‘Tis the season

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
SHARING A CHAT — Georgia Sheaves, the daughter of Trevor Sheaves and Carolyn Devoe of Houlton, shares her Christmas wish with Santa Saturday night at the Chamber of Commerce, following the annual Holiday Light Parade.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Scores of residents came out Saturday evening to take in the sights and lights in the Shiretown with the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce’s annual Holiday Light Parade.
    The parade began in the Houlton Shopping Plaza on the North Road and continued down North Road to Market Square, where Santa Claus lit the “Town Tree” before proceeding to the Chamber, where he visited with the children who were eager to share their wish lists with him and Mrs. Claus.
    The light parade marks the official start to the holiday shopping season and the arrival of Santa to the Shiretown, explained Jane Torres, executive director for the chamber.
    “I always hold my breath when Santa goes to light the tree but, once again, the Houlton Water Company did an excellent job of seeing to the technical part of the evening,” Torres said. “And we were lucky to have Santa and Mrs. Claus  come all the way from the north pole to visit with us and to make sure that the childrens’ wishes come true!”
    Parade organizers were a bit nervous when only six floats had arrived by 5:30 p.m. However, by 6 p.m., 20 floats had lined up. Three categories for awards were presented this year — float, vehicle and non-motorized/walkers — with cash prizes going to the winners.
    In the float category, the American Legion won for its “Past/ Present/ Future” float, while Aroostook Auto Glass, and the Scott White family, collected second place for their “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” float.
    In the vehicles division, first place went to the Houlton Fire Department, while Ray Carmichael and the North Country Cruisers took second.
    In the non-motorized category, Cameron Clark won first place for his three-wheeled unicycle, while the Houlton Federal Credit Union won second place for its horse drawn wagon.
    Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived in style, riding in a decked out dune buggy driven by Gene Ross.
    “I am constantly amazed at how many of the townspeople step up to the plate when necessary and contribute as they did for the Holiday Light Parade,” Torres said.