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6,000 attend Sayre Christmas Parade
Published: November 28, 2009
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Review Photo/JAMES LOEWENSTEIN A number of groups performed during the 2009 Sayre Christmas Parade.
Review Photo/JAMES LOEWENSTEIN Santa arrives Friday in downtown Sayre on a fire truck.
Sayre Christmas Parade
SAYRE - A conservative estimate is that 6,000 people watched the 2009 Sayre Christmas Parade Friday evening in the borough's downtown, the Sayre Borough manager said.
It was the biggest crowd that has attended the annual parade since it was first held in 1999, said Sayre Borough Manager David Jarrett, who also serves as the parade coordinator.
While there was rain and sleet earlier on Friday in Bradford County, the weather had improved by the time the parade started. The only precipitation that fell during the parade was candy tossed out by people in fire trucks and on floats.
But candy wasn't the only thing handed out at the parade, which lasted approximately 45 minutes.
In a sign of the times, Guthrie Healthcare handed out hand sanitizer packets at the parade.
And volunteers from the Valley Kiwanis Club handed out 1,200 children's books to people watching the parade, said club treasurer Phil Crouse. "We run out (of books) every year" at the parade, he said.
Approximately 60 groups and organizations participated in the parade, Jarrett said.
Riding in the parade were state Rep. Tina Pickett, state Sen. Gene Yaw, the three Bradford County commissioners, and parade marshal Henry Farley, who is the president of the Sayre Borough Council.
Liza Petrocco of Sayre, who attended the parade with her sons, Dominic, 8, and Kaden, 5, said she and her children come every year to the parade.
"The boys get all excited about it every year," she said. "They get ..., candy, look at all the lights and wave at Santa. We love the bagpipes. They're a big hit (with her family)."
After arriving in downtown Sayre during the parade on a Sayre fire struck, Santa was scheduled to give out 240 gift packages and 10 bicycles to children after the parade in Howard Elmer Park in Sayre.
The floats and vehicles in the parade were judged by a panel of three members of the board of directors of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce: Eleanor Hill, Tom Bellinger and Linda Murrelle.
The Mayor's Award for overall best of show at the parade was given to Valley Kiwanis.
The Judges' Award for Best Holiday Theme was won by the Bridge.
The Peoples State Bank Award for best float was won by Austin's Excavating of Waverly, N.Y.
The Parade Committee Award for first honorable mention float was won by North Rome Christian School.
The John J. Repasky Fireman's Award for best decorated emergency vehicle was won by the Chemung, N.Y., fire company.
The most unique entry award was won by Guthrie Healthcare.
James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or e-mail: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com.
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