It’s never too early
By Sue Ellen Ross Post-Tribune correspondent November 7, 2012 4:16PM
Bonnie View Floral and Gift Shop owner Shelly Schmelter of Hobart, Ind., is planning a Holiday House Walk on Nov. 10, 2012, to benefit the city's Giving Tree program. | Jeffrey D. Nicholls/Post-Tribune
IF YOU GO
What: Holiday House Walk
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10
Where: Five houses in Hobart will be open to the public. Tickets ($5) and maps for the self-guided tour are available at the Bonnie View Floral and Gift Shop, 1433 S. Lake Park Ave., Hobart, before the event.
More information: Call 942-2200.
A unique event awaits anyone looking for ways to jump-start Christmas decorating.
The Hobart Holiday House Walk, sponsored by Shelly Schmelter, owner of Bonnie View Floral and Gift Shop, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Five homes in the city will be open for public viewing.
“We had a house walk when we were at my small shop, and I decorated my home and Linda Buzinec’s home that year only,” Schmelter said. “The ladies loved it and have been asking us to do it again.
“This time, I decided to decorate five homes, which include my home, Linda Buzinec’s home, Pam Krasoczka’s home (former owner of Pamela’s Floral in Hobart), Pam Paterson’s home (this year’s co-chair of the Tri Kappa holiday event) and Sue King’s home (owner of Fantastic Finds Gift Shop in Hobart).”
The $5 admission fee will be donated to the citywide Giving Tree, sponsored by Hobart Tri Kappa.
“I know many members of the Hobart Tri Kappa and have worked with them on other events, so it was a natural choice to choose their Giving Tree charity for the donations,” Schmelter said
Each house is decorated differently, she said.
“We do a walk-through and choose colors and themes,” Schmelter said. “I use anything they already have, then we tweak it and change it to showcase the home’s best.”
Each home also will offer refreshments and ideas for holiday entertaining, she said.
Emily Yarrito works with Schmelter in her shop and also is a Tri Kappa member.
“The Hobart Tri Kappa citywide Giving Tree is in is 11th year,” Yarrito said. “We obtain the names of seniors and children who need assistance from the Hobart schools, local churches and other organizations.”
The Giving Tree distributed gifts to more than 500 children and several seniors last year, she said.
“The gifts, which will be distributed by the Hobart Fire Department, consist of basic essentials, such as warm clothing and, we hope, a fun gift or two,” Yarrito said.
Trees with attached tags are placed at Hobart businesses. People take a tag and purchase the item, attach the tag to that item and give it to the store where it was purchased. The store then contacts the charity.
