The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley Our Town members, from left, Bobbi Trimboli, Priscilla Gay, Tammy Dolly, Brenda Cantley and Vickie Keller pose with life-size cutouts of elves that Alan Kerns worked on over the summer.

ELKINS — A new group of wooden cutout elves is currently making the outdoor structure of the historic Delmonte Market on Railroad Avenue look especially festive.

The elves are also on display so that visitors can become an “Elfkins Elf” themselves by placing their face where the elves’ smiling mugs would typically be.

The elves are precious to the hearts of every Our Town Inc. member, because it was one of their own who created the elves for the display just before his passing at the end of summer. 

Alan Kerns spent countless hours painting matching pants for each one of the elves. And while doing so, he added any touchup work that was needed on any the elves’ hats and sweaters.

“Alan made all the elf legs and painted them to match all of the sweaters and hats,” Our Town President Tammy Dolly told The Inter-Mountain. “We have put them on the front of the Delmonte and people can actually come and stick their head over the sweater and have their picture taken. People can come and take a picture in Elfkins, courtesy of Alan Kerns and his talent.”

Kerns, who passed away at the end of August, was a 1968 graduate of Elkins High School and despite having health issues, was one of Our Town’s most active members. 

“Alan’s health often prevented him from joining activities in person; even so, he never failed to participate, whether through his talents at home, his frequent donations, or his notes of encouragement and support,” Dolly said. “We are so thankful that Alan shared his talents with our community through Our Town and that we can honor his final act of volunteerism in the elf display, and other pieces he refurbished, for years to come.”

Our Town member Bobbi Trimboli graduated from both Elkins High School and West Virginia University with Kerns.

“When Alan’s family moved to Elkins when we were in high school, he jumped right into any project that was going on,” Trimboli said. “He was always so much fun to be around and we knew he had many talents then, but the things he did throughout his career showcased those talents more than ever.”

Trimboli said that after graduating college, Kerns moved out of state and took on many jobs while living in New York.

“We didn’t even know how talented he was until he left and went on to New York and did all of the interesting things he did,” said Trimboli. “He went to WVU with me and then went on to New York and did some theatre and then got involved in buying and selling fabrics. I think he even did some modeling for some time.

“Painting the things he did for us was a gift of love, because he was much more talented than that. He was so very modest and loved his classmates and friends,” she said. “He was just a wonderful guy.”

The elves will remain on display at the Delmonte Market through the first of the year.