By David Freeze
For the Salisbury Post
FAITH — While watching the Faith Idol contest on Friday night, Jeff Moore yelled to a friend, “Do you think it will get hot next week?”
Moore laughed and went back to enjoying the singers as the crowd waved fans in an attempt to stay cool.
Moore and his wife, Sherry, come to Faith each year at least once or twice, and he didn’t remember it being this hot before.
“We like the Coastline Band and we’ll stay to see who wins the Idol contest. We didn’t think twice about not coming because of the heat,” he said.
The temperature registered 99 degrees when the Coastline Band started their performance at 7:30 p.m.
Tommy and Jill Earnhardt came especially to see the Coastline Band.
Jill Earnhardt said, “We follow the band because we really like their music. It is the perfect mix of beach and country. We also come for all the good food. We love coming out to Faith, and the heat won’t keep us away.”
The warm evening made for a brisk business at the Faith Lutheran Church booth, known for its pineapple sherbet, according to Ken Fisher and Brian Humphreys.
“We also sell snowballs and snow cones, but we are famous for the pineapple sherbet,” Fisher said. “Everyone needs one, but I am out here because I enjoy it and also because my wife, Meredith, dragged me into doing it years ago. It is great to see lots of people each night. Just about every church in the area has something going on here during the week.”
Humphreys moved here from Colorado and went to his first Faith parade in 2008.
“I was told I had to come get a pineapple sherbet and I did. I loved it and now I am out here making them. The sherbets have been sold here since 1946,” he said.
It takes a lot of volunteers and service workers to put a week of Faith Fourth of July events on, and John Sifford has been a part of it in various ways. Sifford, who grew up in Faith, said, “I have been here as a Boy Scout, a volunteer fireman and now a deputy. This is such a special event, but for me the best part is seeing people that I don’t see otherwise.”
This was the first night for April Deal and Jason Smith to visit this year.
“We will probably be back at least another night,” Deal said. “We love to listen to the music and the food is so good. We like the Faith Idol competition, too, and we are here to see Emma Shank from our church perform.”
F&M Bank sponsors the Faith Idol contest, including the age 12 and under performers on Friday night. Kursten Lemonds, Lilly Beaver, Drake Jones, Matthew Allman, Carly Vandewark, Aubrie Stinson, Veronica Sanchez, Alison Vanderwark, Emma Shank, Haley Greer and Mallory Brown were all scheduled to participate.
“We started Faith Idol in 2004, so this is our eighth year,” said Randall Barger, who served as master of ceremonies. “Many thanks to F&M for making it possible.”
While waiting to perform, 12-year-old Aubrie Stinson said, “This is my second time here. It is a little scary to be on stage, but I want to continue improving as a singer.”
Aubrie sang “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele.
“Aubrie wants to eventually perform on American Idol, but they won’t take her ’til she is 15. She does talent shows, too. Tonight she has a big fan club, with many friends, family and my coworkers here. It is fun for all of us,” said her mother, Jennifer Martin.
Mallory Braun, Millie Beaver and Aubrie Stinson all advanced to the finals to be held on Wednesday, July 4. Winners from the other divisions will also perform and Faith Idols will be crowned. Contestants are encouraged to sing different songs at that time.
Faith Fourth of July officials announced Friday night that because of the heat, there will be no matinee activities today from 1-5 p.m. as previously scheduled.
Normal activities will resume this evening.