Submitted Photo This is the Westfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Board’s 2019 ornament, now available for purchase.

The WMH Auxiliary Board is pleased to announce that their 2019 ornament is now available. This is the 13th year in the limited edition series. This year’s ornament celebrates the advent of the Mechanical Grape Harvester and is titled “Harvestime 1969.” In 1969 mechanical grape harvesters revolutionized and expedited harvest time by replacing hand pickers. What once took up to six weeks could be accomplished in a matter of days. The harvester and a five-man crew could pick one acre of grapes per hour, 24 hours per day, come rain or shine! The machine straddles the grape row. Paddles shake the vines. The grape berries fall onto a conveyor system which deposits them into one ton bins carried by a tractor and trailer that keeps pace with the picker in the adjacent row. Tractor trailers transport the grapes to the processing plants.

In addition to the ornament, “Harvestime-1969” may also be purchased as a magnet. If you wish to add this new ornament to your collection, or start a new collection, they will be available at the Westfield Farmer’s Market, First Fridays, other community functions, or by contacting any WMH Board member. All proceeds benefit ongoing Auxiliary projects at WMH.