Byline: Julie M. King
Sherry Christiansen, a native of Paducah, Ky., recently moved to Oswego and is the newest of Harborfest's 600 volunteers. She spoke with editorial assistant Julie M. King about herself and her role in this year's Harborfest. The festival starts today and ends Sunday.
Name: Sherry Christiansen
Address: Syracuse Avenue, Oswego
Originally from: Paducah, Ky.
Family: Husband, Dave; daughter, Amanda, who's attending the University of Kentucky; two stepsons, Joey, 13, and Andy, 11. Joey and Andy also helped with this year's Harborfest, painting and setting up chairs.
Occupation: I'm a court reporting student.
What brought you to Oswego? My husband got a job at Nine Mile Point. We moved here in May.
Why did you decide to get involved with Harborfest? Having never lived anywhere but my hometown I thought that this was the best way to get to know people and the area. When I looked Oswego up on the Internet, Harborfest was the biggest thing that popped up.
What will you be doing during the festival? At the moment I'm in the office making phone calls, doing computer work and programming cell phones.
What are you most looking forward to seeing or doing during the festival? The concerts and the fireworks.
What's your favorite thing about Oswego so far? The friendliness and the helpfulness of the people. Being from the South, where we're known for our hospitality, it really took me aback. People are friendlier here than they are back at home.
Other community service efforts you've been involved in: I was very active in my church, working with children after school. I was also a member of the McCracken County Homemakers, an organization that does a lot of charity work and some fund-raising. I also started a neighborhood watch in my community.
Why is community service so important to you? I've had a lot of help in my lifetime and it's just a way of giving back. If we all want to have a better world, it takes all of us to do it.
Hobbies: I love to do all different kinds of crafts. I also like to read, and I like to visit with friends and family.
The best vacation you've ever taken: Last year, we went to the Algonquin National Forest in Canada. The whole family went - my mother and mother-in-law, all the kids, my sister-in-law and her family. It was great.
Four words that describe my neighborhood are: friendly, interesting, picturesque and busy.
If I could live anyplace in the world, it would be: somewhere in the mountains.
My most proud moment: I have two. I recently graduated from college with an associate's degree. The other is seeing my daughter's success in her chosen career of political science.
Favorite saying: When the going gets tough the tough get going. Another one I've always told my daughter, and now my stepsons, is you can do anything you set your mind to. Don't be limited by what other people think.
Food I love: Italian food.
Food I despise: Vegetables.
The two people who have most inspired me are: my husband, Dave, and my mother, Linda Forsythe. My husband constantly encourages me to do whatever I want to do, and my mother has done the same thing. She came from a totally different generation where women didn't do things but she always encouraged me to go out there and accomplish everything I could.
If I could spend one day alone, I would: attend a craft show.
The most annoying thing other drivers do is: speed up ahead of me and then put on their brakes when they get in front of me.
If I won the lottery, I would: pay off my bills, travel, develop a scholarship for underprivileged kids and donate to my church.
If I wrote a book, the dedication would say: this book is in appreciation of all those who helped me along the way.
What advice would you give the president? While I don't always agree with everything he does, I do respect the fact that when he says something, he sticks to it. I would also advise him to get a new speech writer.
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PHOTO
Stephen D. Cannerelli/Staff photographer
SHERRY Christiansen is the newest volunteer for Oswego Harborfest. Color.
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