May 27, 2007 By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – The vivid colors of summer were revealed along West Crawford Avenue Saturday as the Connellsville Garden Club conducted its annual Geranium Festival. But it was not just the red, white and pink geraniums that brightened the downtown block. There were purple zinnias, daisies and orange impatiens that were hurriedly purchased by the hundreds of people who wandered through the street.

Shortly after 10 a.m., garden club members were concerned that their allotment was quickly dwindling as folks stood in line to buy the plants.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to get some more,” said one member as she assisted a customer.

In Lions Square, Connellsville native Todd Reagan officially opened the daylong event with the singing of the national anthem, as mothers and grandmothers adjusted ribbons and barrettes, white gloves and earrings of little ones preparing to take part in the Geranium Princess contest.

Five-year-old Calista Baluch had a tough time responding to the question “what is a geranium?” but drew rousing applause from the audience as she daintily walked off the stage.

Little Brianna Meade told Linda Galardi that Cinderella was the most famous princess she knew of as she was interviewed, while others tried their best to remember the four seasons, the president’s name and where the pageant was taking place.

It took several minutes for the judges to determine which little girl would be named the 2007 Geranium Princess.

“It is because you are all so cute,” Galardi told the 4-, 5- and 6-year-old contestants as the sunshine began to warm the proceedings.

After much deliberation, 4-year-old Simeon Hamborsky was crowned the princess for the day with 5-year-old Madison Oseguera named the runner-up.

All the contestants, including Lauren Bubarth, Kyla Rae Clark, Rylee Donaldson, Ashton Dugan, Jalyn Fisher, Hailey Kosisko, McKenzie Martin and Brianna Meade, received flowers courtesy of Cindy’s Florist and a gift pack from the garden club.

Bill Stoots, a member of the Wesley Health Center board of directors, greeted those stopping by the booth and recalled a time when crowded streets on a Saturday morning were typical.

“The businesses would have sidewalk sales and this place would be packed,” he said. “It’s nice to see it again.”

The clear blue skies were filled with music as The Brass Knuckles took to the stage to play a variety of music, including polkas and musical hits of the past decades.

At one point, the Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Lyrics song “Devil With the Blue Dress On” garnered a response from the members of the garden club, with a few showing off their dancing abilities.

“It’s good to see people having fun in Connellsville,” said a member of the organization.

Beverly Oppermann, garden club member and chairwoman of the festival, said that the third time for the event was “definitely” charmed.

“The weatherman really did a great job for us,” she said. “Everything has turned out wonderfully. The churches and the food vendors did a great job, and the music was awesome. I think we’ll do it again next year.”