Peppermint Patty Plop
No one knows for certain how long members of St. Johns Kiwanis have sponsored the “Peppermint Patty Plop” during the annual Mint Festival, but this year’s ticket sales and proceeds neared record numbers while six winners walked off with some of the money.
Chair of the event, Marilyn Thelen, recently announced this year’s results along with naming each of the six winners. Top prize of $1,000 went to Liz Garret followed by Michelle Peterson who pocketed $500. Four others received $200 each: Bob Schafer, Kevin Miller, Addison Schmidt and Andy Radosa.
Ticket sales for this year totaled 1,661 with income of $8,305.00. The club’s best “Plop” year was 2005 when $8,555.00 was received from 1,711 tickets sold.
The attraction centers on a cow enclosed in a gridded area while ticket holders await the animal’s call of nature. This year no call was made in the allotted time, so the winners were determined by the toss of a tennis ball into the area and where it bounced provided the results. The ball was thrown by 2015 Mint Queen Audrey deAlmeida.
Ms. Thelen explained that the cow, named Flora, belonged to Greg and Sue Palen, owners of Netherhall Farm, who have provided others in the past.
Proceeds from this project, as with others sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, are directed to community use and youth projects.