NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
22 December 2003

CITY HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Harrisburg, PA—An array of businesses, children and city government center offices were recognized today by Mayor Stephen R. Reed as winners in various city holiday decorating contests. The winners were presented with their awards during a special holiday program in their honor at the Rev. Dr. M.L. King Jr. City Government Center. The decorating competitions were first created by the Mayor in 1995, to coincide with the city’s annual Holiday Parade, which annually kicks off the midstate’s Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/New Year’s season.

Reed said the winners of the Mayor’s Coloring Contest for city school children receive special prizes and gift certificates. Winners this year include:

Kindergarten

1st Place—Genesis Perez, Camp Curtin 2nd Place—Antonio Cruz, Ben Franklin 3rd Place—Ali’ah Anthony, Woodward 4th Place—Johnson Dam, Holy Family

First Grade

1st Place—John Lukens IV, Cathedral
2nd Place—Tyson Smith, Downey
3rd Place—Sarah Breeding, St. Margaret Mary
4th Place—William Loesch III

Second Grade

1st Place—Lonnie Palmer, Foose
2nd Place—Sabrina Santana, Foose
3rd Place—Danae’ Morrison, Melrose
4th Place—Daniel Fenstermacher, Prince of Peace

Reed said the winners of the city’s various holiday decorating competitions receive special gift certificates to local restaurants and lodging facilities. New this year was a Christmas Tree Decorating Contest run by the Downtown Improvement District. Downtown businesses purchased potted Douglas Fir trees for $100 each and then individually decorated them, dramatically upgrading the appearance of the downtown streetscape for the Holiday season. After the Holidays, the tree owners can either retain the trees for their storefronts or replant them elsewhere. Winners of this year’s inaugural tree decorating competition receive overnight accommodations and dining at the Crowne Plaza, Hilton and Townhouse Apartments and Suites. Judges for the competition were Linda Luke, Michael Drake and Vanessa Carroll, and the trees were provided by Stauffers of Kissell Hill through the Downtown Improvement District.

Best Tree In Show

The Red Door

Most Original Tree

The Pep Grill

Most Original Tree—Honorable Mention

Penn National Insurance Co., Harrisburg Branch

Best Business Themes Trees

1st Place—Sneaker Villa
2nd Place—Journal Publications
3rd Place—The Patriot News
Honorable Mention—State Farm Insurance

Wreaths

1st Place—Harrisburg Youth Soccer Club
2nd Place—Harrisburg High School Cheerleaders
3rd Place—Harrisburg Junior Golf Program
4th Place—Mt. Pleasant Hispanic Center

City Government Center Offices

1st Place—Business Administrator
2nd Place—Bureau of Finance
3rd Place—Law Bureau
4th Place—City Council

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