As a dreary, rainy dawn broke on wet and desolate Girod Street around 6 am on Dec. 12, about the only thing stirring were a couple of soaking wet Old Mandeville Business Association volunteers scanning the empty street for some sign of arts, crafts or food vendors.  

            And like a low growling dog, echoes of the phrase "bah humbug" and others perhaps not printable rumbled in the unrelenting rain cloud sodden morning. 

               It was increasingly clear as the dismal morning displayed itself that your OMBA-sponsored Christmas Past Festival No. 6 simply was not to be. Against the reality of falling rain, null and void prospects of the day producing any significant number of street strolling shoppers, with many vendors simply not showing up at all and with more rain on the way, Christmas Past Festival chairman Richard Boyd made the difficult decision to call it off. Later in the day, the City of Mandeville, for the same reasons, canceled its lakefront “Winter on the Water” event. 

            For Old Mandeville, eager to show its best side, it was a disappointing wash out. But crucial decisions had to be made early and required contrasting the dismal chances for a decent street festival because of the nasty weather against measures that could have blocked off accessibility for much of the day to most of our OMBA business members along Girod Street. 

            By deciding early not to place the performing platforms on Livingston Street at Girod and notifying police that the event was canceled and stopping the barricades from being put in place from Woodrow Street to Lakeshore Drive, shoppers in vehicles were able all day to reach the parking lots of the businesses. Your OMBA put the interests of the business members in front of going forward with a street festival destined to be a failure and we know that our business associates did enjoy robust sales that day. 

            For our OMBA volunteers who had worked long hours and held numerous planning meetings it was a keen disappointment but there is always a new year. Indeed, your OMBA has already offered free booth space to those vendors who signed up for Dec. 12 and could not set up their booths due to the weather and most of them have accepted the offer. 

  Leading Your OMBA 

            Prior to the disappointment with Christmas Past, your OMBA held its year-end general membership, social, election of officers and Christmas Party meeting all wrapped up into one glittering evening at Vianne's Tea Salon & Cafe, 544 Girod St. Many thanks to OMBA members and Vianne's owners Kerri and Michael Blache for organizing such a beautiful and seasonally glittering event. 

            While these general membership meetings are intended to focus mostly on the social and business networking aspects, there is always a need for some business to be transacted. This annual year-end meeting is significant in that area because it includes the election of officers for the new year. 

            A slate of officers, put forth by a five-member nominating committee headed by OMBA member Richard Boyd, was elected by the general membership without opposition. 

            So here is who will be leading your OMBA in 2010 and congratulations to them all: Donna Plaia, president (yes, I am returning for a second term as president), and serving as officers and board members with me will be: Carol Self, vice president/membership; Troi Kite, vice president/ community relations; Trina Pullig, vice president/ Chamber of Commerce liaison; Sheri Wilkins, vice president/promotions; Ryan Green, vice president/ economic development; Terri Fogarty, vice president/ Old Mandeville growth; Mike Waller, vice president/ projects; Kathleen Martinell, treasurer; and Richard Boyd, recording secretary. Julie Egle continues as paid OMBA administrator. I look forward to a busy and progressive year with this very capable group. 

            We also announced creation of the annual Richard Boyd Mandeville Volunteer of the Year Award and we gave the first one to Richard Boyd for his many hours of volunteer work for OMBA that I noted. Councilwoman Trilby Lenfant praised him for his volunteer work with Friends of the Dew Drop and the Old Mandeville Historic Association and Kerri Blache praised him for his efforts with starting the annual Old Mandeville Jane Austen Festival. It was even nicer because he was totally surprised when we gave him a certificate and beautiful engraved glass disk. 

Winners All 

            On the night of Dec.12, weather still foul, judges Donna Beakley and Tanya Leader were able to visit the nominee’s best decorations in the OMBA-sponsored contest. The commercial category winners were Das Schulerhaus, first; PMO Link, second; and Frosch's Barber Shop, honorable mention. Residential winners were Richard and Liz Beter, 518 Lafitte St., first; Bill and Julie Egle, 223 Girod St., second; and Tom and Lisa Keifer, 219 Marigny Ave., honorable mention. First place winners got $50 Mandy Money certificates and second got $25. 

            And finally, OMBA did serve up some joy late on the afternoon of Oct. 12 by drawing four winners in the Christmas Past raffle that had been underway since the Our Lady of the Lake School Fair in October. The first prize cruiser bicycle was won by Dena Dyer; second prize of a large basket of holiday liquor was won by Peggy Baldwin; third prize of a basket of wine was won by Shannon Walker and fourth prize of a flocked Christmas tree was won by Robin Eckert. 

Happy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year to everyone!