Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/25/2009 09:03 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/25/2009 09:06 PM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
Paul Moeller Grand Marshal of Murphys Irish Day Parade!
Calaveras County, CA...Paul Moeller, the video chronicler of all things Calaveras for more than twenty years, will be the Grand Marshal of this year’s Murphys Irish Day Parade according to JoAnna Reagan who, with her husband Bob, stages the annual procession. The parade will be Saturday, March 21, starting at 11 a.m....
“One of the rewards for organizing the parade is the privilege of selecting the Grand Marshal,” says Reagan. “Having worked with Paul over the years, and knowing his commitment to keeping the people of this area informed and entertained, we felt nobody was more deserving.”
Moeller’s work has been a mainstay of Calaveras Community Television, the public-access channel. The CCTV studio bears his name.
As the parade progresses down Main Street, Moeller will be in his traditional mode, attired in his familiar jacket and beret, headphones in place, standing behind his trusty tripod and camera. Only this time he will be riding in the back of a 1928 Model A Roadster Pickup owned by Adrian Nestor.
“Paul’s only concern was who was going to videotape the parade,” states Reagan. “He will be doing it as always, only this time from a different perspective.”
Having agreed to serve as Grand Marshal, Moeller was subsequently named Calaveras Person of the Year by the Calaveras Enterprise so he is being doubly honored.
In addition to the regular parade favorites, this year’s line of march will have some first-ever entries. Among these will be a barbershop quartet, the Fourmost from Stockton, riding in a 1915 Packard touring car owned and driven by Rob Miller. There also will be a model steam engine from Railtown 1897 in Jamestown, an entry from Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital featuring Murphys own Doris Barger, and another from the Angels Camp Friends of the Fair.
Musical entries will include the Bret Harte High School, Avery Middle School, and Calaveras Community bands, along with the White Hackle Pipe Band. Dr. Jay Grimstead will be playing his trumpet as he marches down Main Street.
Most of the parade participants will incorporate an Irish theme, including the East Calaveras Democrats who have traced President Barack Obama’s maternal roots to the Village of Monegal in Ireland’s County Office where the President’s great-great-great-grandfather was a shoemaker. During the parade he will be good-naturally saluted as President Obama.
For animal lovers there will be many reasons to cheer during the event. In addition to the horses of the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Posse and the Horse & Barrel Vineyard Tours, there will be pets from the Calaveras Humane Society, the Bernese Mountain Dogs, and a new entry this year, a miniature Brahma bull.
The parade will also include a number of classic cars, youngsters from the area pre-schools, scouts of all ages, representatives of the Irish Cultural Society of Stanislaus County, the Native Sons with their large California Flag, and much, much more.
Announcers Dave Bowman and Jim Bailey will be at each end of the parade route to describe the entries as they pass. As in all years, the final content of the parade is dependent on good weather. The event will go on rain or shine but inclemant weather will take its toll.
“In organizing the parade, we wish we could say yes to everyone who would like to be included,” says Reagan. “Unfortunately we are limited by the amount of assembly area space available to accommodate all the people, animals, floats, and other vehicles that are participants. People have been very understanding and cooperative.”
The parade is unusual in that there is no registration fee and no awards given. Crowd enthusiasm and applause is the universal reward.
Murphys Irish Day is presented each year by the Murphys Business Association with proceeds making it possible for the association to fulfill its goals of sponsoring projects that enhance the community and beautifying the business district.
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