Record turnout for Maple Festival!

Maple Sweetheart Casey Martin, a senior at Northern Potter High School, offers maple sugar samples during her travels at the courthouse square during last weekend's Maple Festival. The organizers believe the 41st annual festival likely drew a record turnout. Lugene C. Heimel photo

Turnout for last weekend's 41st annual Potter-Tioga Maple Festival was probably a record, according to co-chairmen John Buchanan and Mike Harris.

"Everything came together, including the weather, and we couldn't be more pleased," said Harris, first vice president of the Coudersport Area Chamber of Commerce, which took over the Maple Festival sponsorship this year.

No one keeps a head count, but Buchanan and Harris based their record turnout assessment on personal observation and the number of cars that were parked wherever they could squeeze into a spot in downtown Coudersport.

Previous sponsor Potter- Tioga Maple Producers Assn. remained involved with an exhibit on the syruping industry, as well as maple products displays and judging and the traditional Maple Sweetheart competition. Casey Martin, a senior at Northern Potter Area High School, was crowned as the Potter County Maple Sweetheart.

"We really just scratch the surface when it comes to maple syrup production," said Jim Tice, one of the producers who set up a display at the courthouse square. "Less than five percent of the maple trees in Potter and Tioga counties are tapped. Can you imagine what we could do if the other trees were put into production? We'd be the maple syrup capital of the world!"

Bryan and Donna Ianson from Brydonson Farms on Ayers Hill operated a replica "sugar shack," where they discussed the syruping industry with passers-by.

Maple Sweetheart candidates circulated among the crowd, offering maple candy samples. Among the weekend's highlights were an hourlong parade, an antique car show, carnival rides and games, live music, an art show and the American Red Cross duck race.

Members of the Ismailia Kart Corps, always a favorite, per- formed figure-8 routines during the Maple Festival Parade in Coudersport. Vera McConnell was honorary grand marshal, in recognition of her active involvement in the festival's early days. Mrs. McConnell and her late husband, Bob, operated one of the area's biggest sugarbushes near Denton Hill in central Potter County for many years.