Mount Joy's Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Contest & Parade - RESCHEDULED

Mount Joy’s Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Contest & Parade
Postponed to SUNDAY, NOV 1st

Once again, due to the inclement weather of this Saturday, Oct 24th, the Mount Joy Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Contest & Parade is postponed to next SUNDAY, Nov 1st. This decision is based on the best weather information available to us at this time which shows the possibility of rain again next Saturday but a nice day on Sunday. However, due to holding the event on Sunday, the event times will change. Registration will be from 1 – 2 pm at Memorial Park. We will begin the parade at 2:30 pm from Delta Street to Columbia Ave to Market Street and back to the park for event festivities and awards.

Dress your pets (& you!) in your most creative costumes for your chance to win prizes. Over 30 prizes will be awarded in categories including: funniest, most original, best impersonation of another animal, animal/owner look-alike (child & adult divisions), best multiple pet theme, best family group theme, most adorable, best of show, choice awards, people’s choice, and more! Registration is $8 per pet or $15 group rate. All registered pets will receive a 2009 pet banana, goodie bag, and event portrait by deb swanger photography. It’s a fun time for the whole family with pumpkin painting, face painting, raffles, live concert by the Surf Ratz, doggie ice cream social, and more. Visit pet related stands and local pet rescues around the park and new this year, come hungry as local Mount Joy restaurants will be selling a delicious selection of finger foods. We will be collecting pet food & new toys, beds, towels, etc at registration for local rescues. Each item enters you into a drawing for additional prizes.

We encourage families and their pets to join us. If you love animals, this is a great event for you. Come out, be in the parade, or simply enjoy the event as a spectator!

Hopefully the third time is the charm for us! If Sunday offers us lousy weather, we will cancel this year’s event and look forward to the 2010 Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Parade.

For more information please contact MSMJ at 717-653-4227 or visit us at www.msmj.org

Mount Joy's Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Contest & Parade

Saturday, October 17th
Rain Date: Saturday, October 24th

Times: Event: 12:30 – 3:30 pm
Registration 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Blessing of the Animals: 12:30 pm
Parade: 1 pm
Award Presentation: 2:30 pm

Place: Memorial Park off Marietta Ave., Mount Joy

A howlin' good time with our pets. Dress your pets (& you!) in your most creative costumes for your chance to win prizes. Over 30 prizes will be awarded in categories including: funniest, most original, best impersonation of another animal, animal/owner look-alike (child & adult divisions), best multiple pet theme, best family group theme, most adorable, best of show, choice awards, people’s choice, and more! Registration is $8 per pet or $15 group rate. All registered pets will receive a 2009 pet banana, goodie bag, and event portrait by deb swanger photography. It’s a fun time for the whole family with pumpkin painting, face painting, live concert by the Surf Ratz, raffles, & doggie ice cream social. Visit pet related stands and local pet rescues around the park and new this year, come hungry as local Mount Joy restaurants will be selling a delicious selection of finger foods. We will be collecting pet food & new toys, beds, towels, etc at registration for local rescues. Each item enters you into a drawing for additional prizes.

For more information please contact MSMJ at 717-653-4227 or visit us at www.msmj.org

Mount Joy Farmers Market Community Craft Day

The Mount Joy Farmers Market will hold a Community Craft Day on Sat. Sept. 12th from 8 am to noon. The Mount Joy Farmers Market is located in the Union National Community Bank parking lot at 101 E. Main Street, Mount Joy. You will find the market packed full of local crafters in addition to your seasonal standholders selling you fresh produce, plants, cut flowers, handmade soaps, baked goods, and more.

Crafters include: wood crafts from the burnt lumber of the Risser Mill Covered Bridge; handwoven baskets; handmade jewelry; wood crafts by Sam Nolt; children's pillows, bags, blankets, bows, etc.; rag rugs; 100% natural soy candles; silk flower arrangements; handmade greeting cards & scrapbook layouts; and more!

In addition to Craft Day, several demos & classes will take place. Spend the morning with us at market!

- 9:30 am - A Jewelry Making Demo by Maryanne Schwartz of the Torchsong Studio

- 10:00 am - A Basic Bow Making Class by The Sunflower Lady (cost $2 for materials)

- 10:30 am - A Tincture Making Demo by Tina Sams of the Essential Herbal

- 11:00 am - A Basic Bow Making Class by The Sunflower Lady (cost $2 for materials)

The Farmers Market 2009 Season is not over by any means! Market will remain open through Sat Oct 17th. Hope to see you at market this Saturday!

