UTICA — It was an evening better suited for polar bears and reindeer, but the residents of Utica didn’t let the occasional snow flurry interfere with their enjoyment of the village’s annual Christmas Walk on Wednesday evening. The streets were crowded for two hours as Utica made the holiday season official.
Tables were set on both sides of Main Street, and people struggled to keep tablecloths in place in the face of the sometimes-strong wind. Those staffing the tables were bundled up but confessed to being cold. The luckier folks were indoors, inside stores, businesses and the Utica Public Library.
The new village clock — a tribute to the late Howard “Sonny” Stone — standing in front of CES Credit Union, was dedicated at 5:30 p.m., with representatives of the sponsors present. The plaques at the base of the clock salute the Velvet Ice Cream Co., the Sertoma and LaSertoma clubs, the Utica Merchant Association, the credit union, The Energy Cooperative, Park National Bank and many individuals who contributed funds to make the new clock possible. Stone pavers, 4-by-8-inches, to be engraved as desired, were being sold to help raise the remaining funds needed to pay for the project.
Utica Presbyterian Church members distributed hot cider and doughnuts in the church basement in advance of a cantata that took place in the sanctuary. Inside the fire station, Parent-Teacher Organization volunteers sold small items that would benefit the PTO. On the other side of the station, people munched cookies and carried on conversations in the relative warmth. Across the street, Homer Volunteer Fire Department members sold chances for their 50/50 drawing.
Luminaries led the way into the brightly lit library, where clerks and librarians distributed treats and hot chocolate, and helped children at the craft table.
Clerk Staci Cullop said the library hosted a cookie exchange at 5 p.m.
“We have little gift bags with candies that we’re giving away,” she said, “and we’re also doing a craft. Children can make a Christmas ornament to take home and put on their tree.”
Bundled-up JoAnn Walton stood as close as she could to one of the flaming, smoking 55-gallon drums placed on Main Street. She was staffing the Morgan Grange table.
“We have applications for grange memberships,” said Walton, “and we’re having a raffle for an Ohio Grange Cookbook. We’re handing out hot cider, too.”
The Utica High School band marched by, wearing red slickers and Santa hats, playing “Jingle Bells” and Christmas carols. It led the way for Santa Claus, seated atop a Utica Volunteer Fire Department truck. The white-bearded gentleman climbed down from the truck, where an excited group of “elves” acting as his escorts hurried him to a shelter next to the Presbyterian Church, where children stood in a long line to make their requests.
