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"I only came because my niece was in it," Kelly's Aunt Chris said. "There's too many things to do on a Saturday to come out to hear other people sing."
Kelly's family of supporters came from Albany, Colonie, and Glenmont to see the young Clifton Park singer perform. And though she didn't fare as well this year as in 2008 when she won the contest's youth division Kelly's supporters appeared to have a good time just the same.
The town holds its annual mid-winter festival on the first Saturday in February each year. With the addition of the idol contest the event seems to have found a home with the town's younger set of performers.
But the singing contest is just one of many activities spread around town for the free, day long event. Besides the talent contest there were ski races in Kinns Road Park, outdoor nature tours, and sleigh rides at Riverview Orchards. Within the warm confines of the mall residents found information tables from CAPTAIN Youth and Family Services, the American Association of Retired Persons, the YMCA, Clifton Park Citizens Corps Council, and the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library with library director Alex Gutelius signing up new patrons.
Staff from the Saratoga County Animal Shelter joined the event this year for the first time bringing more than a dozen lonely kittens, cats, and puppies to entice animal lovers. Across the hallway members of Trout Unlimited explained how they partner with the town and the state Department of Environmental Services to improve area streams.
The private group joined in the event to demonstrate how it helps monitor and improve streams like the Bearbrook and the Dwaaskill. During warmer weather its members work with the DEC and the town to improve the water quality and keep the streams populated with the group's namesake, trout.
But it is the idol contest that draws the contestants and their fans. After a short opening set of tunes by the Clifton Park Community Chorus local radio DJ Ric Mitchell once again handled emcee duties. Mitchell made sure each contestant had the correct musical accompaniment and kept the event moving along without any miscues or delays.
Judging the contestants were Shenendehowa music teachers Emily Applegate and Mary Ann Wedeman, town councilwoman Lynda Walowit, and musical stage performer Kate Burns.
The four women had a tough time picking the winners as all the contestants hit their mark, sang their song, and waited patiently for their critique. In the youth division, ages 7 to 12 this year's winner was Kaeli Heffner. In the teen division, ages 13 to 17, Jenna Iwaniec was judged to be the best.
Almost as popular as the idol contest is the Best Tasting Soup in Clifton Park contest at Shenendehowa Senior Citizens Center. Even with a special parking lot the senior center filled up with youngsters dancing to the upbeat and hilarious Zucchini Brothers while their parents sampled tomato bisque, Brunswick stew, Hungarian goulash, and Baja chicken enchilada soup.
Grace Mayo, 8, Olivio Stewart, 8, and Karlee Rock, 8 from Girl Scout Troop 2130 sampled several of the soups and after casting their ballots agreed the Tuscan Grill's Italian Wedding Soup was the best. The girls split on choosing which provided the most fun, the Zucchini Brothers, balloon artist Mr. Twisty, or sampling the soup. They regained their unity by judging the nachos from Moe's Southwest Grill to be the best thing of the entire event.
Despite the girls votes the Vista at Van Patten restaurant won the soup tasting contest title for the second year in a row with its New England Clam Chowder.
