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December 14, 2015
This was Oriental’s Christmas of the Dink. Not an obscure character in the Grinch saga, but dink as in Merry Dinghy Christmas the theme of the 2015 Spirit of Christmas parade. On the early afternoon parade route there were more boat floats than usual — rubber inflatables and elegant wooden boats and even cardboard vessels decked out for the season.The littler of the little dinghies in the First Citizens Bank entry. No heavy clothing restricted navigation. With temps in the 70’s, the Spirit of Christmas weather felt more like a cool day at the Croakerfest parade.Fish and Boo Ranger, dogs from Offshore Rafting, take in the spectators along the route while on break from their dinghy repair business.There were also those elements of surprise that make up parades in Oriental. This year, it was the political candidate with a platform – literally — forklifted high above the asphalt of Broad and Hodges Streets. And down on the ground, the goat on a leash who became a sideline attraction.
A new height in political platforms. Oriental’s Candy Bohmert who is running for a seat on the Pamlico County Commission rode the parade route on a forklift platform. Her husband, Greg, ran the controls below.And of course, the 2015 Spirit of Christmas parade featured the basics: Oriental dogs. Vintage vehicles. Ear-thrumming fire sirens. A few elected officials — or those hoping to be.
Oriental’s newly-sworn-in mayor and the first woman to be elected to that post, Sally Belangia. She rode in the parade with her dog, Cosmo, and husband Ken at the wheel. Her dinghy was a borrowed Jaguar.There were hurricanes too. And even as the season has the mind turning to other mythical creatures such as say … elves, Oriental’s Spirit of Christmas parade featured at least one dragon.
The Chinese dragon and its entourage, who will have their own parade to celebrate the Asian lunar new year this winter.The Pamlico County High School Hurricanes Band early in the parade set the stage – no 74+ MPH winds but rather, Christmas tunes.Don’t try this on the way to a fire.[page]
Before another Christmas stanza, a pause to inhale.A volunteeer with the Toys For Tots float near the parade’s start. With temps in the mid-70’s, and a 1p start, it was one of the warmest, if not the warmest of Oriental’s SOC paradesSome on a float eyed the spectators, while others eyed the candy distribution.If a Grinch stole Christmas, could he fit it in this car?Parades offer children all the makings for a sugar rush.Santa has been known to use goats in the South to compensate for the scarcity of reindeer. This goat, named Gracie, was not in the parade but became a sidewalk attraction on Saturday. She belongs to Michael Mispagel and lives in Grantsboro. It’s unconfirmed whether candy tossed from floats became part of her diet.[page]
Amy Chapin with the First Citizens Bank flotilla of dinghies.As the NBYC passed The Bean, someone on the porch called out, “Are you lost?” likely a reference to the presence of so many more jackets in one place than is commonly seen in Oriental. Some in the NBYC sailed to Oriental for the weekend.Skip Bailey lets fly more candy, while June Durham readies another handful.From Deaton’s Tow Boat Us boat, Rita Vorleiter dispensed candy and greetings.Double-decker dinghies – and another in tow with 2 canines aboard — were the entry of Offshore Rafting inflatable repairers.Judge’s Honors: 2015 SOC ParadeBest Christmas music – PCHS band
Tallest – Candy Bohemert
Best elves – Spencer & Grace
Best dinghy captain – a tie – Jack Bond & Habitat
Prettiest boat – Jeff Troeltzsch
Prettiest float – PCC winter wonderland
Best on-board activities – Off Shore Rafting
Best vocals – NSA
Most relaxing – Rosebud massage
Most anticipated – USCG and Santa
Santa always counts on the US Coast Guard’s inflatable to be his sleigh in such warm climes.[page]
A young driver.Frank Roe’s yellow truck pulled a parlour done up for Christmas.Who to thank for Santa’s speedy deliveries this year? Carlee Johnson of Rosebuds massage therapy studio worked on Santa’s back during the parade.Stuart Hardy at the wheel of his truck.A not-quite-amphibious combo.John Mitchell and his car promoted next year’s Rotary Car Show.[page]
In a more contemporary vehicle, Angie Propst campaigned for the District 5 seat on the Pamlico County Board of Commissioners.Ken Heath, who currently holds the District 5 seat, rode a tractor in the parade. Heath and Propst, both Republicans, will face each other in a March primary.Candy Bohmert’s run for County Commission’s District 2 seat involved her husband Greg’s forklift.Three banner bearers turned in place to make sure the message got thru about the third annual Old Front Porch Music Fest next October.They then gave a sweeping bow.Parading with the Pig. It represented the Grantsboro Piggly Wiggly grocery.Old cars a favorite.Unusual headlights.[page]
Walking the dogs (the smaller one is obscured here). Veterinarian Dr. Sherri Hicks near the starting point of the parade.Walking the dogs (the smaller one is obscured here). Mark Lucas of Mariner 1 and his son pass near Oriental’s Town Dock.Henry Ford’s Model As and Ts have survived primarily to be in parades. The headlights illuminate the Spirit of Christmas.Some vintage vehicles made one smile….Old tractors were a part of the parade, too. This one had a small Allis Chalmers engine in the rear.Just one wheel turned this old two-row John Deere. Nothing runs like a (rein)Deere.A color guard begins every parade, including Christmas. The Spirit of Christmas 2015, honoring the usual branches of the military, Marines, Army, and Navy, also featured a member of the Coast Guard, Herman Turnage on the left.[page]
One Ringy Dingy was part of the Rotary float promoted next April’s Oriental Boat Show.Firetrucks are often heard before they are seen in Oriental’s Christmas parade.Harry Fluharty drives Florence-Whortonsville VFD truck – with passengers.Some rode on the fire trucks, but a few got to ride on top of them.Santa gets the last word. Toward the parade’s end, he called up a coffee order to the porch of The Bean.Posted Monday December 14, 2015 by Melinda Penkava
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