The Carlinville Christmas Market Foundation announced that long-time Carlinville residents Harry and Betty Starr have agreed to be honorary co-chairs for the 2009 Christmas Market. This year’s festival will be held on December 4, 5, and 6 and will celebrate the event’s 20th anniversary.
“With so many deserving people who have contributed so much to our town and the Market, we never have trouble coming up with candidates to be our honorary chairman,” said CCMF President Debbie Zilm. “Our problem is trying to determine exactly which one to select. Once again, our board of directors made a fine choice this year with Harry and Betty, and the Starrs graciously accepted.”
Harry and Betty Starr have been married for 52 years. Harry is a native of Carlinville; Betty is from Milwaukee, Wisc., and moved here when they were married. Along with sons Harry IV and Carl, they own Starr Bros., Inc., with Harry serving as president and Betty as secretary. The couple owned Starr Motors for a number of years in the 60’s.
Harry served on the Blackburn College board of trustees for 12 years, served two terms on the Carlinville Area Hospital board of directors, helped found the Carlinville Country club and served as its first president, was a member of the Carlinville United Methodist Church board of trustees, and is currently on its finance committee.
Betty is secretary of the Carlinville Area Hospital Foundation board and is a member of the CAH Auxiliary. She was involved in the HEART reading program at the elementary school for many years and has served on several United Methodist Church committees.
The Starrs are members of the Carlinville Regional Chamber of Commerce and were involved with Christmas Market fundraising and organizing in the early years of its existence. They also have provided strong support for Blackburn College, the Summer Repertory Theatre at Blackburn College, the Carlinville Area Hospital Foundation, the Carlinville Area Hospital Capital Campaign for the new hospital, a ball field at Loveless Park, and the United Methodist Church.
“Since last December, right after our 2008 Christmas Market ended, we have been planning special events to highlight this year’s 20th anniversary,” said CCMF Vice President Doug Downey. “We always have exciting entertainment, music to celebrate the season, food specialties, and a wide array of gift shopping on our town square and in the famous white tents. But we want to stretch it this year to include some new and different attractions. We have some already worked out and others in progress. Given all of that and the season that the Market celebrates, we’re very happy to have a co-chair couple this year named ‘Starr.’”
The Carlinville Christmas Market Foundation is a non-profit organization that was formed early in 2006 with the sole purpose of planning, organizing, and producing the Christmas Market festival. Producing the event had become complex enough to strain the resources of the Carlinville Chamber of Commerce. Today, with the Chamber continuing to offer assistance, the Market draws close to 11,000 visitors and generates roughly $1 million in revenue for the Carlinville and Macoupin County area.
Prospective visitors, volunteers, financial sponsors, and arts & crafts vendors who want more information about the Market should visit www.CarlinvilleChristmasMarket.com.
