Santa pays early visit to Chocowinity|Jolly ol elf joins mayor for Christmas parade
Published 5:44 am Sunday, November 22, 2009
By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
CHOCOWINITY On Saturday morning, Santa Claus paid his first official visit of the 2009 holiday season to Beaufort County for Chocowinitys Christmas parade.
But he had to share the spotlight with a few elected officials as well as various school, church and business groups.
Chocowinity Mayor Jimmy Mobley was enjoying the crowds gathered for the parade, which was organized again this year by Arlene Jones and Rachel Wolfe.
Im proud to be mayor of Chocowinity today, Mobley said as he greeted friends before taking his place in a classic automobile. Were honored to have a good man, Judge Wayland Sermons and his wife Penny, as our parade grand marshal. Ive had the privilege of working with Wayland as our town attorney for 30 years and hes helped us in many ways. I hope to work another 30 years with our new town attorney, Keith Mason.
Joining Mobley and Sermons in the procession were other notables including state Rep. Arthur Williams of Beaufort County, Clerk of Court Marty Paramore and county Commissioner Robert Cayton.
Students from Beaufort County Schools were well represented by football players, cheerleaders and marching bands.
Also featured in the lineup were local churches and businesses, civic groups, Beaufort County Sheriffs Office, American Red Cross, Navy Seabee Veterans of America, Eastern Antique Power Association, Red Hat Society of Cypress Landing and fire departments and rescue squads from Chocowinity, Blounts Creek and Aurora.
Before heading east along the parade route, Southside High School senior John Edwards was tuning up with fellow members of the Seahawks marching band.
Its really fun playing out in the streets and marching, said Edwards, who has been a band member for four years and has marched in the Chocowinity parade every holiday season.
Edwards, who plays the trumpet, said the SHS band is also scheduled to perform in parades in Washington and Aurora over the next few weeks.