The annual fundraiser for the parade, the Holly Jolly Folly, and the 2008 Holiday Lighted Parade were both bigger and better than ever.
The Holly Jolly Folly
The Holly Jolly Folly, hosted and sponsored by Golling Pontiac/GMC, was held Friday night, December 5. Through the generous support of Golling and local vendors, approximately 250 attendees enjoyed a buffet that was outstanding.
Contributors to the fundraiser included National Storage, Italia Gardens, DnA Pig Roasts, Culver’s of Lake Orion, Buffalo Wild Wings, Revere’s, Chicago Brothers Pizza, Indianwood Junction Party Store, Powers Distributors and Applebees. Centerpieces for the tables were provided by Amazing Petals.
There was also entertainment by Terry Stevenson that had some dancers on the floor, and the Lake Orion High School Choir. Advertising and promotion was provided by the Lake Orion Review, WCSX 94.7 Classic Rock, Oakland Press, Orion Township Public Library, McDonald’s, Arby’s, Wendy’s, Sports Authentic, Gas Station TV, Orion Neighborhood Television. Assistance with developing promotional materials was provided by Lake Orion Community Schools Technology and Printing Services and the Lake Orion High School Marketing Class.
There were introductions including our annual ‘Citizen of the Year,? Sara Van Portfliet, who served as the Parade Marshall. Also introduced was the recipient of the annual Mark Turpen Scholarship, Ellen Meyer, and plaques were awarded to the winners of the 2007 float competition.
The Parade
The parade consisted of 70 entries of floats, vehicles, and walkers.
As in past years, Judges Lisa Asadoorian and Nancy Carniak, with assistance from County Commissioner Mike Gingell, selected the winners in five categories.
Those winners were: Best Commercial Business ? Center Stage Dance Company; Best Non-Profit Organization ? Christ the King Church; Most Uniquely Illuminated ? Orion Area Neighborhood Television; Best Government Organization ? Orion Township Fire Department; and Best Theme Depiction ? L. A. Dance.
There was also a ‘People’s Choice? award selected, and that winner was Center Stage Dance Company.
Santa and the Union Church
As in previous years, Santa welcomed kids to visit him after the parade at the Orion Senior Center. This year, the Union Church, heated for the first time, was decorated by the staff at the Senior Center and the Orion Historical Society. The Lake Orion Scripps Middle School Choir performed, and with a ‘standing room only? group of kids and parents, Santa and the kids enjoyed visiting and getting their pictures taken.
Acknowledgments
We wish to acknowledge the generous support of the Golling family and employees, especially General Manager John Cooper. We also thank Articulate Signs, Inc. of Rochester Hills, Michigan, for their generous contributions.
Neither the Holly Jolly Folly nor the parade could happen without volunteers. The Orion Area Parade Group (OAPG) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization consisting of nine board members who are all volunteers.
Although the OAPG is responsible for administering the parade, and devotes several months of the year toward that effort, the actual parade could not happen without between 50 and 60 volunteers. It is not possible to list the names of all the volunteers, but the OAPG would like to thank each and every person who volunteered.
Extra special recognition must be given to a few volunteers. John Cooper of Golling Pontiac/GMC, Bill Kokenos, and Sue Turpen were the dynamos behind the Holly Jolly Folly.
The execution of the parade was a success because of the long-time experience and dedication of Joe Geraci and Chuck Saputo with the able assistance of several volunteers. We also thank John O’Leary of WCSX and Sue Turpen for their announcing skills. Josie Sweetapple and her dynamic Sweetapple group who performed before the parade and led the crowd in Christmas carols as the parade began also deserve special recognitions along with Mary Dewitt’s Girl Scout Troop who carried banners during the parade and cleaned the streets afterward.
Also, special recognition and thank you goes to the Lake Orion Review. John Counts and Colin Baumgartner facilitated the committee to select the ‘Citizen of the Year.? They also promoted the procedure, the Holly Jolly Folly, and the parade.
The Lake Orion Police Department, the Village of Lake Orion, and the Buildings and Grounds of the Lake Orion Public Schools also did fantastic jobs, and we thank them.
A special thank you goes to Cindy Carr, the custodian of Blanche Sims School, who assisted us with all our requests.
–The Orion Area Parade Group