By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The rain held off right up to the end, making this year's Apple Festival almost perfect in terms of weather.
Then the downpour started at 5 p.m. Sunday, an hour before the festival closed down and just as the apple pie contest - which was moved under tent cover - was getting started.
However, most rides and booths were being disassembled by that time as the crowd thinned considerably.
Kessler added that it's hard to predict just how many people attended this year's festival with many of them coming and going several times throughout the weekend. But he said he feels they may have had record-breaking crowds.
Kessler also thanked all the people who worked throughout the year planning the festival and who volunteered over the weekend to ensure things ran smoothly.
Kessler and Pat Teeter, an associate with the Four Flags Apple Festival, said the 20-member board doesn't try to change much from year to year with the festival.
If anyone would like to sponsor a table for $200, on which a name plate will be placed, they can contact the Four Flags Apple Festival at 683-8870.
The biggest problem the board is facing is growing pains, as they are quickly outgrowing their building and may have to build another one in the coming years.
Throughout the weekend there were many contests for festival goers to participate in.
A crowd favorite as usual was the 16th annual Lip Sync Contest.
Taking the top prize of $300 in the 7- to 12-year-old division was 12-year-old Zach Fuller, of Niles, singing "Toast" by Haywood Banks.
The second place prize of $200 went to Chelsie Pysklo, also of Niles. She choose to perform "We Can Make a Difference" by Jack Velez Quez. And rounding out this age group were, Shelby Coleman and Gabby Snyder, who received $100 for their rendition of "Don't Phunk With My Heart," by the Black Eyed Peas.
Allie Hoyt and Lizzy Coulston, took top honors in the 13 – 17 age division, as they performed "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy."
The girls said they were looking for a fun and energetic song to do for this year's competition and came across that one.
Taking home second place in the division were Chris Fuller and Kyle Zimmerman with "Coke, Fries and a Cheeseburger," by SKJ-52. Third place went to Amber Horvath, Kaleigh Horvath, Lacie Horvath and Trey Nichols, with "Leader of the Pack."
Finally in the 18 and over division Janice Hensel, Annette Ward and Sue Clark of Rana's New Generation Hair Salon, took home their fifth first-place prize with their performance of "Sweatin' with the Oldies."
Taking the second place prize in this division were Debra Parrish, Gabrielle Parrish and Nick Settle, who performed "Psychiatric Help" by Mary Lowry.
And rounding out this division was Barry Sokoloskis, who performed "Alley Oop."
Another crowd favorite at the Apple Festival is the apple pie eating contest.
Girls 15 and under:
1st – Brittany Molnar
2nd – Lanie Ford
3rd – Jullian Vorrath
Boys 15 and under:
1st – Nathan Biggs
2nd – Shawn Calhoun
3rd – Robert Riggs
Womens 16 and over
1st – Madeline Shelby
2nd – Anna Terris
3rd – Trishe Oler
Mens 16 and over
1st – Earl Wilker
2nd – Karl Tillman
3rd – Hank Johnson
Homebaked Apple Pie Contest:
1st – Betty Timmrock
2nd – Emily Archer
3rd – Eileen Glick
Biggest Apple Contest
1st – Richard Skibbe – 32 inches
2nd – Carole Skibbe – 31 and a half inches
3rd – Tree-Men-Dus Fruit Farm – 30 and three quarters inches
Apple Peeling Contest
First Heat
1st – Jean Nyhuis – 57 inches
2nd – Sue Welsh – 52 inches
3rd – Loretta Kazer – 44 inches
Second Heat
1st – Jean Nyhuis – 58 inches
2nd – Loretta Kazer – 57 and one third inches
3rd – Sue Welsh – 54 inches
Scare Crow Contest
Most Original
1st – Rhonda Allison
2nd – Taylor Glick
3rd – Derek Brown
Funniest
1st – Pan Alphenaan
2nd – Susan Leggett
3rd – Barry Sokoloskis
Not-so-Scary
1st – Barry Sokoloskis
2nd – Rikki Kaup
3rd – Cassidy Verhostra
Apple Seed Popping
Men's
1st – Greg Teeter – 23 feet 4 inches
2nd – Kyle Hauch – 22 feet 2 inches
3rd – Jerry Hausen – 20 feet 4 inches
Women's
1st – Briana Donohue – 21 feet 2 inches
2nd – Cindy Cloulier – 14 feet 5 inches
3rd – Courtney Molnar – 13 feet 6 inches
Boy's
1st – Conner Glick – 14 feet 1 inch
2nd – Ryker Gridex – 13 feet 2 inches
3rd – Jacob Archer – 6 feet 4 inches
Girl's
1st – Taylor Glizle – 31 feet 2 inches
2nd – Sarah Smith – 20 feet 10 inches
3rd – Nicole Sly – 20 feet 4 inches