http://rutlandherald.com/article/20131210/NEWS02/712109997
Published December 10, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Beyond the Unicorn Annual Springfield craft fair draws big crowds, raises funds By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer The Beyond the Unicorn Craft Fair has raised thousands of dollars over its 35 years for seniors at Springfield High School. And while the fair held the first Saturday in December is going strong, it could use a little more volunteer help, said organizer Marie Gelineau. Gelineau does the job as a benefit for the Springfield High School Alumni Association. She said Monday that the fair raises about $5,500 every year, a big step toward the $13,600 the association handed out in five scholarships earlier this year. Gelineau called the fair, which was held Saturday with 85 different vendors, one of the biggest events in town, and Saturday it drew about 1,500 people through the doors at Riverside Middle School. Fairgoers could find birdhouses, all kinds of Christmas decorations, slate trivets, baby booties and sweaters, chocolate fudge, jams and jellies, candles and blown glass, soaps and handknit hats and scarves. The fair was started by Springfield High School art teacher Lisa Murray’s art class. Murray had a booth at the fair Saturday to sell her marbleized candles and silk scarves. “We started it 35 years ago,” said Murray, on Saturday, spending equal time greeting former students and fellow teachers, as well as selling her trademark marblized candles and other items. Murray said she and the Springfield Teachers Association put on the craft fair for 18 years to raise money for college scholarships, until she and the association learned it was not supposed to be raising money, according to National Education Association rules. She said the Springfield Alumni Association quickly jumped in and picked up the reins. Murray said that organizing and running the fair is almost a full-time job. “It’s a huge job,” she said, praising the effort that Gelineau was able to devote to the fair. Murray said the name of the fair, and its trademark logo and poster of a unicorn, was drawn 35 years ago by one of her students. The name remained, Gelineau said, because it is unique to Springfield. “She’s probably in her 50s now,” said Murray, realizing the full impact of being 35 years old. The fair started small in the cafeteria at Riverside Middle School, Murray said. “We needed a fundraiser to publish our creative writing/arts magazine, and the kids selected “Beyond the Unicorn” as the name for the craft fair and magazine,” Murray recalled. Since Gelineau and the Alumni Association took over the fair, they have added food vendors to the fair. “She has continued the tradition, and it really is a community event,” said Murray. “People get to see and catch up with other folks they might only see once a year.” Students at the high school receive community service hours toward their graduation requirement for helping at the fair, Gelineau said. The alumni association also has to raise money to put on its annual alumni parade, Gelineau said. Gelineau, who like Murray, is also a crafter, said this weekend’s fair almost didn’t have a face painter, which Gelineau said she had advertised as a free benefit for those attending. At the last minute, the junior class at the high school had to cancel, she said, and she quickly lined up a replacement from a woman who had done face painting at other Springfield events. Gelineau said that the fair could definitely use more volunteer help setting up and cleaning up after the fair, particularly from the high school kids. Gelineau said that she allows students, and student groups such as the Cub Scouts, to have free booths at the fair to help with their own fundraising. The purpose of the fair is to aid the students and raise money for scholarships, she said.
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