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Hernando Today

One Hot Parade

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By TONY HOLT, Hernando Today

Published: December 9, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - The blaring sounds from police and fire sirens bounced against the stone walls and buildings as the cruisers and trucks crept up the steep hill along Howell Avenue Saturday morning.

Thousands of people lined the streets throughout downtown. Sunny weather and a mile-long stretch of floats attracted a crowd twice as large as the year before.

Some northern natives were struck by the surrealistic feeling of watching a Christmas parade in 82-degree weather, but few complained.

It was men and women in their summer clothes, not their wool coats, who lined the streets.

"This is really entertaining and the kids really like it," said Kyle Tillery, of Weeki Wachee.

He turned to his 6-year-old daughter, Hailie, and asked her about her favorite float.

She turned and pointed to the group of glitter-covered majorettes who followed the Hernando High School Marching Band. Then she ran toward the road hoping to fetch more candy from those parade participants who were tossing lollipops and Tootsie Rolls into the crowd.

Tillery was wearing a black tee shirt. Sweat was glistening off his forehead. The Pennsylvania native was glad to be here rather than 1,200 miles away in sub-freezing temperatures.

"I won't complain," he said with a wide smile.

Earlier in the year it looked as if the parade was going to be scaled back. Budget cuts prevented the city from doling out the usual amount of money to organize it. The event was saved when local agencies, namely the Kiwanis Club and the Brooksville Business Alliance, eagerly stepped up and donated money.

"The community really needed this," said City Clerk Karen Phillips, who helped direct the floats to the parade review stand. "We're thrilled we were able to do this. You wouldn't believe the behind-the-scenes stuff that went on."

The parade was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Brooksville. First Baptist Church of Brooksville also paid for a portion of the event. The Christmas Festival that followed the parade was held there from noon to 2:30 p.m.

An arts and crafts show, quilt show, holiday-themed Bandshell Bash concert and a Heritage Museum Christmas Tour all took place throughout the day Saturday.

"With the war still going on and the way things are going with the housing market, we really needed this for our morale," said Tammie Fogarty-Mercer, of Brooksville. She sat in a lawn chair next to her mother along the 800 block of Howell Avenue and waved to the children who walked by.

She complained the people in front of her did not stand when one particular commemorative float passed by them. Three local men have been killed in the last two-and-a-half years while serving in the Middle East.

The families of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Schafer, Army Pfc. Cody Grater and U.S. Marine Sgt. Lea Mills stood on top of a military-style jeep and waved to the crowd, many of whom cried at the sight of the three banners etched with the men's names.

One of them was Pam Prevost.

"I think I saw some tears from her," said boyfriend Charlie Scalf, who sat next to her along the curb.

The two of them smiled awed and joked during most of the parade. They stared ahead and complimented the Suzuki Strings Inc. float, which included a young orchestra that played classical Christmas carols.

It placed third in the Youth Float category.

The two were more than happy about Saturday's weather. They considered it a blessing compared to years past.

"Two years ago we were bundled up and freezing," Prevost said.

The largest crowd was standing and sitting in front of the courthouse along Main Street. Among them was Sam Castel, who moved to Brooksville 10 years ago but never attended a parade until Saturday. He was taken off guard at the size and scope of it.

"I thought it was just going to be a small parade," said Castel, who had risen from his chair and stood with his arms folded. "How many people are here? It's got to be about 8,000 to 10,000 ... That's great. That's what this town really needs - a big turnout of people."

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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