LAMBERTVILLE: ‘Sandy’ did not dampen city’s Halloween Parade

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — Hurricane Sandy’s visit to Lambertville didn’t stop the Halloween Parade. The children, parents and community members met in the All-Purpose Room of the Lambertville Public School where people of all ages participated in a parade of costumes in front of the judges.
   Hey! Scooby Doo! You rule!
   That’s right. Scooby Doo and The Gang and The Mystery Machine were the best.
   That was the decision of the judges of Lambertville’s annual Halloween parade, a popular annual trick or treat event in the city — that Scooby Doo and The Gang and The Mystery Machine win the $75 Best in Parade award.
   This six-member group had an impressive lineup — everybody in it was a McIntyre. The McIntyres are Ryan, Nate, Heather, Megan, Sara and Hannah.
   Boo!
   How about a Giant Hornet’s Nest? That should be scary enough for you. It was Halloween time, after all. And Emily Nanneman knows it. What’s more, she followed through. Her Giants Hornets costume was judged Most Creative in the parade. She received a $50 prize.
   And now we’re off to see the wizard, because, because, because — because of the wonderful things that he does!
   The Best Representation of something famous from TV or the movies award went to the Amos and Erin Marley and Geoffrey and Sarah Latham for their Untraditional “Wizard of Oz” characters.
   Why untradtional? Because it was Halloween, silly. And anyway we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto. And it did bring the Marley and Latham kids a $40 prize to share. Bravo!
   Another $40 prize went to Mimi Newton for Most Artistic Costume. She was a Kleenex box.
   There’s nothing like home-made, they all say. And so the parade fittingly enough had a category for Best Home Made Costume. Dressed as M&Ms —-which according to an old TV commercial you may remember “melt in your mouth, but not in your hand!” — were Emma and Kira Seddon, Tia Mayce, Kadie Fleming and Sara Voorhees. They got a $40 prize, too.
   So did Kayli Marques for Best of Recycled Materials. She used those materials to make herself resemble a washing machine. Perfect!
   Think your job is boring? Tired of your profession? Want a trade that will really stimulate you? How about a 1920s wing walker? That’ll keep you awake on the job, and Elsie Adam and Doug Scheetz knew it. Their 1920 Wing Walkers award won the Dot Kitchin Memorial Award in the parade, bringing them a $30 prize.
   Ian Saunders’ Baby costume won a $30 first prize in the Comic division. A $20 second prize in that division went to Victoria Lasagna for her Vampire Girl costume.
   In the Historic Division of the costume awards, Austin Goulg won a $30 first prize for his Civil War Soldier costume. Shane Goulg won the $20 second prize in that division for his Confederate Soldier costume. Third prize of $10 went to Abbagail Livingstan for her 1950s girl.
   Many other cash prizes were awarded as well.
   The following prizes were awarded: Best in parade — Scooby Doo and the Gang and the Mystery Machine, Nate, Heather, Megan, Sarah, Hannah and Ryan McIntyre; Most creative — Giant Hornet’s Nest, Emily Nanneman; Best representation of a person movies or TV — Untraditional “Wizard of Oz” characters, Amos and Erin Marley, Geoffrey and Sarah Latham; Most artistic — Kleenex Box, Mimi Newton; Best home-made costume — M&Ms, Emma and Kira Sneddon, Tia Mayce, Kadie Fleming and Sarah Voorhees; Best use of recycled materials — Washing Machine, Kayli Marques; Dot Kitchin Memorial Award — 1920s Wing Walker, Elsie Ann and Doug Scheetz.
   Comic (first) — Baby, Ian Sanders; Comic (second) — Vampire Girl, Victoria Lasagna; Historic (first) — Civil War Union Soldier, Austin Goulg; Historic (second) — Civil War Confederate Soldier, Shane Goulg; Historic (third) — 1950’s girl, Abbagail Livingstan; Original (first) — Sprite, Emily Tresltad; Original (second) — Dead Housekeeper, Katharine Duggan; Original (third) — Caterpillar, Ava Duggan; Fancy dress (first) — Proud as a Peacock, Amelia Gehring; Fancy dress (second) — Princess Candy Corn, Eve Durkee-Neumann; Fancy dress (third) — Princess, Cassidy Collins; Fictional characters (first) — Scarecrow and Tinman from “Wizard of Oz,” John and Anthony Whelan; Fictional characters (second) — the “Up” Family, Jamie, Rachael, and Colten Tresch; Fictional characters (third) — Brainy Smurf, Lucas Glowatz; Duos (first) — Max from Where the Wild Things Are, Jeremy and Gillian Crawford; Duos (second) — Vampires, Randy and Alyssa Hoagland; Duos (third) — Knight and Princess, Colton and Vivian Chaney.
   Classic Halloween (first) — Witch and Warlock’s Masquerade Ball, The Tettemer grandchildren; Classic Halloween (second) — Dr. “Finn” Kenstein and his Monster, Kira and Finn Grushow; Classic Halloween (third) — Monster High Frankie Stein, Kiyona Snyder; Groups (first) — Great Catch, David, Jack and Kelly Money; Groups (second) — Lego Guys, Cheryl and Alicia Rondinelli; Groups (third) — Willy Wonka Crew, Noah, Joy, Maia and Laila Jarrett; Impersonations (first) — Robot, Matthew Livingston; Impersonations (second) — Octopus, Rebecca Hoffman; Impersonations (third) — Snowman, Adaline English.
   Honorable mentions: Jersylicious – Rachel Hoffman; Candy Corn Witch – Sierra Moore; Grim Reaper – Sean Horsenall; Bat – Kathleen Colll; Ninja – Elio Ambrosino; Witch – Madison Briel; Scary Ghoul – Noah Cormier; Witch – Stella Reed; Black Widow Spider Girl – Sarah Ismail; Pirate Princess – Brennyn Cox; Detective, Paul Dibenetto; Hand with Watch – Sam Weinstein; iPhone – Grace Giambaluo; Ninja Cobra – Quintin Snyder; Monkey in the Jungle – Brooke Spargo; Minnie Mouse – Lila Fletcher; Buzz Lightyear – Robbie Horsenall; Rabbit – Ariella Richard; Bubble Bubble – Amelia Marguerite Silva; Reed – Lucy Reed; Princess – Kayla Kelley, Amanda Elkholy, Sally Elkholy and guests, Minnie Mouse – Mackenzie Clarke, Pumpkin – Erin O’Rourke.
   The winners of the Halloween Parade can pick up their prize at City Hall, 18 York St. Bring your number with you as verification of your award. City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
   ”The City of Lambertville’s Halloween Parade Committee did a wonderful job with organizing the event and in designing the Halloween08530 website. A special thank you to Cheryl Pittore, Muriel Meserve, Sharon Burd, Pamela Baker and Mary Freedman for all of their work to make this year’s parade a success,” said an organizer.
   Local businesses contributed to the Halloween Parade and made the prize money possible. A special thank you to Garefino Funeral Home, Lambertville Trading Company, Homestead Farm Market, Artcraft Shoe Service, Suplee Clooney & Company, Sojourner, The Medicine Shoppe, Manon Restaurant, Inn of the Hawke, Jim Hamilton’s Grill Room, Mitchell’s Café, Cifelli’s Sunoco, Inc, Lambertville Station, Michael Burns Architect, Eugene & Gail Albert, Ed’s Auto Repair/Towle’s Towing, Siam Restaurant, Van Horn – McDonough Funeral Home, Walker’s Wine & Spirit, and CA Niece & Company.