| 10th Year For Light Up Middletown |
| Monday, November 10, 2008 12:55:00 PM - Middletown Ohio |
NEWS RELEASE
For more information call: Ann Mort at (513) 649-4506/email Rmort@cinci.rr.com or Florella Randall at (513) 423-1877.
LIGHT UP MIDDLETOWN ERECTING MORE THAN LIGHTS
When the Light Up Middletown fantasy light display ends its 2008 event, the Grandpa Gang, a group of local volunteers, will be able to stash the displays in a convenient location thanks to donors who have given $69,400 to cover the cost of constructing a storage barn near Smith Park.
The Light Up Middletown board, led by Chairperson Florella Randall, voted to award a contract to Frank Roflow of BF Pole Building, Inc. to construct the 60 x 96 foot metal pole barn, complete with two 18 foot wide x 14 foot tall doors on each end. The barn will be located behind the City Tree Nursery at Smith Park.
Construction will begin as soon as all construction permits are obtained and will hopefully be complete by January 1 when the Grandpa Gang begins taking down the displays for storage.
Light Up Middletown is in its 10th year of operation and has more than doubled in size since its beginning. A $35,000 grant from the Middletown Community Foundation, received last week, added to other donations allowed the construction to begin.
Light Up Middletown draws approximately 50,000 people to Smith Park each season – from the day after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.
Many families, school sport teams, senior center tour buses and traveling motor coach groups visit the display as an annual tradition. Admission is by donation – guests set their own admission price.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet children in the special Santa House on Fridays and Saturdays through 12/23. Photos are available.
The growing number of Light Up Middletown’s themed displays include the tunnel of lights entrance, Santa and his sleigh, a penguin village, swans floating on the fishing lake, a sea serpent, deer leaping over the roadway, butterfly forest and many more. New this year, is a 139 foot long by 24 foot tall Santa’s Workshop display. Besides the new storage building, the 2008 display includes new LED lights in the entrance arch, “winkers” causing a twinkling effect in the tunnel of lights and several other displays throughout the park.
Light Up Middletown is a drive-through fantasy light display set in the 100 acre Smith Park in downtown Middletown.
To visit the display, take I-75, Exit 32 and follow the signs or enter via SR 4/73/Verity Parkway. The park is at
500 Tytus Avenue, adjacent to the Middletown Hook Field Airport.
Light Up Middletown is a non-profit organization raising funds to improve Middletown’s public parks. All members of the organization are volunteers. The executive committee consists of: Florella Randall,Chair; Larry Biltz, Vice chair;
George Brecht, Treasurer; Ann Mort, Secretary/Communications; Barney Strassburger, Site Manager; Perry Thatcher, Business Advisor; and John Ridge, Business Advisor, Ginger Smith, City of Middletown; and Frankie Carlson.
A group of mostly-retired men formed the Grandpa Gang to set up and dismantle the displays as well as turning the lights on and off each evening and maintaining the displays throughout the 39 day event. Local non-profit groups volunteer at the gate to greet guests and gather statistical information. Light Up Middletown makes a donation to each participating volunteer group.
For additional information call 513-423-1877 or 513-649-4506.
Light Up Middletown
Florella Randall, Chairperson
4931 Riverview Avenue
Middletown, OH 45042-4012
Phone: 513-423-1877
Committee members:
Larry Biltz, Vice chairman
George Brecht, Treasurer
Ann Mort, Secretary/Communications
Barney Strassburger, Site Manager
Perry Thatcher, Business Advisor
John Ridge, Business Advisor
Ginger Smith, City of Middletown
Frankie Carlson, Board Member
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