The Chamber Beat

We’re nearly three weeks past the Christmas Parade, but I still have people to thank for making this our biggest and most successful parade ever. The Police Department of Norway was enormously helpful in making the organization and facilitation of the parade seamless, and a special thanks to Chief Federico and his entire department.

Many, many thanks to our longtime sponsor of the Parade, Dunkin Donuts along with our video sponsor, Oxford Networks.

New Balance and the Progress Center and Ari's Pizza allowed us to stage our floats and our people in their respective parking lots during the actual line-up and without that kind of cooperation we couldn’t have pulled it off.

The Christmas float that carried Santa Claus from Norway to Paris and back to the Festival of Trees was provided by Mary Anna and John Palmer of Palmer Development and his beautiful antique sleigh was donated by Dr. Donald and Hillary Ware.

The Christmas Parade Committee and judges did an exceptional job of contributing efforts to making this such a success.

Many thanks to our Parade Committee Chair, Jennifer Boenig, along with Steve Galvin of NPC TV, which filmed the entire event, Mary Anna Palmer, Jean Silverman, Norway’s Director of Recreation, Deb Partridge, Sharon Buffington, Cindy Hakala, the Chamber’s intern, Mindy McCleren, Bruce Little and many more volunteers who came out to help on the day of the parade.

Finally, the thousands of people who came to see Maine’s largest Christmas Parade, estimated at up to 6,000. We are honored and thrilled to be able to bring this huge community event to all of you each year and will continue to do so every year with the same enthusiasm and joy that it brings to all of you.

By the way if you would like a DVD of this year’s parade you may contact Steve Galvin at NPC TV and purchase a copy for $10.

Member News

Our newest Chamber member is the historic Bell Hill Meeting House Association in Otisfield and you can learn more about this remarkable building by going on the Chamber’s Facebook page.

And congratulations to Creaser Jewelers for its beautiful new building on Main Street in South Paris.

Chamber charities

Don’t forget those who are truly in need this Christmas. The Chamber supports Rightstart and Christmas for Kids & Teens and this is the time for you to be giving generously so young people throughout our communities will not go without Christmas.

Bring your toy or other gift to the Chamber at 4 Western Avenue right now so we can provide for those who are in need. Did you know that there are more than 30 homeless children between Middle School and the High school here in the greater Oxford Hills?

Please give with an open heart, because Rightstart has literally hundreds of cases to fill and not enough money and not enough gifts to do it all without your help. Thank you.

And if you have a gently used coat that you could give to the Coat Room, also under the supervision of Wendy Williams at Rightstart, please do so, because there are too many adults and children without proper clothing at this time of the year.

As always, the Chamber is on top of business throughout the Oxford Hills-are you a Chamber Member yet? It’s easy, just call us at the office and speak with Jennifer or myself and we’ll sign you up. I'll see you next week.

Photo:

John Williams