Awards
There were over 75 entries in last Friday’s 14th annual Urbanna Christmas Parade. The judging results are as follows:
Judges’ Awards (2) - Boy Scout Troop 307 and Bethpage Camp-Resort and Grey’s Point Campground train.
Mayor’s Award - Christmas Friends represented by the classic sports car of Richard and Deborah Haynes with Emma Oliver and Chas Faulkner carrying the banner.
Grand Marshal’s Award - Charles Henry Brown.
Antique Vehicles - first, Eddie’s Auto Sales hotrod, Carl Bowmer; second, John Blake.
Commercial Floats - first, Payne’s Crab House; second, Hartenbach Construction.
Non-Commercial Floats - first, Valadez Family Hawaii Christmas; second, Billy Mayo.
Walking Units - first, Middlesex Parks and Recreation; second, Cat in the Hat.
Specialty Unit - Middlesex Animal Control.
Equestrian - Little Wonder Horse Farm.
Best Appearing Fire Truck - Upper Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department of Water View.
Any winning entry that did not pick up its plaque should pick it up at the town office.
On behalf of the Auxiliary of the Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Urbanna, parade chair Lois Jean Brooks issued the following thank-you statement this week:
“We would like to take this time to thank everyone who came out and helped make our annual Urbanna Hometown Christmas Parade a huge success. What a way to start the holiday season in Urbanna, and we appreciate all the support at our concession stand as well.
“We would also like to thank our co-sponsor, the Town of Urbanna. We could not do our annual Christmas Parade and Family Fun Day each year (Fun Day will be back in the spring) without the help of the town.
“There are so many people we need to thank. First and foremost we want to thank Charles Henry Brown for being this year’s grand marshal. It was an honor to have him represent our town this year. It was also nice to see our ‘Oldest Citizen,’ Mrs. Mildred Womble. Everyone always enjoys seeing her in the parade.
“We also want to thank each and every one who participated in this year’s parade. Each entry was fantastic and was enjoyed by all. Great job!
“We thank Urbanna Market, Wild Bunch, Southside Sentinel, Church View Septic, Citizens and Farmers Bank, Nate Sparks and the Pamunkey River Ramblers for providing the Christmas music in front of the firehouse, BB&T branch manager Carla Sibley, Pat Marshall, R.D. and Maria Johnson from Mason Realty for helping out with some of the decorations at the firehouse, Angela Walton from Harrow’s Home Center for all your help, and Raggedy Ann and Andy for their appearance.
“We thank Charlie Culley, Kevin Gentry and Glenn Nix for all of your help with the sound system at the firehouse and at R.S. Bristow Store, Jimmy Pitts from Pitts Lumber for providing the flatbed for our judges stand, our carolers from Urbanna Baptist Church and the Urbanna United Methodist Church choirs singing favorite carols in front of R.S. Bristow Store before the parade, Gary Thimsen for doing the Christmas train display again for us this year (it is truly something to see and to admire), and the St. Clare Walker Middle School Seahawk Marching Band.
“We thank our judges for the evening, Dr. and Mrs. Tom Young from Gloucester, and WXGM 99.1 radio personality Neal Steele. We also thank Judy Pitts and her helpers, Mary Kay Hight, Betty Coulson, Carolyn Smith, Sandra Dize, and Carolyn and Bob Henkel.
“We also thank John Mullins for letting us line up the parade on his property and to all the people who helped at the parade lineup, including Ken Rogers, Eric Faudree, Bob Rogers and Bob Henkel.
“We also thank Sheriff Guy Abbott and the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police and VDOT for all of their help and WRAR/WNNT radio personality Tom Davis for being our master of ceremonies, and Camper Trophies and Awards for providing all of our awards for the evening.
“We also want to say thank you to our firemen who helped us set up and helped us with the concession stand and clean-up.
“And what would a Christmas Parade be without a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus? We appreciate their visit during this busy time, and to the Urbanna Oyster Festival royalty who helped Santa Claus.
“A very special thank-you goes out to everyone who helped decorate our town and the Beryl R. Newman Memorial Bridge for the holidays this year. Our town is beautiful and we appreciate all the effort and hard work that went into making our town look so special for the holidays.
“It is our sincere wish that each and every one will have a merry Christmas and a safe and happy, healthy new year,” concluded Brooks.
