Mrs. Edison hymn sing part of Edison Festival
SPECIAL TO FLORIDA WEEKLY

COURTESY PHOTO Mrs. Mina Edison

Celebrate the Edison Festival of Light by attending "Mrs. Edison's Hymn Sing" Tues, Feb. 5, at the historic First Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers.

It's the 19th year of the hymn sing that has attracted larger audiences each year. More than 4,000 people attended last year when two performances accommodated the standing room only crowd. Organizers are once again planning two performances to begin at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. with additional seating available for the large attendance expected.

Because of the increased need for food for the hungry, organizers are requesting that those who attend bring at least two cans of non-perishable food and a voluntary cash donation, if possible, to benefit The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative Ministries. No other admission will be charged. "We want to give everybody an opportunity to participate in this wonderful community tradition," said Sam Galloway, Jr., the event organizer and sponsor. "A special afternoon performance is extremely popular among those folks who prefer to attend earlier in the day."

Local philanthropist Berne Davis will make a special appearance during the performances and share her recollections of the Edisons, who once were her neighbors.

Galloway, who originated the hymn sing in 1989, said he wanted to do something to honor Mrs. Mina Edison during the Edison Festival celebration.

"We hear a great deal about the wonderful work of Thomas Alva Edison, but we don't do a lot to honor his wife who also volunteered a great deal of her time and talent to making Fort Myers what it is today. This hymn sing is a way to honor her good work too," Galloway said.

This year's event will be about 90 minutes long and will feature the First Presbyterian Sanctuary Choir and The Mastersingers, along with an orchestra and a pianoorgan combination. Mrs. Edison's Hymn Sing is sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships and is open to all denominations. To accommodate the large crowd expected, closed circuit televisions also will be set up in the church's Fellowship Hall and the chapel.

Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. for the 4 p.m. performance and 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. performance. The road is open in front of the church.

For more information or directions to the church, call 334-2261 or visit www.firstpresbyterianchurchfortmyers.org or www.samgallowayford.com.