Christmas Parade

Christmas parade to bring street closings today Several streets will close today for the mayor's Christmas parade in Hampden. The parade will begin at 2 p.m. and travel south on Falls Road from Cold Spring Lane to 36th Street, east on 36th Street to Chestnut Avenue and north on Chestnut Avenue to 37th Street. The Falls Road exit from the northbound Jones Falls Expressway will be closed from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Falls Road from Hillside Road to West 36th Street and 36th Street from Falls Road to Chestnut Avenue will be closed from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. From noon until 5 p.m. there will be no parking along the parade route.

Joan Zellers says her granddaughters will forever remember this year's Christmas parade as the one when "Frosty got busted. " They were standing Saturday morning on High Street in Chestertown, watching the annual holiday parade march by, when the big fluffy snowman came their way. Lilly, 9, and Maddie, 11, dutifully posed as Grandma snapped a photo — one of the last taken of Frosty as a free man. Within minutes, two police officers had...

The Mayor's Hampden Christmas Parade will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, necessitating the closing of Falls Road between Cold Spring Lane and 36th Street.Sponsored by community associations and businesses in the Hampden-Medfield neighborhoods in North Baltimore, the parade will begin at the Poly-Western High School complex, proceed south on Falls Road and turn east on 36th Street before dispersing along Chestnut Avenue. Information: Kurt Kocher, Department of Public Works, 410-396-5198.

Look around! Christmas has come to Hampden once again. As if it wouldn't. As if you could miss if it you wanted to. But if I may speak frankly for just a moment (and really, would you be reading this column if I didn't speak frankly?), of all the great neighborhoods in our city, Hampden by far is the most Christmasey. Don't get me wrong, other neighborhoods display really nice holiday spirit, but no one can touch the holiday cheer that Hampden puts on display. Aside from the Miracle on 34th Street, we also have the Mayor's Christmas Parade.

The weather outside was anything but frightful yesterday as Mayor Martin O'Malley wound his way through the Hampden and Medfield neighborhoods for the last time as the city's leader in the annual Mayor's Christmas Parade. Beneath blue, cool skies, hip-swiveling Elvises, Hula Hoop swirling Hons, a waving Santa and Mrs. Claus and leather-and-tinsel swathed Harley-Davidson bikers strolled, rode and cruised the 2 1/2 -mile route along Falls Road and The Avenue, or 36th Street. Community associations and businesses in the two neighborhoods started the parade more than three decades ago. For O'Malley, who became Maryland's governor-elect last month, the event marked a ride down memory lane.

As men sporting fezzes buzzed out unearthly Christmas carols with oboes, drums and gongs, and a 40-foot inflated toy soldier bobbed above the cheering crowd, the eight members of the "Hampden Hotties" marching team boogied down the street in red fishnet stockings. Thousands of spectators lined Falls Road and 36th Street yesterday for the 30th annual Baltimore Mayor's Christmas Parade in the Hampden and Medfield neighborhoods. Families set up folding chairs to watch Mayor Martin O'Malley, City Council President Sheila Dixon and others join an eclectic mix of floats, marching bands, firetrucks and vintage cars.

WebAdvantage.net, a search marketing and online advertising agency, has announced the promotion of David Cease to director of agency operations. As part of the company's management team, he will supervise internal operations, manage client project initiatives and serve as internal and external liaison for business operations and personnel issues. Cease joined WebAdvantage.net in 2005. Christmas parade participants sought The Bel Air Economic and Community Development Commission is soliciting participants for the town's 2007 Christmas Parade, scheduled for Dec. 2. Examples of possible entries are floats, antique cars, marching units and color guards.

Basement Waterproofing Nationwide of Edgewood was recently given the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland's Torch Award for Outstanding Ethics in the Market Place for the second time. The company also recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. It won this award the first time in 1997. Stephen Taylor is chief executive officer of the business, which has nearly 100 employees. Christmas parade participants sought The Bel Air Economic and Community Development Commission is soliciting participants for the town's 2007 Christmas parade, set for Dec. 2. Floats, mobile units, antique cars, marching units and color guards are among the entrants sought.

