Hampden Main Street

Even if you hadn't known this hoedown's handle -- "It's Happening in Hampden" -- or its locale, there were several other dead giveaways that this event was, in fact, pure Hampden. Perhaps it was the Elm party palace, a former horse stable, now home to Bill Burroughs and Sharon Price -- where paintings of vintage cars festooned the corrugated metal walls. Maybe it was the silent auction items, which included goodies from Hampden shops, a big-hair wig and vintage clothing. Or perchance it was the crowd of 270 equally eclectic folks, rallying for good times and a good cause -- raising over $8,500 for Hampden Village Main Street, a downtown revitalization and historic preservation program.

Included in the multifaceted multitude: Sharon Price, Hampden Village Main Street board president; Mary Pat Andrea, Allison Dickinson, Alice Ann Finnerty and Denise Whiting, board members; Amy Seitz, Main Street manager; Doug Spiro, Spiro- vision president; Mel Freeman, Belair-Edison Neighborhoods community organizer; Carol Freeman, WellSpan Health architect; Jack Latham, US Office Products sales representative; Sandy Sause, Green Thumb Inc. coordinator; Lynn Brinkman, Sherwin Williams sales representative; Charlie Kennedy, Kennedy Porter & Associates owner / president; Beth Volk, Hampden Family Center board president; Pat Smith, RM&D public relations counselor; Burgee Henss, principal of Seitz Funeral Home; Courtenay Barranco, Nouveau designer; and Brian Carroll, Smith and Hawken manager.