Mount Joy Crab Fest

Main Street Mount Joy hosts the 3rd Annual Crab Fest event at the Liederkranz Pavilion, 722 S. Chiques Rd this Saturday, Sept 12th from 4 - 8 PM. Tickets will be sold at the gate at the following prices: Adults $35/person; Seniors (62+) $30/person; and children 6 - 10 $10/person. Event features all you can eat hardshell crabs or 2 crab cakes, plus a delicious buffet of pulled pork, baked beans, crab fries, salads, soups, ice cream, and beverages. Adult beverages sold separately. In addition to the great food, we will have a live concert by the Surf Ratz beginning at 5 pm and a magician & balloon twister. The event also features a silent auction and door prizes. The proceeds of this event benefit Main Street Mount Joy and Rainbows End Youth Services. This is a rain or shine event. For more details, please call the Main Street office at 717-653-4227 or visit us on the web at www.msmj.org. Hope to see you there!

Coming up in Mount Joy - Market and beyond

August 8th, at Mount Joy Market, you can expect to find - along with the usual wonderfully abundant produce: more heirloom tomatoes from Prescott's Patch, The Sunflower Lady will be bringing in some Freestone Peaches from her trees, Creekside will be bringing their garlic, cantaloupes and red peppers, J & J will be starting to bring their gorgeous Hibiscuses for fall, & Grandma's has her new Potato Chip cookies with butterscotch chips!

And, did you know we have fresh baked bread at market right now? Joyce at Nolts bakes fresh white and wheat loaves each week for us!

Something new at Market is called "Lunch to go @ Farmers Market". Many of the restaurants in Mount Joy have expressed interest in taking part by offering a carry out lunch dish. A different restaurant will be represented each week. Restaurants will be donating back a portion of their profits to benefit our market. August 1, The Tilted Kilt was there with American and Italian subs for take out. We really appreciated being able to take home a quick lunch for after market and to be giving back to market at the same time.

August 15 is the Annual Mount Joy Chamber of Commerce Chicken BBQ. Sales will be held from 10 AM to 2:30 PM, at the Milanof-Schock Library, Anderson Ferry Rd & School Lane, Mount Joy, PA.
1/2 Chicken $5.00, Dinner - $7.50 (Dinner includes 1/2 Chicken, Baked Potato, Homemade Applesauce, Roll & Butter, Whoopie Pie & a drink.)
The chicken will be prepared for the 5th year in a row by Dennis Peters. We understand the organizers have been "told many times this chicken is some of the best in the area."
This BarBQ benefits Chamber scholarship funds, Main Street Mount Joy and the Chamber, as well as the Library.
So, come on out for a good cause. Treat your family to a great meal and treat yourself to a meal already prepared for you.

August 21st at Mount Joy Farmers Market is our Farmer's Day. That means there will be farm equipment around for the kids (big and little) to admire and enjoy. The soap ladies at Lancaster County Soapworks will be doing a soap demo so you can see for yourself exactly how soap is made. Some of the other vendors will probably have some surprises up their sleeves and we may try to let you know as they let US know ahead of time.

There's one more thing on the schedule that we want to remind you about.
The 3rd Annual Mount Joy Crab Fest is coming up Saturday, September 12th and tickets are available for pre-sale every week at Market or at the Main Street Mount Joy offices at 15 Marietta Avenue. All you can eat crabs along with a fabulous buffet, live music and a silent auction. $30 is the regular adult pre-sale price, $35 at the door. This event benefits Main Street Mount Joy and Rainbows End Youth Services.
This little but mighty town has lots of things going on. Come out and take part in the fun!

What's "big" at market?

Well.....

The Nolts have lots of sweet (!!!) corn, black cherries and melons on display, along with the various squash, tomatoes, and other fare. Joyce has her flavored angel food cakes and beautiful iced tea ring.

On the 18th, Weaverine Traditionals was at market, where Nancy Duffy will demonstrate and weave rag rugs once a month. She’ll be back again next month, on August 15th. On that day, anyone bringing in 6 old sheets (no jersey knits) gets a free rug (while supply lasts).

Over at the Sugar Flower & Cake Company, the cupcakes were delightful! Beehives w/bees, butterflies, and bouquets topped the treats, while boxes of muffins lined up beside them.

Prescott’s Patch had their own strawberries! In mid JULY! We are so lucky to have such delightful produce. Fingerling potatoes, patty pan squash, and red raspberries also played a starring role on their tables.

Grandma’s Kitchen featured lemon sponge pie, apple dumplings, and brownies with peanut butter. She had pretzels, too.

J&J Growers brought a full complement of hanging baskets. A favorite is the Mediterranean Vinca, a trailing plant that loves hot weather and full blazing hot sun! Other standouts were hostas and giant hibiscus.

Maryanne’s lampwork glass beads and various soaps were looking good at Lancaster County Soapworks. The Git Spritz is a top seller.

