“Teamwork: Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success” Henry Ford
“Christmas in July” happened in Maben on July 20, when local businesses came together and worked out a plan for a fun shopping day at home.
This group of young business people recently hosted the “Christmas Festival in Maben” in December, then they hosted the “Spring Fling” and they recently hosted “Christmas in July. These events are to encourage local and area citizens to shop and to visit at home.
Many years ago back in the late 1960s there was a drawing every Saturday at 3 o`clock at the old City Hall for real money — $5, $10, $15. That was a lot of money in those days.
Citizens would shop in town and receive tickets and on every Saturday at 3 o’clock the town filled up with cars and trucks, and kids, old folks, young folks and folks of every color were scattered everywhere, but at 3 they were close enough to check their ticket to see if they had won. Life was good.
On this Saturday a good crowd of people gathered around Grandtiques (old City Hall) for the 2 o`clock drawing. Thanks to the rain shower everyone crowded into the store. There were lots of hugs and loud conversation as all awaited the big drawing, which was $50 that was donated by these businesses: Olde Town Bakery, Springer`s, Reclaimed Antiques, Swank on Main, Breazy’s and Grandtiques.
Maben`s own former Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck was doing the drawing for the occasion. She led the crowd in a loud hurrah “Go Maben” before drawing the winning ticket, which was held by Karen Williams. Go Maben!
The next prize of $10 was donated by Olde Town Bakery owner/operator Jennifer Williamson and was won by Tamara Avent.
Grandtiques owner/operator Angela Waller and Jean Berry donated the next gift of $10, and it was won by Joy Dodd, who was escorted to the event by her daughter Cathy xxx Davis. Go Maben!
Springer`s Dry Goods and Furniture owner/operators Corey Springer, Jimmy Springer, Jamie Springer and Corrine Springer donated a $10 gift card and it was won by Brenda Shawver. Go Maben!
The last-but-not-least $10 gift card was donated by Reclaimed Antiques owner/operator Julie Cordell Fulgham and it was won by Jamie McCann. Go Maben!
Some businesses held their own door prize drawings: Grantiques had these winners: Megan Palmer, Lorene Cox, Sandy Harpole, Ann Ellis and Dottie Dewberry. Peggy Stuckey won Gandtiques’ Facebook prize of a Sugaree’s Italian Cream Cake.
Throughout the day patrons were treated to an array of snack foods from Grandtiques: Hawaiian barbecue pork sliders, cinnamon chips with strawberry pineapple tropical salsa and caramel corn, and Sugaree`s cupcakes.
The Flour Basket owner-operator Kayse Stelzriedre donated Avalanche cookies, cookies and cream cake, Red-Pepper Tomato Bisque, Shrimp and Grits, and a variety of soft drinks at Springer`s Dry Goods. She can be contacted at 1-662-312-9255.
Swank on Main also provided snacks and door prizes for their customers and visitors. Leis Parish won a pink cap, earrings, hair ties and some other accessories in the pink theme. Meagan Palmer won similar items but in the leopard print theme. According to Stephanie, they do a weekly give-a-way. Go Maben!
After the last hurrah, the gathered citizens gravitated on to the next port of entertainment: air conditioning and comfortable furniture on which to sit and to watch the next episode of “Family Feud.”
