Some great work by Berlin’s 4th of July Parade Committee and a little help from Mother Nature combined to make the event another success. A great crowd lined the streets for the entire parade from the Berlin Elementary School to the end of Main Street. The number of event participants also appeared to be up from recent years.
There were 15 floats, 10 Fire Companies participating, many classic and custom cars, horses, tractors and trucks, the Rensselaer County Dairy Princess and the Uncle Sam Girls. Music was supplied by the Hill Hollow Band, the Berlin Central School Band and the Squeeze Play Accordion Group.
A big Thank You to the 4th of July Parade Committee: Carol Alderman, Anne Maxon Elizabeth Miller, David Sicko, Robert Jaeger, Jan Firszt, Sarah VanBuskirk, Samantha Gundrum, Rose Orenstein, Jean Barber, Cindy Smith, David Theriault and Al Maus.
PRIZES AWARDED The Grand Prize Winner: W.J. Cowie, submitted by the Cantering Cowpokes
Theme Prize Winner: First Prize – Grafton Baptist Church, Second Prize – NY Inventors submitted by Oviatt/DeShane Families Funniest Prize Winner: First Place – Mr. Potato Head, submitted by the Maxon Family. Second Prize – Benjamin Franklin, submitted by the Oswald Family
Prettiest Winner: First Place – Mary Poppins, submitted by the Grace Christian School. Second Place – The Sewing Machine, submitted by AIROC Court Clowns
Business: First Place – Hair and There, submitted by Amy Rieger. Second Place – Chain Saws, submitted by Paul Brundige. Third Place – Campers at Broken Wheel
Special Award: Taconic Lake Association Marching Groups: First Place – Taconic Valley Basketball. Second Place – Berlin Elementary
Horseback Riders: First Place – Peanut. Second Place – Ponies from Pony Express. Third Place – Cantering Cowpokes
Fire Companies: Most in Line and Best Dressed – Petersburgh Volunteer Fire Company
Cars: Classic – First Place – Doug Jones and Dan Paulson Second Place – Walter Walters’ 39 Chevy. Third Place – Tim Whitman, 74 Cadillac
Custom – First, Second and third Places all taken by Ed Seagroatt and his ’34 Ford
Trucks – First Place – George Dahl Jr. Second Place – Bill Hammersmith. Third Place – Tony Hammersmith
See you at next year’s 4th of July Parade!