Peony Festival thanks sponsors

To the Editor:

The Peony Festival Board would like to express our gratitude and thanks to Van Wert and the surrounding communities for your support.

I would like to start out by thanking our very generous sponsors. Without you all we, would not be able to do what we do.

Grand Jubilee Sponsors — Van Wert County Foundation, Central Mutual Insurance; Jubilee Sponsors — Bill and Kim Purmort, Marsh Foundation; Wassenberg Sponsors — Straley Realty, Cooper Farms, Eaton Corporation, Greif Brothers Inc., Young’s Trash Service, Cowan & Sons Funeral Home, Alexander & Bebout, Laurie’s Naturescape, Kitchen’s Incorporated, Triple R Farms; Lincoln Sponsors — Raabe Ford Lincoln Mercury, Van Wert Federal Savings Bank, Keister Baker Law Office, K&L Ready Mix, Elks Lodge, American Legion, Bee Gee Realty, Statewide Ford, Lucy Muntzinger, Eric Burk – EBS Pro Audio, Studio Ayla, Wood Creations, Rick Sealscott CPA, Melfour LLC, Superior Collision, Greve’s, Dr. John Eversman, F & S Floorcovering, Rhoades Insurance, Shine Auto Detailing, Gattshall Excavating, Van Wert Pallets, Rauch Law Office, Van Wert Propane, A & A Mechanical, Advanced Auto Parts, Seldom Siesta Farms, Distinct Curbing & Concrete, Crescent Laundry, Haviland Drainage Products, Thatcher Insurance, Lassus Brothers Oil, Cushman Club, Kennedy Manufacturing; In Kind Sponsors — Burcham Printing
Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home, Brookside, Straight Line, Thrivent Financial, First Federal Savings and Loan, Leland Smith Insurance, Van Wert Bedrooms, Carcione Law Office, Collins Fine Foods
Harold Debolt, Kim Hohman’s Dance Works, Van Wert HS Television Production, Fettig’s Flowers, Studio Ayla, Van Wert Carts and More, Touches of Time Antiques, Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce, Van Wert High School Television Production, The Van Wert Independent, Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert Optimist Club, Van Wert Rotary Club, Van Wert Service Club, Willow Bend Country Club, Once I Was-Dennis and Vic Schulte, Maurices, Scarves by Marilyn, Bobbie Jo Yocum, Sophisticut, Subway, Sycamore Ice Cream, Bait Shore and More, the Legion Riders, and McCoy’s Flowers.

Chair-ity Auction Sponsors — David Ray, the Karcher family, Denae Bishop, Jill Welch and Heather Matthews, Jolanda Pohlman, Sabrina Niagu, and Dennis and Vickie Schulte
In addition to sponsors, a festival needs many other types of support.

With that being said, I want to thank Jay Fleming and the Van Wert City Police Department, the Street Department, the Water Department, and the Parks Department. You all made our efforts to bring the festival to the public so much easier.
Thank you to the Van Wert Sheriff’s Office for supplying us with security for the Art & Vendor event and the Peony Patio. It’s a pleasure to work with you.

Many other organizations helped us promote and gave us the ability to grow the festival to the next level this year. Thanks goes out to the Van Wert County Foundation, The Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce, The Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Times-Bulletin, The Van Wert Independent, The Photo Star, Trinity United Methodist Church, The Church of God, Federal-Mogul, the YWCA and YMCA, and Purmort Brothers Insurance.

Thanks to the groups who performed at the band shell on Saturday. These include Kim Hohman DanceWorks, Van Wert cheerleaders, and the Van Wert Ballroom Dance Club.

The Young Talent Showcase performers proved that our community is overflowing with talent. They included Tyler White, Michaela and Drew Johnson, Griffen Waltmire, and Aubrey Gebert. Thank you for coming to be part of the festival.
We also want to thank Dan Baisden and the Main Street Van Wert board for joining in the fun.

In addition to this kind of support, any festival needs volunteers to help out their board and committees. Many thanks go out to all of you. Our volunteer list includes the Jennings Road Church of Christ Youth Group and leaders Lisa Eichler, Tina and Ron Waltmire, Carla Custis, Cheryl Burdge, Marie Bennett, and all of our family members.
I would like to add a personal thank you to my board members. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, for joining me on this year’s journey.

Sincerely,
Vickie Schulte
President
Peony Festival Board