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« » ' - ■ • ■ . ix -■ :- y v,. '.: : .'■ .■ ■V' ; " -• 'i > v , \ e stlj I .-v-v-v. :>'V <i ; v ^ V ! | • . Illi/x'.' a- * ; > j durhamregion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ August 16,2006 ♦ Page A7 A Clarington Community A weekly in-clepth at the communities that shape Clarington It's all about the Corn Courtice Flea Market uses annual event as customer appreciation BY BLAKE WOLFE Special to The Statesman COURTICE - What do a giant raccoon, raccoon, former NHL stars and 200 dozen cobs of com have in common? Very little, except they were all present present at the Courtice Flea Market's annual Corn Festival that took place last Sunday. Sunday. , ■ . "We give it (the com) away free to everyone," said Gerry Houston, the flea market's manager, describing describing the event as a form of "customer appreciation" 1 for the flea market. This year's Corn Festival marked the flea market's 14th anniversary. anniversary. The aforementioned com ~~ was given away between 11 and 2 p.m., with Norris Trophy Trophy winner Pierre Pilote signing autographs autographs and posing for photographs with fans between noon and 2 p.m. Also present this year were the Mountaineers, Mountaineers, who entertained the crowds at the festival all day from 11 to 3 p.m! And the giant raccoon? It's the flea market's mascot Cousin Courtice, who made the rbunds at the festival, handing out balloons to the young festival-goers. "We try to push family and country," • Mr. Houston said. "It's a very successful format. People are very happy. We have a tremendous turnout." , Although the festival involves a fair amount .of advance preparation, Mr. Houston has become so used to the process process that it has almost become something of an automatic reflex for him to book, entertainment and the festival's annual . sports celebrity (which has. included NHLers Red Kelly and Frank Mahovlich 'You don't meet too many people who don't like corn on the cob.' -- Gerry Houston in years past) well in advance. "There's more to it than you realize," Mr. Houston said, "(but) I've done it so long that I don't even think about it." He added that although it's always a challenge to book a recognized hockey star .each year, he has never come up empty-handed. The biggest part of the festival preparation preparation is the corn itself. Once the arrangements arrangements for. delivery have been made, there's still the monumental task of cooking some 2,400 cobs, left to Mr. Houston's wife Donna and festival volunteer volunteer Tammy Kent. "They hate it," Mr. Houston said with a laugh. "It's very hot. I wouldn't do it. Each year, my wife threatens to quit." " • Over the years, Mr. Houston has discovered the key to a successful • festival is to stick to a basic formula of free corn, a hockey personality and entertainment for both parents and kids. "Keep it simple," Mr. Houston said, "so mom and dad will enjoy it as much as the kids." In a previous installation installation of the festival, Mr. Houston. had rented an elephant for the event. Although the corn may have been as high as an elephant's eye, enthusiasm for elephant rides was quite the opposite. "We only had 25-30 kids who came out (to see the elephant)," Mr. Houston said. ' The annual Corn Festival was conceived conceived as. a way of marking the flea market's anniversary each summer. "We thought it would fit in with the country theme," Mr. Houston said, regarding the choice of, à corn festival as an anniversary celebration. "Besides, you-don't.meet too many people who- don't like corn on the cob." • For more information on the Courtice Flea Market, call Mr. Houston at 905- 436-1024, or check out the market's website at www.courticefleamarket. com. -, ■ • Photos by Rob Mitchell The 14th annual Corn Festival was held at the Courtice Flea Market on Sunday. Tami Kent, left, from Kent Farms serves up free corn to 4-year-old Blake, his sister Stephanie, 6, and dad, John Burns. Hockey great, Pierre Pilote, graciously autographs a puck for seven-year- old Kaleb Felgueira and dad Anthony at the Corn Festival. The Mountaineers entertained with some of that 'Good Old Mountain Music' as visitors tasted free corn, shopped for fresh produce and browsed the stalls for deals. Pratossi "KRACO"-^ CARPENTRY & CONTRACTING Complete Carpentry Service • Custom Built Homes • Renovations • Additions • Designing 905-623-1101 . ..VvA.Vt! \ I--' -.'tCa William & Rudy Kraayvanger Reaching Your Goals Freedom 55 Takes Careful Planning Financial That's Why We're Here to Help. •Individual life Insurance *GICs & mutual funds •Disability Insurance «Group insurance •Business Insurance «Group retirement plans •Travel Insurance «Mprtgages •RRIFs, LIFs & Annuities «RRSPs&RESPs Dwight and Dcvia Hickson l ln.iucUl Security .mil Invctilmciil Itci'ivsciil.Ulvc» 5 King Avo., Newcastle (905) 987-5372 Quadrun Invettmenl Seiilcet Lid, A Piece ot tbePUii To advertise in this feature contact Hie This Week Inside Sales learn 905-579-4400