Despite hassles, Candy Dance continues

Tuesday, July 27, 1999 | 9:25 a.m.

"A lot of people think we're not having a Candy Dance, but it's never been in any danger of collapsing at all," says Nancy Miluck, publicity volunteer for the Candy Dance. "It would be easier to stop a runaway train."

There was talk that this year's event might fall through after town office manager Ann Evans resigned July 2. Evans had been put in charge of more Candy Dance affairs in March when former candy-making committee chairwoman Bev Smith resigned. Adding to the civic confusion, two town board members also quit.

Scheduled for Sept. 25 and 26, the fair will feature about 300 craft vendors and about 19 food booths. Musical entertainment Brian Farnon and the Lake Tahoe Dance Band play mostly country and Big Band songs.

Martha Williams and Laurie Hickey of L&M Promotions volunteered to chair the candy committee for the event and are looking for volunteers to help with the candy making and packaging. Candy making begins Wednesday.

"We're not candy makers, we're not really even cooks," Hickey said.

"We're experimenting with new recipes," Williams said. " If no one in our committee meeting drops dead, we'll try it on the public. I'm sure no other candy makers in the past needed to test their candy to make sure people don't croak."

Miluck estimates that the event will draw around 60,000 people to the town of 220. She echoed Hickey and Williams' plea for volunteer help saying volunteers are also needed as candy vendors and to man information booths.

The Candy Dance started in 1919 as a fund-raiser to pay for lights. It has been held almost every year since then and pays for a large share of Genoa's expenses.