Spring Fling to draw thousands

By Karen Blackledge
The Danville News

May 01, 2008 10:14 am

— DANVILLE -- Danville's Spring Fling, which attracts thousands to the town, will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The festival, featuring crafts, food and organizations making the public aware of their services, will be held along Mill, Lower Mulberry and East and West Mahoning streets.
About 165 organizations will participate. All spaces are sold, and there is a waiting list, according to Spring Fling Committee Chairman Thomas J. Beiter.
This is the 22nd year for the event. The Spring Fling will go on even if it rains.
Entertainment will also be held throughout the day.
Nancie Wagner and her dance students will perform from 11 a.m. to noon. Doug Eaton's team from Riverside will demonstrate martial arts.
In addition, many downtown stores and restaurants will participate.
Nonprofit organizations will sell food ranging from hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, barbecue, fudge and German roasted nuts.
"If you go home hungry, shame on you," Beiter said.
Some nonprofit organizations will be setting up stands in order to raise awareness about their causes. Relay for Life teams plan to set up stands.
Area residents participating for the first time this year include Dori Staman, who makes fun stuff for children and pets, and her husband, Burt, who makes doll furniture.
Also planning to take part are Bob Fridley, of Riverside, who makes wooden jewelry boxes, Deborah Diana, of Riverside, a butterfly painter, Linda McGarvey, of Danville, a stained glass expert, and Christopher Robbins, of Washingtonville, who creates wooden birdfeeders and bird houses.
Christ Memorial Episcopal Church will sell jewelry made in African villages with the money benefitting the villages.
Sunnybrook Park Association will hold a raffle for a family membership.
Good Samaritan Mission will hold a silent auction for a large piece of furniture to be given away.
"Over the years, we have been able to attract high-quality people and have a lot of them return year after year. We probably have 80 percent return and 20 percent new this year," Beiter said.
Pine Street Lutheran Church will provide a rest area and a baby-changing station along Mill Street. "They were here last year. That is a nice service," he said.
The youth group, headed by Fil Martinez of First Baptist Church, will offer face painting for children.
A new stand will include Geisinger Dr. Valerie Weber and members of the Central Pennsylvania Rowing Association.
Shuttle buses will be available to transport people to and from the Danville Middle School.
The entertainment schedule is as follows:
n 9 to 11 a.m. Sound system (possibility a radio station)
n 11 a.m. to noon Dancers from Nancy Wagner's Brick Studio
n Noon to 1 p.m. Demonstration by Eaton's tae kwon do of Riverside
n 1-2 p.m. Soji, born in Nigeria, plays a mix a soul, folk and pop with passion of a blues artist.
n 2-3 p.m. The Crow Flies -- a mostly acoustic band composed of father and daughter duo, Chris and Liana Whitmer.
n 3-4 p.m. Flint Zeigler -- former front man for the roots band Grantham Road.
n 4-5 p.m. Sound system or a jam session.