There are no blockheads in Cindy Casey’s Edgecomb Eddy School kindergarten class, at least, in regards to decorating a holiday tree. On Dec. 6, her class won Best in Show in Edgecomb’s Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Decorating Contest. 

The contest was devised three years ago by Edgecomb’s Economic Development Committee to promote winter holiday spirit. The committee chose “A Charlie Brown Christmas” as the event’s theme. On Dec. 9, 1965, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” debuted on CBS as the first Peanuts television special. The program details Charlie Brown’s struggle with the holiday spirit until his friend Linus Van Pelt explains the true meaning of Christmas.

This year’s contest had 12 contestants from school, businesses, church and civic organizations. On Dec. 5, Edgecomb Eddy students arrived at the town office to decorate the donated Christmas trees. Selectman Mike Smith donated the trees and served as master of ceremonies during the award presentations. Smith arrived a day earlier during the decorating. He asked school guidance counselor Haley Bezon, “What do the little guys think about the contest?”  

She replied, “It’s all they’ve talked about for two weeks.” Winners in other categories included Funniest Looking Tree, Julie Browne’s room; Old Fashioned Holiday Tree, Jennifer Gosselin’s room, Maine Bicentennial Tree, Edgecomb Historical Society; and We Love Edgecomb, Sarah Currier’s room.

This year’s judges were artist Ramone Haley Warren, Edgecomb Postmaster Bruce Hartford, Boothbay Register reporter Bill Pearson and former town official recording secretary Katie Wurtzell.