Grand Marshal Named For Sayre Christmas Parade [Daily Review, The (PA)]

The Sayre Christmas Parade Committee announced Friday that Mayor Denny Thomas will serve as grand marshal and Bradford County Judge Maureen Beirne has been named the honorary grand marshal of the 2011 Sayre Christmas Parade that will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25 in downtown Sayre.

Thomas is a life-long resident of the borough and is currently in his second term as mayor. Prior to being elected mayor, he had served on the borough council for 12 years. Mayor Thomas is involved in numerous organizations around the Valley, including the Sayre Elks Club and the Elks Hoop Shoot, Guthrie Healthcare System Board of Trustees, and also is a PIAA official.

Mayor Thomas and his wife Lura have one daughter, Kelly, who is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Indiana in Bloomington.

Judge Maureen Beirne is a lifelong resident of the Valley and a graduate of Athens Area High School. Following graduation from the Syracuse School of Law, she joined her father, the late Attorney Robert J. Beirne in his law practice until October 2008, when the Pennsylvania Senate confirmed her appointment to serve as a Bradford County Judge.

For many years, she served as Bradford County Child Advocate, and her professional memberships included the Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Victims of Crime and Victims of Juvenile Offenders Local Policy Board, Pennsylvania and Bradford County Bar Associations. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for Sayre Public Library and Tioga Point Museum and has served on many other non-profit boards throughout the Valley. Judge Beirne and her husband Max Gannon reside in Athens.

The 2011 Sayre Christmas Parade is presented by Peoples State Bank for the sixth consecutive year, in association with Sayre'sHoward Elmer Hose Company, Sayre Engine Company No. 1, the Borough of Sayre, Senior Healthcare Solutions, WETM-TV, and WAVR/WATS - Choice 102. The parade will officially kick-off the holiday season in the Valley on Friday, Nov. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Sayre.

The parade begins on West Lockhart Street between the ponds and continues down West Lockhart Street to Desmond Street, then on Desmond Street to West Packer Avenue, and then on West Packer Avenue to Howard Elmer Park where Santa Claus arrives on Sayre's ladder truck and then meets in the park with the children.

To date, more than 30 participants have registered for this year's parade including, for the 13th consecutive year, students of the Pat Haggerty Dance Studio. Additional musical performances include The Penn York Highlanders, Sayre Area School District Marching Band, and the Kirby Band.

Organizations interested in participating in this year's parade can find the registration form on the parade website, www.sayrechristmasparade.com, or call the Sayre Borough Hall at (570) 888-7739.

Parade entries will be judged in the following categories; Best of Show, Best of Show Honorable Mention, Best Holiday Theme, Most Unique, and the John J. Repasky Fireman's Award for Best Decorated Pennsylvania Emergency Vehicle and Best Decorated New York Emergency Vehicle. The winners of the Repasky award each receive $100. Deadline to register is Tuesday, Nov. 22.

The parade will be broadcast live on WAVR/WATS - Choice 102 (www.choice102fm.com) and taped by WETM-TV and then broadcasted at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 and again on at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31. Each television broadcast will be one hour.

The Sayre Christmas Parade began in 1999 and the success of this event has only been possible because of the generosity of its many sponsors including: the Borough of Sayre, Mayor Denny Thomas, Gannon Associates, J.E. Wheelock Hose Company, Waverly-Barton Fire Department, Teamsters Local 529, Sons of Italy Roma Madre Lodge No. 1342, The Daily Review, Teledair Communications, Attorney Jonathan Foster, Landy and Kilmer Insurance, First Citizens National Bank, Peterson Transport, Douglas Brothers Paving, Stiffler-McGraw and Associates, Mrs. Nancy Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. William Hickey, Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Crockett, Mrs. Rosemary Sharp, and Landy & Landy Attorneys at Law.

Submitted by the Sayre Christmas Parade Committee.