The Home Page Network

Okay—it was cold—20 degrees! I felt it when I stepped out of my car and walked from the First Presbyterian Church to the Deane Center to start registering the Best Dressed Showcase contestants. They seemed so happy to be in town as they registered. Some of them told me it was their first time at Dickens, and they planned to return! I think this Dickens of a weekend is remarkable, even this cold!

So, twenty-five brave souls signed up for the Best Dressed Showcase hosted by Christine A. Moore Millinery and The Home Page Network. The Deane Center staff was very accommodating about whether to have it inside or outside. Before the showcase began, the Best Dressed Showcase team decided to have it inside for the comfort of those who had joined in on the fun! Chris Eckert played beautiful Christmas songs, welcoming us into the season’s spirit. The contestants’ outfits had a lot of heart color and style. (watch the video to see)

The gold winners were Louise Ficca and Tonya Wilkinson, the Silver winner was Bre Weinhold, and the Bronze winner was Mary Dikun. The gold, silver, and bronze winners received baskets filled with gift certificates and gifts! The gold and silver winners also received a gift certificate from Christine A. Moore Millinery for a hat of their choice.

Immediately following the Best Dressed Showcase, those dressed up in the 1840s joined the Hamilton Gibson Players leading the 2:00 p.m. stroll. The stroll is a fun way of showing off the fashion of the 1840s. I was surprised and delighted to see how many lined the streets to see the stroll. Now, there were some brave souls!

This year’s judges for the Best Dressed Showcase were Blake Seidel, Wyatt Wood, and Cyndi Compton. Blake is married to Christine and partners with her at Christine A. Moore Millinery. Wyatt Wood is the Home Page Network Sports Director, and Cyndi is a full-time seamstress with her business, Sew and So. To reach Cyndi for any sewing needs, please call her at 570-404-3960.

I spoke to some of the vendors on the street selling their wares, and they felt the cold. But again, I did not hear a complaint but an acknowledgment of how cold it was!

Ebenezer Scrooge’s words after his change of heart were, “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”
Christine A. Moore Millinery and The Home Page Network sponsor the Best Dressed Showcase as a fun way to experience the 1840’s.

We want to thank Amy Welch at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts and area merchants and artisans who have jumped on board, supporting and supplying gifts for those who join in on the fun!

Our sponsors this year were as follows:

Dunham’s Department Store
Highland Chocolates
Smith & Company
Crossroads Bed and Breakfast
Cottage Glassworks
Benedict’s Bus
Rookie Cooks
Kiss the Earth Apothecary
Komodo Gelato
C&S Sports
Deane Center
Wild Asaph Outfitters
Penn Wells Hotel
Akikos
Farmer’s Daughters
Pop’s Culture Shoppe
The Deane Center
The Steak House
Christine A. Moore Millinery