The Essential Herbal sold out of holy basil and passionflower tinctures, and the hand blended teas are a hit too.

The Sunflower Lady did indeed have beautiful sunflowers, amaranthus, stargazer lilies, and straw hats.

Hartz Farm had lots of summer squash, gourd art, and is beginning to branch out into wood work.

Creekside Produce brought a giant bucket of gladiolas along with their lettuce, onions, beets and other produce.

The Main Street Mount Joy table has the giant umbrellas for sale at $15 ($3 savings!) as well as tote bags, insulated coolers, and lots of information for the taking. Back issues of the newsletters are available there too!All the wonderful fresh and local produce is coming in now.

Here is a salad idea that's a little different that uses some of those luscious tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and basil:

Panzanella
3 T good olive oil
1 loaf French bread cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups)
1 t kosher salt
2 large, ripe tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/2-inch thick
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 small red onion, cut in 1/2 and thinly sliced
10—15 large basil leaves, coarsely chopped
3 T capers, drained (you can skip them, but I like their flavor)
1 small can jumbo black olives, drained

Heat the oil in a large sauté pan. Add bread and salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 10 minutes, or until nicely browned. Add more oil as needed. In a large bowl, mix tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, basil, olives and capers. Add bread cubes.
Mustard Vinaigrette
Whisk together :
1 t finely minced garlic
1/2 t Dijon mustard
3 T White wine vinegar
1/2 C olive oil
1/2 t kosher salt
1/4 t freshly ground black pepper
drizzle over the salad, toss and allow it set for about half an hour for the flavors to develop.

Did you know that you can find many local experts on hand at Market? It’s true!

Several of the growers would be more than happy to help out with advice for your own garden. When I lamented over the small size of my garden to Steve at Prescott’s Patch, his reply was, ‘Anything is good! At least you’re doing something—do what you can.”

Of course the Main Street Mount Joy booth can give you information on what’s happening around town.

J & J growers wants to be sure your plants grow as they should, and Tina and Maryanne at the soap and herb booth can help you with herbal questions.

One of the great benefits of buying and eating locally is that you can talk to the people who grow and make what you are buying.

Take advantage of that benefit and talk to your neighbors!
You never know who you’ll see at market!

Do something good for yourself, your family and your community... Come out to market this week! It's a fun way to spend a Saturday morning.

Taste of Mount Joy – Cruisin’ Cuisine

On July 25, 2009 from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm, there will be a showcase of antique, classic, and hot rod cars, trucks, & motorcycles as well as the great tastes of Mount Joy from area restaurants. It's a perfect combination of special cars to admire and delicious food to feast! Over 45 trophies awarded to entries. Also new this year - A Cruisin' Cuisine After Party immediately after the show at Bube's Brewery. Come out and Enjoy!!

Mount Joy Music in the Park Concert Series

Main Street Mount Joy has released the 2009 Summer Concert Schedule for Mount Joy.

The Mount Joy Music in the Park Concert Series consists of 4 live concerts this year, which take place in War Memorial Park on Marietta Avenue. July concerts begin at 7 PM and August concerts begin at 6:30 PM.

Concerts are free to attendees; however, donations are accepted & appreciated at all concerts in support of the live performance series. The July concerts are sponsored by partnering not-for-profit community groups and therefore, donations are shared to support the wonderful efforts of these groups as well.

July 19th – 7 PM in War Memorial Park
The Bainbridge Band – An All-American, cake-walking, toe-tapping program
This concert is sponsored by the Lions Club of Mount Joy

(Note: A booked solid weekend, Friday July 24th Fourth Friday & Sat July 25th Taste of Mount Joy)
July 26th – 7 PM in War Memorial Park
Red Rose Chorus – Always popular barbershop, four-part harmony choral performance by the best male voices in Lancaster County!
This concert is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Mount Joy
+ Plus Mayor Ginder’s Annual Ice Cream Social in the Park
+ Florin Church of the Brethren serving free hot dogs & sodas

August 2nd – 6:30 PM in War Memorial Park
Jazz Ministers Big Band – Gospel, hymns, church music and standards like you’ve never heard them before – big band style! Concert Co-Sponsor: Barton’s Body Shop a co-sponsor is needed.

August 9th – 6:30 PM in War Memorial Park
Fire in the Glen – An exciting Celtic duo featuring a rousing selection of traditional music from Ireland, Scotland and the Canadian Maritimes. Concert sponsor is Mount Joy Country Homes.

Concert goers are invited to bring their own chairs. All concerts are weather permitting; in the event of HEAVY rain the concert will be cancelled. We will do our best to reschedule if the performers schedule permits.

