News - Local News

POSTED: Sunday, May. 24, 2009

Grand Parade celebrates Northwest life

BELLINGHAM - Rows of people sitting on blankets and lawn chairs lined Cornwall Avenue Saturday, May 23, to watch the 2009 Ski to Sea Grand Parade.

For those riding in the floats, the outpouring of support from the community can be an exciting experience.

When the floats turn the corner onto Cornwall Avenue, it's an amazing sight, said Andy Vander Meulen, parade participant and assistant director at Camp Firwood, a children's summer camp on Lake Whatcom.

"It's a crazy amount of people," he said. "It's pretty cool."

Vander Meulen belonged to one of more than 100 parade entries. The grand marshal of the parade was Rick Adelstein, president of Louis Auto and Residential Glass, which was celebrating 80 years in business. This year's theme was "celebrate northwest life - create and imagine Whatcom County."

One of the most colorful floats in this year's parade was created by Horizon Bank for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

The name of the float was "Together We Can Reach the Shore," and featured a small fishing boat called the U.S.S. Hope heading toward "Cure Island" - a makeshift island complete with trees and sand. Two cancer survivors were in the in boat fighting the cancer pirate that stood between them and the island.

"We want everyone who has cancer to make it to Cure Island," said Jane Van Voorst, a cancer survivor and parade participant.

Another elaborate float, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and Sacred Heart Catholic Church, was named "Welcome to Whatcom County 2050." A model of a futuristic Whatcom Transportation Authority monorail circled around a brightly painted mural featuring Bellingham's skyline, Lummi Island and Bellingham Bay. A stereo system on the float played sounds of church bells ringing above city traffic.

Ben Roberts, who helped create the futuristic float, said what he enjoys most about the parade is its sense of community.

Although Bellingham is growing, the support for the parade helps it maintain a small town feel, he said.

"You still feel like you live in a small community when you have so many people working hard to make a great event," Roberts said.

PARADE AWARD WINNERS

Williams Northwest Pipeline Grand Sweepstakes Winner

Clan Heather Dancers

Community Entry Awards

County Executive's Award - Best Float in Community Category:

Clan Heather Dancers

Vern Blair Award - Best Community Float Population of 15,001 or more:

Clan Heather Dancers

Mt. Baker Award - Best Community Float Population of 5,000 or less:

CBP US Border Patrol

John C. Burley Award - Best Military or Fraternal entry:

Nile Shriners

Nonprofit Entry Award

Mayors Award - Best float entered in Non-Profit Category:

Knights of Columbus

Commercial Entry Award

Commercial Sweepstakes Award - Best Float in Commercial Category:

Jump Around Fun Zone

Drill/Baton Team

First Place - Bellingham High School Alumni Band

Second Place - Ferndale High School

Third Place - Marysville-Pilchuck High School

Dance

First Place - Jubilee Dance Company

Cheer

First Place - Bellingham High School

Equestrian

Best Group - Northwest Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Best Pony Hitch - Ebenezer Christian School

Best Draft Horse Hitch - Jerns Funeral Home

Best Equestrian - Northwest Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Best Costume Novelty - Northwest Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Best Clean-up Crew - Sampson Estates Winery

Novelty Units

Most Original - Most Original El Gitano

First Place - The Dream Train

Second Place - The Wig Out

Cars/Trucks

Best Original STOCK Quality Car - East County Car Club

Best Original STOCK Quality Truck - Louis Auto Glass

Best Antique Car - Gerald Metzger - Ford Model T

Best Antique Truck - AAA of WA

Best Association/Club Presentation - Fourth Corner Elites Car Club

Bands

First Place AAAA - Marysville-Pilchuck Marching Tomahawks

First Place AAA - Ferndale High School

First Place AA - Bellingham High School Red Raiders

Second Place AA Squalicum High School

Best Overall - Bellingham High School Red Raiders

Ralph Pauley Award - Bellingham High School Alumni Band