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ELLSWORTH —
Hometown hero Louie Luchini, a 10-time
All-American runner who recently signed a
contract with Nike, will serve as grand marshal
of the annual Downtown Christmas Parade Dec. 4.
Relax! Luchini
and entourage will not sprint down Main Street,
says Thelma Beal, parade organizer.
Asked why
Luchini was chosen to lead the parade, Beal
replied: “Hometown boy makes good.”
Luchini
graduated from Stanford University last summer
and he qualified for the Olympic Trials in the
5,000-meter.
“Not many of us
leave and go that far,” Beal said, citing
Luchini’s accomplishments attending a
prestigious university while achieving athletic
greatness.
“That’s a good
role model,” Beal said. “That’s good for
Ellsworth.”
“O Christmas
Tree” is the theme for this year’s parade, the
22nd.
“I try to do
something you can build a float around,” said
Beal. Having a theme helps participants decorate
their floats, she said.
Beal expects at
least 50 units not counting fire trucks and
bands. The towns of Hancock, Lamoine and Trenton
usually send fire trucks as does Ellsworth.
Bands from
Ellsworth and Sumner Memorial high schools and
the Anah Temple Shrine will march.
Santa Claus will
ride on the official Santa Claus float brought
in by Hannaford, where Beal is meat manager.
“It is without a
doubt the best parade in the state of Maine —
Christmas parade,” Beal said.
After the
parade, from 11:30 until 1, children’s books
will be given away at The Ellsworth American
office at 30 Water St. as part of the annual Joy
of Reading event.
At 1, puppeteer
Richard Merrill of Brooksville will entertain at
the Ellsworth Public Library.
The parade,
which is sponsored by the Downtown Business
Association, starts at 11 a.m. on East Main
Street in front of Larry’s Pastry.
Beal said last
minute participants are welcome.
“Just come,” she
said. |