1947: Christmas parade Twenty-five hundred Carroll County youngsters descended upon Westminster to march in a parade with Santa Claus on Dec. 23, 1947. After the parade was over, Santa and the children gathered before a spruce tree at Gettysburg and Emmitsburg highways. Toys, candy and fruit were distributed to children under 12. The festivities were a postwar revival of Carroll's traditional Community Christmas Treat. [ The Evening Sun, Dec. 23, 1947. Compiled by Sun researcher Shelia Jackson]

Waiting for Santa to appear at the end of the Christmas parade. Shopping for the perfect Christmas tree or gathering the family together for the lighting of the menorah. We want to hear about the traditions you and your family keep on the weekends leading to the winter holidays. If you have a favorite place to go or activity to do, let us know. Write to Liz Atwood, features department, The Sun, 501 N. Calvert St. 21278 or e-mail sun.features@baltsun.com.

This may be the season of good cheer, but some plainly weren't feeling it toward Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon on Sunday as she rode in the traditional Mayor's Christmas Parade. Thousands of Baltimore residents lined Falls Road and 36th Street, and hundreds of them loudly showed Dixon exactly how they felt about last week's jury verdict finding her guilty of spending $530 worth of gift cards meant for the poor on herself. Some greeted her warmly, in a spirit of forgiveness, though many were a little Grinchier - a few perhaps emboldened by beer and the safety of numbers.

Boy, 11, missing; failed to return from school An 11-year-old boy was reported missing after he did not return home after leaving Golden Ring Middle School on Friday, Baltimore County police said. Mezcal Donta Davis of the 6000 block of Nahant Road in Rosedale is black with a medium complexion, brown eyes and shoulder-length brown hair. He was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweat shirt and tan pants. He stands 4 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 100 pounds. Anyone with information about the boy is asked to call police at 410-887-5000.

Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend What:: More than 100 clans gather for this annual holiday event featuring a Christmas marketplace, Celtic concert, Scotch tastings, children's tea party, home tours and a parade of plaid. The event is also a fundraiser for the Campagna Center, which offers educational programs for children. Bonus event: Alexandria's annual Holiday Boat Parade of Lights is Saturday as well, beginning at 6 p.m. Where:: George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, Va. When:: Events begin at noon Thursday and continue through Saturday, with the Christmas parade at 11 a.m. Rain or shine.

In an effort to retain its volunteer firefighters, Harford County has lowered the age of eligibility for a monthly benefit by five years to age 55. County officials signed into law last week a bill that offers $300 a month to fire service personnel with 25 years of continuous service at age 55. "This is a valuable retention tool," said Dave Williams, spokesman for Harford County Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services. "It is an incentive to stay in the service." As middle-aged volunteers juggle demands of family and career, they are often forced to limit or relinquish hours they can spend in the fire service.

HAMPDEN HOLIDAYS Catch the mayor's 35th annual Christmas parade Sunday. The parade will feature more than 15 high school, local and regional bands, including the Mummers string band from Philadelphia. There will be floats, including a steam calliope from Pennsylvania, local TV and radio personalities, and Santa Claus. A large group of riders on Harley-Davidson motorcycles will precede the parade. .................... The Mayor's Annual Christmas Parade will start at 2 p.m. Sunday, beginning at the Poly / Western Complex at Falls Road and Cold Spring Lane.

Basement Waterproofing Nationwide of Edgewood was recently given the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland's Torch Award for Outstanding Ethics in the Market Place for the second time. The company also recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. It won this award the first time in 1997. Stephen Taylor is chief executive officer of the business, which has nearly 100 employees. Christmas parade participants sought The Bel Air Economic and Community Development Commission is soliciting participants for the town's 2007 Christmas parade, set for Dec. 2. Floats, mobile units, antique cars, marching units and color guards are among the entrants sought.

Lambdin Development Co. has announced plans to construct a new commercial building with office and retail space for lease at the Forest Hill Business Center in Harford County. Known as One Newport Drive, the project at Routes 24 and 23 and Newport Drive will be the third building on Lambdin's commercial project. Tenants include Wachovia Bank, Vision Associates, Edward Jones Investors and other retail and service enterprises. The two-story, 8,600-square-foot brick building is expected to be completed early next year.

WebAdvantage.net, a search marketing and online advertising agency, has announced the promotion of David Cease to director of agency operations. As part of the company's management team, he will supervise internal operations, manage client project initiatives and serve as internal and external liaison for business operations and personnel issues. Cease joined WebAdvantage.net in 2005. Christmas parade participants sought The Bel Air Economic and Community Development Commission is soliciting participants for the town's 2007 Christmas Parade, scheduled for Dec. 2. Examples of possible entries are floats, antique cars, marching units and color guards.