The recent Valentine’s Day weekend Lewes Winter Fest Barkfest events, sponsored by the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and benefitting the Delaware SPCA in Georgetown, was fortunate to have good weather for one day of the two-day event. The very popular Yappy Hour at Irish Eyes in Lewes took place as scheduled on Friday night where dogs and people who like to "yap" gathered on the Irish Eyes porch to feast on delicious food and refreshing libations. Area businesses and organizations made donations for raffle drawing prizes and a 50/50 raffle raised $2,400 in two hours for the Delaware SPCA. Irish Eyes made an additional donation to them based on a percentage of the food revenue that day - this year it is $500. This year’s total was the highest revenue generated in the four years the Yappy Hour has taken place.
The 8th year of the Pet Pageant, scheduled to take place the next day, had to be canceled due to torrential rains. According to event chairperson, Lesley Bowers, owner of P.U.P.S. of Lewes, “This year’s stats were the best ever…best event ever…more dogs present…more people…more raffle prizes…better 50/50 raffle totals…more SPCA volunteers who worked continuously throughout the event.”
The success of this event is directly attributable to the generosity of so many organizations and individuals.
The chamber would like to acknowledge the following contributors: Comcast Spotlight has financially underwritten the event since its inception eight years ago, and further contributes the production and airing of promotional commercials in the weeks leading up to the event as well as merchandise raffle donations; P.U.P.S. of Lewes owner Lesley Bowers, who conceived the idea of staging a pet pageant as part of the first Winter Fest weekend and then four years ago came up with the Yappy Hour component, has contributed countless hours working on both events, makes merchandise donations to the raffle and contributes financially; Irish Eyes in Lewes provides the perfect venue for dogs and their owners to gather for fun and libations during Yappy Hour and contributes financially; Lewes Printing donated the event poster printing; Tail Bangers donated dog biscuits; Delaware Animal Advocacy Guild, Versus, Get Your Wag On, Canine Cabin, An Ocean Retreat Day Spa & Hair Studio, Little Paws & Big Adventures, State Farm Insurance agent Jeanine O’Donnell - all donated raffle drawing prizes; committee volunteers: Kathy Davison, president of the chamber’s board of directors and Comcast Spotlight advertising sales representative; Lou Braithwaite, owner of Lewes Gourmet & Puzzles; Joanne Murphy, Delaware SPCA volunteer and development coordinator and all the SPCA volunteers who worked at Yappy Hour; Tom Jones, Dana Smith and Maryellen Kiernan of Irish Eyes of Lewes.
We’re looking forward to Mother Nature being kinder to us next year for both the Yappy Hour and the Pet Pageant April 13-14.
Betsy Reamer
executive director
Lewes Chamber of Commerce
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