The concert series is coordinated by Main Street Mount Joy, a downtown revitalization organization. For updates and more information, please visit http://www.msmj.org/ on the web or call the Main Street Mount Joy office at 653-4227.

This year, the concert series is chaired by Main Street volunteers, Nancy Bullock Shonk, 653-5251 and Mary Ginder, 653-5355.

Lavender Festival

The drifts of lavender are blooming,
and it's time for a Lavender Festival.This Saturday at Farmers Market we will have:
Free make and take lavender wand classes weave a 13-stem wand to keep your linen closet or "unmentionables" drawer fresh.

A distillation demonstration (9 - 11am)
See how essential oils are made. Our glass still allows you to see the process, drop by drop.

Lavender plants, sachets, soaps, essential oil, spray, and more!

Mention this email at the soap/herb booth,
and get a gluten-free lavender shortbread cookie.

Lavender Baked Custard Serves 2 to 4
1 bunch lavender
2 cups cream
1/2 cup 10X sugar
3 eggs, beaten

Gently heat the lavender in the cream for 10 minutes. Cool and strain. Add the fine sugar and eggs and bake in a moderate oven (375 F) until set. This custard is pale green and tastes delicious.

Be sure to bookmark the blog: http://msmj.blogspot.com to get any upcoming information and recipes!

Our Vendors and a Recipe

Who are the vendors at Mount Joy's Market?

MOUNT JOY MARKET VENDORS
(Regular, Weekly Standholders)

Creek Side Produce—Full line of produce and plants.
Grandma’s Kitchen—Pretzels, cookies, baked goods
Grandma’s Goodies—whoopee pies, rice crispie treats, pies, baked goods
Hartz Farm- Produce, gourds, wreaths
J&J Growers—Perennial plants, annual plants, hanging plants,
herbs and vegetable plants, produce in season.
Lancaster County Soapworks—handmade soaps and body care products, jewelry.
Main Street Mount Joy—Mount Joy merchandise
Nolt Family—Produce, baked goods
Prescott’s Patch—heirloom and old-fashioned vegeta­bles and fruits grown without chemicals
The Sunflower Lady—Fresh Cut flowers
The Essential Herbal—herbal publications and products

We were sad to learn that Sam Nolt won’t be joining us at the market this year. Sam’s produce was always spectacular and his tobacco slat creations were well made and imaginative. Sam plans to join us at market on both of the Craft Days. We all hope he has a happy retirement, & we will miss him very much.

What’s (Who's) New?
Welcome Josh Heller from Creek Side Farm Mar­ket, a new pro­duce vendor this year.
Creek Side is based on Route 772, 3 miles west of Manheim, and Josh sells off the property, at the Lititz FM, and now in Mount Joy at the Farm Mar­ket.
There are flow­ers, herbs, and he grows a full line of produce that will be com­ing as the season progresses.
He started this venture three years ago and loves farming
Josh was a chef in Boston before coming back to the Manheim area to start his own business, and we are hoping that he’ll share some recipes with us for the newsletter!
Josh will be here with his produce every week. Be sure to stop and welcome him to our market.

By the way ...

Did you know that The Tilted Kilt is serving breakfast on market morn­ings? Yep! It’s true! So now you can make a morning of it, have a well-prepared breakfast, and then saunter across the street to do some shopping. Thanks, Toby & Royce!

And finally, a recipe for one of our fresh offerings at market this time of year:

Baked Creamed Spinach
Ingredients:
2 lb of fresh spinach.
1 ½ cups of hot milk.
1 cup of cheddar cheese, grated.
2 Tablespoons of butter
2 Tablespoons of flour
1 teaspoon of salt
Pinch of pepper
Pinch of nutmeg.
Preparation Instructions:
Trim and wash 2 lb of fresh spinach.
Place in a suitably-sized pot with water still on the leaves.
Cover; then cook only until wilted.
Allow to cool, then squeeze out the excess water.
In a saucepan, melt the butter; then add the flour.
Whisk and gently cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add the milk; then bring to a boil.
Add the salt and a pinch of pepper and nutmeg.
Cook for about 5-6 minutes.
Combine the sauce with the spinach and ½ cup of grated cheese.
Spoon into a baking dish, then top with the other ½ cup of grated cheddar.
Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes.
Serve as desired.

Mount Joy Farmers Market - 2009

We have got some of the details ironed out, and for those of you looking forward to joining us on Saturday mornings, here is the schedule so far:

Opening Day - May 2

Spring Community Craft Day - May 16

Mount Joy Parade - May 23

Strawberry Festival - June 1

Taste of Mount Joy - July 25

Farmers Day - August 8

Autumn Community Craft Day - Sept 12

Last Day of the Season - October 17

Stay tuned, and we'll keep you updated on the vendors you'll find each week and any additions to the calendar!