The Alternative Press

FRANKFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ – Over the 34 years the Sussex Christian School has held a Harvest Festival, it has moved from the church to the school to the Sussex County Fairgrounds.

It has also moved from some games for children, to a craft and vendor fair and yard sale, and more elaborate games for children.

Donna Zuidema, whose son graduated the Sussex Christian School, and whose daughter is in seventh grade there, was manning the silent auction table. She explained the school celebrated its 50^th anniversary with 100 students from the tri-state area.

For the silent auction items, parents “go to different local businesses who are generous, some of the crafters also donate items as do some parents,” Zuidema said.

The crafts ranged from jewelry to pots to knitted and crocheted items. One crafter created lace doilies, another combined photography and baked goods, and a third displayed painted glass lamps. The proximity to Halloween and Christmas meant tables were full of scary orange and black items, and Christmas decorations. Samples of the fudge made by one crafter were disappearing quickly.

Paper crafts were also on display, including the cards and colorful paper cranes made by Katherine Yvinskas of Hackettstown. The cranes graced a wire tree. When Sara Hamilton, 10, of Wantage, came over to look at the cranes, Yvinskas told her, “Cranes are a symbol of peace and a symbol of healing. The legend says if you are ill and can make 1,000 paper cranes you will be healed.”

While all Asian cultures have crane legends, the Japanese in particular are enthusiastic about the legends. They have an annual festival that attracts people from all over the world.

Another crafter with unique product was Jessica Drupke of Wantage, who makes children’s hair clips and bows in her business Hungry, Hungry Hippo Clips. For the season, she had Emma Feichtl, 4, also of Wantage, modeling pumpkin and spiderweb clips. She also had spiders and clips for other occasions and holidays and with little girls’ favorites, such as horses.

One of the most eclectic crafters is Lisa Williams who said, “I do what I like to do.”

The Green Township artist displayed glass jewelry, with purses with long, versatile straps, tapestry potholders and painted rocks. She was also giving tips to aspiring crafter Maggie Wilson, 16, of Blairstown, a student at Veritas Christian School in Sparta, who paints sneakers and is interested in selling at fairs.

Vendors included those selling jewelry, handbags, scarves and various pet products, including bandanas and collar covers.

Games for the children were monitored by students from the school and their parents, and included games of skill such as slingshot, Nerf rifle shooting, and bowling type games.

Children were also treated to face painting and pony rides courtesy of Pepper’s Pony Express of Wantage. Joy Hlech of Pepper’s Ponies sends her son to Sussex Christian School.

Besides the yard sale sponsored by the school, the fairgrounds were the site of a thrift sale of children’s items that was popular with the parents, and an Appaloosa horse show that was popular with little girls.