Thanks for successful 'Stars' year

To the editor:
On Friday evening, Aug. 5, an 86-year-young comedian/magician, Dick Stoner from Fort Wayne, won the grand prize in Jay County Chamber of Commerce’s fourth year of Stars in the Park.
Stoner charmed the audience with his wit and wowed them with his sleight of hand. Singer Jenessa Smedley of Decatur used her powerful voice and was awarded the first runner-up prize, and Ball State student guitarist/singer Hunter Lee was picked as the second runner-up. The audience picked singers Matalin Racster and Karlie Bullard as their favorite 17-and-younger act and singer Samantha Chenoweth for those 18-and-older.
In the last four seasons, the Jay County Chamber of Commerce has awarded $10,000 in prize money for this competition thanks to generous sponsors. Quarterfinal sponsors: The Jay County Visitors and Tourism Bureau and Rural America Farm and Garden Expo. Semifinal sponsors: Baird Freeman Funeral Home and Raymond James Associates. And finals sponsor Moser Motors of Portland. Plus donations from Fishers Meats; Pak-A-Sak; and Locker’s Touch of Country Gifts allowed us to put together an outstanding production.
On behalf of Jay County Chamber of Commerce I wish to thank and acknowledge the people involved in this summer’s event. The chamber’s Stars in the Park committee of Samantha Thomas – show director; judges – Holly Ford, Jan Rittenhouse, Patty Stahl, Dolphus Stephens, Gabe Bailey, Jamie Harshman, Jamie Razzo and David Shauver; concessions – Karmen Ward and the staff, including Deb VanSkyock, Wanda Eley, Jordon Roberts, Kristi Delaney, Kristi Inman, Lori Taylor and Rebecca Zimmerman; ticket sales – Pat Jellison, Jim Sanders and June Sanders; balloting – Pam Rogers; sound production – Doug Habegger of D & D Audio. They were all instrumental in pulling off the five nights of great entertainment.
Even though we were challenged this season by the hot weather and had to postpone one evening due to rain, Ryan Myers and Portland Parks Department kept the amphitheater beautiful at Hudson Family Park, making each night special. Thank you to WPGW AM & FM and WZBD FM for their media sponsorship, publicity and marketing efforts. Thanks to our friend Ray Cooney of The Commercial Review for great pictorial coverage of each of event.
Thank you to Debbie Hummer Black of the Hartford City Heritage Festival as well as Melissa Skinner of the Berne Chamber of Commerce for hosting two of our early quarterfinal events in their communities this year. Adding these communities increased the reach of Stars in the Park and gave us a bigger variety of talent.
The talent and time given by Ron Freeman as emcee over the five evenings was not only professional but highly entertaining making a smooth and entertaining transition from one performer to the next.
A very special thank you to the Stars in the Park contestants who shared their incredible talents. They had the courage to stand in front of an audience giving their best. Each displayed humility in winning and more importantly grace when they weren’t chosen to continue. The entire group established a high standard for Stars in the Park that we hope to continue.
Finally, thank you to the Jay County community for embracing this event. Thank you for being gracious to all of the contestants. Every contestant was welcomed with enthusiasm, given rapt attention and acknowledged for their performance, adding to their desire to entertain everyone. A critical part of every good performance is how the audience receives it. Truly the Stars in the Park audience made it easy for every contestant to perform at their best.
Each year we look forward to Stars in the Park but it is over far too soon. We’re always left wanting for just a little more.
We hope you remember all of the outstanding performances, the beautiful evenings and also look forward to joining us again when we gather next year at Hudson Family Park for next year’s Stars in the Park.
John Boggs
Stars in the Park committee chairman