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From Romeo with love »

Soldiers to become object of
local communities' affections

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Send some Romeo love to soldiers serving overseas during the sweetest festival in town.
       The Romeo Merchants, Restaurants and Professionals (MRP) Association will host the 3rd Annual Romeo Romantic Days and Chocolate Festival on Friday, Feb. 12 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
       Alongside the festival, the Romeo Post Office has initiated a community-wide effort to send Valentine's Day care packages to servicemen and women overseas.
       Following this year's festival theme "From Romeo with Love," the post office is asking community members to donate supplies or time for putting together care packages.
       Postmaster Alex Stubbs said he is quite happy with the response given by the community for the volunteer-based program, as more than 35 businesses have offered to pass out boxes.
       "We have the Postal Service, businesses and residents throwing support behind this to make sure it's the most successful project ever seen," he said. "I had a supply of 800 boxes, but we're now sitting on 100, and with two more businesses joining I need to find some more."
       People are asked to request a Military Flat Rate Priority Mail shipping box and a suggested supply list from the post office or from participating Romeo-area merchants.
       Once the box is prepared it should be dropped off at the Welcome Center, located at the Masonic Temple, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on both days of the festival.
       "With everyone planning on bringing in packages, it'll create an atmosphere of being proud to be an American," said Stubbs. "Plus, with more traffic and more people having an attitude of spending some time here, people will be exposed to what Romeo has to offer."
       Postage for the packages will be paid by the Macomb Military Moms of Michigan and Women Marines Association. Cost per box is $12.50.
       Mary Merrick, president of the non-profit Women Marines Association, said the community has always come forward to assist with care package efforts since they started in the area nine years ago.
       "The Romeo community has always been so supportive," she said. "Without that kind of support we'd never be able to do this."
       She said the group sends about 200 packages a month, and with the constant stream of support, all monetary donations have gone toward postage. She said the association likes to make sure all troops get packages, especially those who come from families who may not be able to support them.
       "We get some wonderful letters and cards back, especially from the ones in Afghanistan," she said. "There is a big push to get stuff over there."
       To help spread the love locally, the romantic festival will have its usual charms, including merchants offering specials, chocolate-themed products and treats, such as a chocolate fountain, chocolate-covered strawberries and chocolate-flavored wine.
       The first stop should be the Welcome Center, hosted by the Romeo Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the Greater Romeo-Washington Chamber of Commerce. Chocolate, crafts and more can be found along with refreshments from Pamela's Catering and Chef Fran Salvatore.
       Weather permitting, free carriage rides will also be available at the Welcome Center. Observant patrons may also find a Twin Pines truck passing out chocolate milk, or the 2009 Romeo Peach Queen handing out kisses       Local newlyweds or newly-engaged couples willing to share their newfound lives together are encouraged to participate in the first-ever "newly-wed and asking for your sweeties hand in marriage" contest.
       The rules are as follows: If you tied the knot in the past six months and have a certificate of marriage, or have a wedding ring as proof of asking for your significant other's hand, you qualify. However, one member of the couple must be from the Village of Romeo or Bruce or Washington townships.
       The winners will be paraded in a horse-drawn carriage, receive a sumptuous meal at one of downtown's eateries and the keys to the village. Entries are due Feb. 10. Call the DDA offices at (586) 752-1170 for more information.
       As the children's rhyme goes, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage. In this case, though, the baby is in the window.
       The Annual Baby Photo Contest is set to take place during the romantic festival to determine who has the cutest kid. Entries will be displayed at Bambini Children's Resale Boutique at 101 S. Main St. Votes will be counted at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, with the winner notified by phone.
       Deadline for entries is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5. The photos can be sent to Baby Photo Contest c/o Romeo DDA, P.O. Box 110 Romeo, MI 48065. They can also be dropped off at Bambini's.