Sara's right though, there's no shortage of opportunities to see Santa around town.
Merry Christmas everyone! :)
Kristina
9:01 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Very disappointing indeed...I'm sure if the mayor was concerned about the money being spent on this one event she could have found a way to scale it down a bit and cost less. I'm happy to say I did not vote for her!
Jack Kelly
10:20 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Do you know what this event consisted of? If so, please offer suggestions.
And no one care you didn't vote for her.
Laura Rath
9:04 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
VERY disappointed!!!! Our family looks forward to going there every December! My kids will be so sad to hear it's cancelled!!!
Stow Resident
9:08 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Secular-progressive move? Oh please. no one is "blowing off Christmas". There are plenty of places to go to with your children. Go to any shopping center or mall. Of even better, take your children to a nursing home. The residents love to see children during the holidays. I think it's good that the city is better allocating their precious resources in this recession. I can just see republicans criticizing the mayor if she did continue with this for spending too much money but when she cancels it she’s criticized by the same party. You just can’t win with certain people. And for the record, I didn’t even vote for her.
Jack Kelly
10:21 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
+1
Lester B. Dewey
10:23 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Dear Stow, Yea let's rely on someone else to do it. This is not a political issue. This is
about the children and visioning Santa and all that the miracle of Christmas that comes with it. That special event in their home town, not at some mall they stand in line for two hours. They can visit Grandma and Grandpa after Santa. This town is
slowly loosing all it's Character. Heck I would volunteer my time, and I bet you could
find alot more that would be more than willing to if they would have just planed these type of things right. Scrooge !!! Scrooge!!!
Maybe if we had a ribbon cutting ceremony there she would change her mind????
Janet Schultz
9:45 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
I am disappointed to hear they are cancelling the event this year. However, Highland Elementary in Stow located on Graham Rd will be having a Christmas event on December 8th from 9am-1pm. Santa will be there and children can get their pictures taken with Santa. They will also have a Secret Santa Shop run by Fun Services. I will forward along specfics as soon as I find out all the detais.
Steve S
10:21 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
There are a lot of events throughout the community for everyone to take their kids. This was a small affair and your children will be A-OK without it.
Lester B. Dewey
11:23 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Hey Jack A$$,
I was talking to " Stow Resident" about bringing in the Republicans, why don't you read. How much could something like this on a small scale cost ? with a few volunteer's. We could get you Jack to play Scrooge, that is if you would even show up to an event like this you richard crainium.
Jack Kelly
11:30 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Shouldn't you be in school, "Lester"? Or are you serving an out-of-school suspension?
Oh, you're an adult. I couldn't tell with such a "tough guy" response from your keyboard, "Lester."
Lester B. Dewey
2:37 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
This isn't about Republican/Democrats, this IS about the Magic that Christmas brings a child. There may be plenty of places in or around town to visit with the Big Guy but many do rely on this free event and look forward to it each year. Why must we find ourselves at odds over the Mayors decisions, it is what it is.
Times are tough right now for everyone in SMF, my original intent was just to share with Mayor Drew the impact of her decision on so many in our town. We've left behind the Christmas Lighting and Celebrations and the MAGIC that is seen through a child's eye to canceling the Winter Wonderland Celebration because the funding just isn't there.....It's Christmas and possibly the only time some get to see Santa, can't we find away to make it happen?
Everything has turned to politics in our little town from our schools to the stores we shop in, let's not forget what this season truly is about. The celebration of His life. People celebrate in many ways but the magic of Christmas is the same for all who Believe!
Mr. Kelly and friends, I pray you find peace. Your constant negativity and ties to our community sadden me and many others. I trust you'll take some time off to enjoy the holidays with your family and reconsider your continued negative posts!
Ed Fisher
1:15 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Makes sense to me.
Ed Fisher
3:20 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Lester, you attached your comments to my post ! Maybe I messed up...what I meant was that the Mayor's decision makes sense to me.....not what JK posts ! Nothing against Christmas.
Lester B. Dewey
4:38 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Sorry Ed, Thought it would go under J.K.'s rude comment, no hard feelings?
Happy Holiday's.
Stow Resident
3:52 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Lester, you use comments like Jack a$$ and then lecture the rest of us about how Christmas can do us some good? Take your own advice.
Lester B. Dewey
4:34 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
I apologize Stow Res. That J.K. has had it coming for a long time forgive me I became
caught up in his nonsense of nothing good to say but dribble. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to all !!!
Stow Resident
2:31 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
I agree Lester. Let's all agree to disagree and move on. Happy holidays all!
Santa Claus
8:01 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Ho, Ho, Ho......unable to find the Keeping Christmas event (apparently it was deleted)...Just wanted to thank all the SMF residents for coming out that evening to share a cookie with Mrs. Claus and all of the wonderful volunteers! I enjoyed meeting the many kids and parents as well. Sadly, this was little to no coverage from the Patch, all the same. Merry Christmas to ALL in SMF!