Toronto Art Festival offered much to see, hear and taste

TORONTO -- The streets near the city's Gazebo Commons were filled this weekend with vendors selling a variety of food, hand-made products and other items while a variety of performers entertained the many who turned out for the Toronto Art Festival.

In its 45th year, the two-day event included bounce houses and rides for children and unique contests involving youth and adults, while the Main Street Museum piggybacked on the festival with two special guests.

Many rooted for members of the Toronto police and fire departments and the TEMS Joint Ambulance District as they competed in a wing-eating contest.

Each agency was represented by three members who took turns consuming many wings in the fast-paced relay style event. Receiving the winner's trophy were city police officers Jared Rock, Derek Piatt and P.J. Putnam after Rock gave the team an early lead.

Also competing were city firefighters Brandon Porter, Anthony Middleton and Caleb Gotschall; and ambulance personnel Aaron Mosti, Spencer Sninchak and Josh Finney.

TEMS Director Clark Crago served as judge, while sound man Earl Tuttle served as announcer.

Festival attendees also heard from students in grades six through nine at Toronto Junior-Senior High School who recited poems they wrote for a contest organized by teachers Lynda Glenn and Cathie Thomas.

Their topics ranged from the experience of a tree to a breakup with a girlfriend but there were several reflecting on school days, past and present, and living in Toronto.

Glenn said students in some classes were invited to create an ode to the Gem City and were presented local singer-songwriter Jimmy Lee Hook's "This is My Home" for inspiration.

Presented prizes by the festival's planning committee were the following winners: Cole Kuruc and Trenton Hess, who tied for first place; Haley Bodnar and Milana Busby, second place; and Terry Dear and Mason Clark, third place.

Also participating were Paxton Trzaskoma, Landon Calhoun, Cailee Rice, Pria Frey, Matix Clapham, Blake Wilson, Sydney Fisher, Gracie Ruberto, Liam Antill and Brandon Hoge.

Brenda Cich, president of Focus in Toronto -- the group behind the festival -- said it was the biggest year for the event in recent years, with vendor space extended to the yard of Crossroads North River Church.

She expressed thanks to the church and to Toronto First Presbyterian Church and Riverview United Methodist Church, both adjacent to the Gazebo Commons, for their support of the festival through the years.

During the two days, members of the group sold chances for various prizes, with proceeds to go to various local causes, such as the Helping Hands food pantry.

Cich said the group's next major events will be the city's Christmas parade, set for Dec. 2, and the Toronto Christmas Art Festival, which will be held Dec. 9 at the Karaffa Recreation Center.

Vendor registration information soon will be posted on Focus in Toronto's website and Facebook page.

The Toronto Art Festival also has offered various groups an opportunity to raise money and share information about their efforts.

J. David Core of Hike Toronto set up a booth to tell visitors about efforts to establish a system of walking trails starting with wooded pathways near Toronto Union Cemetery.

Core said there are plans for the Periwinkle Trail, a half-mile path starting at the storage building at the foot of the cemetery's lower section, to become a haunted trail attraction in October, and volunteer actors and crew are being recruited.

He said more information can be found at Hike Toronto's website or Facebook page.

Beth Ensell was among members of the Toronto Lions Club selling chicken dinners. It's the group's largest fundraiser, she said, adding that by 2:30 p.m. Saturday, they had sold the 150 prepared for that day.

But the Lions were preparing to sell another 100 on Sunday.

Ensell said the fundraiser actually pre-dates the festival and once was held during Labor Day festivities held at the city's swimming pool.

Local author Bob Petras recalled the celebrations when he was asked about past Labor Days in the Gem City.

"It happened in the evening then and it was packed," said Petras, who noted attendees were entertained by synchronized swimmers from the pool's water aerobics class and diving contests, among other events.

Petras remembered a lifeguard named "Soupy" Burns riding a bicycle off a high dive that extended 12 to 15 feet above the water when the city pool was an above ground structure.

"Labor Day was an amazing day in Toronto," he said.

"We had a lot of fun," agreed Dave Hudok, a former lifeguard at the pool.

Petras was one of two special guests at the Main Street Museum, which opened this weekend for festival-goers and others interested in learning more about the Gem City.

The other was Bob Brandt, who brought what he described as one-third of hundreds of Native American artifacts he found on Brown's Island.

Located not far south of Toronto, the island may be best known for a massive explosion at a coke plant being built there in 1972 by Weirton Steel, killing 19 and injuring 10.

But Brandt said prior to the facility's construction, he discovered many arrowheads, stones used for sharpening and polishing tools and other items belonging to Native Americans who once lived there.

He noted staff at Carnegie Mellon University have determined, through carbon dating, that some of the artifacts are more than 16,000 years old.

Brandt said while exploring the island one day, he observed an eagle descend from the sky and was in fear until he saw it dispatch a snake from the ground nearby.

Noting the eagle is an important symbol in Native American culture, he saw it as a sign that he is to help preserve their history.

He also brought two paintings he was inspired to create that depict a Native American spirit watching over the island.

Carolyn Walker, president of the Historical Society of Toronto -- which runs the museum, said its new location on the first floor of the Karaffa Recreation Center at 1307 Dennis Way, has provided greater space in which to display its many items from the city's past.

Among them is an 1890s mail wagon used in Toronto at a time when rural mail delivery was an experiment.

Stored temporarily in a museum board member's garage, the wagon's body was separated from its wheels and axles so it could be moved into the former school building and a former science classroom on the second floor.

With direction from Maureen Taggart, superintendent of Toronto City Schools, volunteers raised the vehicle onto concrete blocks so it can be viewed through a large window from outside.

Because the room in which it's stored is adjacent to classrooms still used for the pre-school program, it's not currently accessible to the public. But artificial, lighted trees and a mailbox have been added around it to increase its visibility for passerby.