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Residents Celebrate in Place with The Red, White and YOU! Decorating Contest
Our Community feature article by Holly Stupak
Although the coronavirus pandemic may have rained on this year’s Marple Newtown Fourth of July Parade, patriotic spirit was still alive and well in our community. Thanks to this year’s parade committee, Broomall and Newtown Square residents were able to Celebrate in Place, showing off their community pride, patriotism and creativity in The Red, White and YOU! Decorating Contest.
“In May, the Parade Committee made the tough decision to cancel this year’s parade, to protect the safety of our community,“ said Merrie Staurowsky, Vice-Chair of the Marple Newtown 4th of July Committee. “But we knew we could find another way to celebrate.” They decided to form a subcommittee made up of residents Merrie and Bill Staurowsky, Annemarie Sudall, Leigh Ann Coary, Mary Jo Hamilton, Jill Dennis and Joe Talento. The subcommittee met via Zoom and also 6-feet apart on back patios, to brainstorm ideas for the community to celebrate — from home. The idea behind The Red, White and YOU! Decorating Contest was that if people could not come to a parade, then a parade would come to them.
Jan Ceton, who has been the Parade Committee Chair for 35 years, was impressed with how successful the contest was.
There were a total of 59 entries: 38 from Broomall, 21 from Newtown Square and 7 local businesses (from both townships). Judging was done July 1–3, and on the 4th of July, winners were greeted by a caravan of judges, complete with Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty and a congratulatory lawn sign. All entries received a participation certificate.
Congratulations to All Winners!
Most Fun: Land That I Love, Hearth Rd, Broomall
Most Fun: The Carnini Family’s “Hearth Road Land That I Love”
Photo courtesy of MN Fourth of July Parade Committee
The Most Fun Winner was the Carnini Family on Hearth Rd. Tony, his wife Margaret and his daughter Marcy always decorate for the 4th of July holiday. But this year, they stepped it up, and turned to Pinterest for some fun ideas. “We’ve been living in Broomall since 1996 and have never missed a parade,” said Tony. “The contest was a great outlet for us and something we really needed to do!”
Most Patriotic: James Cook, Sussex Rd, Broomall
Most Patriotic: James Cook and Karen Travis
Photo courtesy of MN Fourth of July Parade Committee
James Cook and Karen Travis drew a lot of attention with their display that earned them the Most Patriotic award. Karen had a collection of decorations from her previous home in Havertown, and James, as the Commandant of the 884 Marine Corps League in Upper Darby, was able to obtain 300 flags that covered their lawn to complete their patriotic entry. “All weekend, we had neighbors and members of the community stopping by to take pictures and look at the display, making for some great shared moments,” James said. “We want to thank the committee for coming up with the idea for the contest and making it so much fun, especially when they came over by brigade to give us our award. I am so proud to be an American!”
Best Residence: Connie and Pat Drumm, St. Albans Rd, Newtown Square
Best Group: St. Albans Swim Club, Brookside Rd, Newtown Square
Most MN Pride: Rita’s Italian Ice, Sproul Rd, Broomall
Most Marple Newtown Pride: Rita’s Water Ice
Photo courtesy of MN Fourth of July Parade Committee
Local businesses also got in on the fun! Rita’s Water Ice won for Most Marple Newtown Pride. Owner John Kopena said four of his staff, two of whom were 2020 Marple Newtown High School graduates, took over the decorating and showed off their MN pride. Shift manager Gianna Finnicum along with fellow employees Alexa Micozzi, Abby Long and Elyse Brangiel created the festive display.
Best Business: The Flag & Sign Place, West Chester Pike, Broomall
Best Business: The Flag & Sign Place
Photo courtesy of MN Fourth of July Parade Committee
Best Business winner was The Flag & Sign Place. As co-Owner Karen Hauber and Store Assistant Patty Heron were considering what timely theme they could use for their entry, the pandemic inspired them to decorate their storefront window with a banner, signs and “props” that remind us to honor ALL the essential and frontline workers — medical caregivers, grocery store and postal workers, truck drivers and so many more — who have helped us all through this crisis. “We are usually so busy this time of year that we can’t plan or create a float for the annual parade,” Karen said. “This year’s decorating contest allowed us time to plan a few weeks ago and then decorate over three days, a much more manageable and fun way for us to participate with the community!”
Most Creative: Mary Grambash Miller, Brookside Rd, Newtown Square
Hometown Hero Award: Beth Scott, 3rd Ave, Newtown Square
Best Window: From the Top Dance, Chapel Rd, Newtown Square
Best Use of Red, White and Blue: The Schaub’s Salute to America, Ann Rd, Broomall
Best Use of Red, White and Blue: The Schaubs’ Salute to America
Photo courtesy of Kristi Schaub
Best Use of Red, White and Blue Winners, the Schaub Family, worked on their display as a family. Rob Schaub found online the wooden flag they used to make the center of their display, and his wife Kristi and their children Kelsey and Robert worked hard for two weeks to put it all together. “This was such a fun project for our family, especially after being home for several months!” said Kristi. “And although we were disappointed that the parade was cancelled, we were thrilled that we could still do something community-related to celebrate the 4th of July.”
Best Under 14: Deepnoor Kaur and Jyotnoor Singh, West Chester Pike, Broomall
Best at Night: Frese Household, S Malin Rd, Broomall
Best at Night: Frese Household
Photo courtesy of Antoinette Frese
The Frese Household — Antoinette, Trista and their 8-yearold twins Colton and Rilyn — were the winners in the Best at Night category. Antoinette’s wife, Trista, is an ICU trauma nurse, and the tree in front of their home on Malin Rd was already decorated with white and blue lights in honor of essential workers. “We always decorate for holidays, especially the 4th of July, and our tree is known as a highlight in our neighborhood,” Antoinette said. “Many of our friends and neighbors on Malin Rd participated in the contest, so it was really fun to get involved as a community.”
Honorable Mentions: Newtown Square: The Crockett Family, Barren Rd; The Fischer Family, Lewis Rd; Broomall: Ray Kirby, North Central Blvd.; Star Spangled Celebration, Rittenhouse Rd; Stars and Stripes, Rittenhouse Rd; Dani and Jason Jeffries, Columbia Place; and Oh My Stars, Lawrence Rd.
The Brigade that notified all Winners (L-R): Jill Dennis, Leigh Ann Coary, Jenna Coary, Shaun Hamilton (in the back yellow mask), Ethan Staurowsky, John Dougherty, Merrie Staurowsky, Eric Staurowsky, Mia Staurowsky, Bill Staurowsky, Jan Ceton, Mary Jo Hamilton, Annmarie Sudall, Dave Ceton and Cayla Hamilton
Photo courtesy of MN Fourth of July Parade Committee
Jan Ceton was part of the brigade who got to congratulate all the Winners. “I got to drive the last car in the caravan with Uncle Sam “ I hope this will be a new Marple Newtown tradition for years to come! ” and Lady Liberty,” said Jan.
