Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill & Boston Community work together to raise support for childhood cancer

July 5, 2011 - PRLog -- Mystery Ornament Project’s three aspects:

1. Mystery Ornaments and Accompanying Illustrated Story
Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill in Boston has been issuing two ornaments per year for the past few years that are encoded with mystery anagrams and symbols. The project began Christmas of 2006 and the last ornaments will be received in 2011. When deciphered, the ornaments will reveal a five line message of hope. Those who solve the message are entered into a drawing for the chance to win $2,000 in silver and gold coins. The idea was to introduce a new family tradition where old and young alike could gather at Christmas time and work together to solve a puzzle that held the possibility of a reward at the end. The ornaments and mystery message could also be passed down to future generations and families could decide on their own reward. The ornaments have been designed by Canadian artist Mario Friedrich of St. Nick’s Canadian Trading Company in Toronto and are hand painted in Poland.

In addition to the ornaments, each family has received one chapter a year of a richly illustrated Christmas story entitled The Last Shepard and Tales of the Tenth Ornament.  The idea to write a story and to issue it in installments was suggested by actor Richard Thomas (of The Walton’s fame) who visited Blackstone’s while starring in a stage play version of 12 Angry Men. The story, located in Boston, is loosely based on the mystery ornaments. Each installment ends with a cliff-hanger wherein families must wait each Christmas to find out what happens next.  The story is written by Blackstone’s co-owner Mark Duffield and has been illustrated by famed cartoonist, Don Sherwood who recently passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.  Mark’s sister, Sharon Duffield, finished the final illustrations after Mr. Sherwood’s passing.

As of the summer 2010, there are 115 families from 26 states participating in this project. The Cambridge Trust Bank on Beacon Street (Boston) is holding the final message and the $2,000 in a special teller’s vault. On Christmas Eve 2011, Joseph Roller, President and CEO of Cambridge Trust, will travel into the city, open up the vault, reveal the final message, and award the prize money to the winning family.

2. Book
The illustrated story, The Last Shepard and Tales of the Tenth Ornament that families have been receiving in installments will be published in book form in the fall of 2011.  The book’s publishing costs have come from generous donations from our customers. The net proceeds from the book will go to support the pediatric cancer research and care at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) Cancer Center.  MGHfC Cancer Center is a leading provider of pediatric hematology and oncology services in New England, providing exceptional care through innovative, translational research and compassionate, supportive programming for both patients and their families.

The book will be published by Three Bean Press of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts and will also be available in stores throughout New England and on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Borders Bookstore. Much of the theme of The Last Shepard was inspired by the personal stories of our ornament families and will be issued in the memory of our illustrator, Don Sherwood. Available September 15, 2011.  The book can also be ordered directly at Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill (617.227.4646) or online at www.blackstonesbeaconhill.com.

3. Event
On Christmas Eve 2011, many families from around the country who are participating in the ornament project will come to Boston to be present when President Joseph Roller opens the vault, reveals the final message, and awards the prize money. Thanks to the generosity of the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers, these families will be able to afford Christmas in Boston with generous rates at the hotel. To date, well over 70 rooms have been booked in advance. We are anticipating many more participants. At 5:30 pm over 150 people will leave the hotel and proceed to the bank in a candlelight procession singing carols.

We are planning a host of activities for the families including ice skating on Frog Pond, attending the annual ringing of the bells on Beacon Hill, tours of the city etc. and we have a generous offer of free tickets for the families to the Rockettes’ Christmas Eve Show at the Wang Center. Later in the evening our families will gather in the Grand Ballroom for dinner and an evening of exciting seasonal entertainment. The entertainment will include the talents of three Boston Soprano’s, guitar and banjo players, harpists and violinists etc. In the Christmas spirit they are donating their talents towards our cause for childhood cancer. We are lining up additional talent as we speak. We hope to record the performances of our entertainers on a CD to offer to our guests and as a thank you to the many institutions and vendors who have assisted our project with services, gifts and goody bags etc. Our evening will include a video greeting of seasonal salutations from actor Richard Thomas of the Walton’s and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.  We are hoping to hear from Governor Duval Patrick shortly and other luminaries.  Last year the Governor was present when Blackstone’s became the first store in Boston to win The Retailers Association of Massachusetts award of Excellence for Community Service.

We wish to thank the many individuals who have offered their time, energy and talents:
Mr. Joseph Roller – Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge Trust Company
Ms. Donna Petro – Vice President and Branch Manager Cambridge Trust Company
Mayor Thomas M. Menino – Mayor of Boston
Mr. Stuart Meyerson – General Manager Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers
Ms. Sara E. Anderson – Marketing Manager Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers
Ms. Katie Rundle – Sales Manager Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers
Mr. David Jacobs – Publisher Boston Courant
Ms. Amy Flynn-Development Manager, Special Events- Massachusetts General Hospital
Ms. Seneca Clark Francione – Partner Three Bean Press
Ms. Julie Decedu – Partner Three Bean Press
Ms. Sandy Giardi – Partner Three Bean Press
Mr. Richard Thomas – Actor, Producer and Director.
Ms. Susan Symonds – Owner/Principal Creative Infinity Portrait Design
Mr. Mario Freidrich – Owner and ornament artist St. Nick’s Canadian Trading Company
Ms. Sharon Duffield – Owner and artist SeaBreeze Designs
Ms. Kara Callahan – National Marketing Director, MSG Entertainment
In memory and special thanks to: Don Sherwood

About
Don Sherwood is the creator and artist of the 'Dan Flagg' strip that appeared in several newspapers around the world in the 1960s. A former U.S. Marine, Sherwood began his artistic career with assisting Milton Caniff on “Terry and the Pirates”. Inspired by his own Marine past, he began “Dan Flagg” in 1963. After the canceling of this comic, Sherwood wrote and drew such comic books as “The Partridge Family” and “The Phantom”. In 1975, he began the syndicated newspaper panel “Return With Us To...” followed by “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon” in 1981. He also drew the syndicated “Flintstones” strip for eight years, after which he began the Sunday feature “Dick Clark's Rock Roll and Remember”, along with Dick Clark.

Mario Friedrich is the co-owner of Flatiron Christmas Market located in Toronto, Canada.  He also owns a second company called St. Nick’s Canadian Trading Co., for which he designs exquisite hand-painted glass ornaments from Poland.  Mario has designed exclusive ornaments for many of his local customers and wholesale accounts throughout Canada and the USA and now Blackstone’s in Boston.

Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill
Blackstone’s, an award winning Beacon Hill gift store, is an everyday destination spot for residents and visitors alike, offering unique and distinctive gifts for all reasons and all seasons including Made in USA products, Blackstone’s exclusives, and Boston memorabilia.

# # #

Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill is must see shopping experience for locals and tourists in historic Beacon Hill offering unique and distinctive gifts including Blackstone’s exclusives and Boston gifts.