Scarecrow Winners

​The Historical Society of Forest Park and the Arts Alliance of Forest Park would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s Invasion of the Scarecrows fundraiser. The creativity was once again amazing, and many folks have told us how hard it was to vote for just one winner in each category. All who participated are winners in a way, and should pat themselves on the back! The Historical Society and the Arts Alliance are winners also, because we were able to raise $1,500 to go toward programing and events. And, of course, there are four winners who each took first place in one category and whose announcement has been anxiously awaited. Drumroll please…… here it is!  
 
It was definitely the year of Barbie! Not just one Barbie, but two Barbie-themed scarecrows won prizes! Weird Barbie at 937 Circle took first place in the Most Artistic category, and the Barbie Photo Booth at 301 Elgin received most votes as People’s Choice. And while the Chicago Bears have not had a winning season so far this year, or maybe because of that, folks fondly remember the 1985 Bears and Da Coach Mike Ditka, since the scarecrow with his likeness at 7348 W. Madison won the Most Historical category. Last, but definitely not least, the winner of the Forest Park Pride category was the Forest Park El train conductor (who looks a little like John Candy) at 439 Hannah.

Congratulations to Zackary McDowell (937 Circle), Burhan Syed (301 Elgin), Hillary Mason (439 Hannah) and Forest Park Bank – Loan and Deposit Operations (7348 W. Madison).  Honorable mention should go to Ricky Poonsa at 537 Marengo whose Peanuts Great Pumpkin theme just barely missed a prize and landed in fifth place in the total number of votes. The prize for block with the highest participation went to the 900 block of Circle with scarecrows at four locations. Congratulations to Zackary McDowell (937 Circle), Colette Anderson (932 Circle), Meaghan Hunt (911 Circle) and Kimberly Adami-Hasegawa at 905 Circle who all contributed displays!
 
Winners have been notified and  will be honored at the Historical Society’s Membership Party on Sunday, November 12. As in previous years, prizes were donated by local businesses, and the Historical Society of Forest Park and the Arts Alliance of Forest Park would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for their contributions:
 
Arts Alliance of Forest Park
Ed's Way
Fat Duck
Historical Society of Forest Park
Jimmy's
Joel Albright
La Maison de Bonbon
Lin Beribak
Louie's Grill
Loyola Center for Fitness
Rick Wagner
Scratch Public House
Starship
Twisted Cookie