From Harford County Council District A Councilman Dion Guthrie:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Edgewood/Joppatowne Independence Day committee who put together the most successful parade Joppatowne and Edgewood has had in their history. On July 5, 2014 at 6pm, the weather was great, the parade route on Joppa Farm Road was packed with enthusiastic spectators, the refreshments were available and the parade participants were lining up to “wow” the awaiting spectators.
The theme this year was “The Pirates of the Caribbean” and we had pirate ships with assorted occupants of wentches and pirates waiting to do battles with sailors “booty” candy, balloons, chocolate dablumes, water and pirate clowns to entertain the awaiting crowds. Our marching bands were spectacular and our motorcycle groups were ready to go.
We had as our grand marshal, Garrison Commander Col. Gregory McClinton, his color guard and other army dignitaries. I had the honor of riding Mrs. McClinton in my antique car. We had our county elected officials, great floats in theme and marching entertainment of all kinds. What a turn-out from our fire department and Sheriff Jessie Bane and his deputies. A special thanks to the Bel Air Police Department for their participation. I ask when I saw Joppa-Magnolia’s entries with a large group of fire equipment, EMT and people, “who’s minding the store?” they were magnificent. They also provide the generator in Mariner Point Park for the lighting that we need for our “free” concert. We had our friend Mary Eilerman’s Band, The Steel Pandemic, which is a local band and they were spell binding, with their all steel drums. In keeping with our theme, the steel drums play a wide variety of music. It’s amazing the sounds those drums produce. We started at 8pm and people don’t want to leave. Our local church provides cold bottles of water for all.
Boy, do we have to work hard to top this year’s festivities! We will be in Edgewood next year and our theme will be “Star Wars.” Speaking of working hard we cannot do this without our committee. There are no words to properly thank two people for all they do all year, starting with our Carnival in May which provides funding for the Fourth of July’s activities, Mr. Ken and Mrs. Sue Heselton. Sue Heselton preceded me on the Council for 12 years. She and my wife Dianna Guthrie are co-chairs for this event. They are both dynamic and we love them. Thank you to Ken Heselton for all that he does for us. We have an energetic young man who the president of the committee, Mr. Daniel Whittingdon and our dedicated vice chair, Ms. Veronica Black, who with the help of my son, Mr. Charles Guthrie worked hard to get the parade participants lined up and get everyone in the right place. They also work at carnival time as do 140 other community volunteers in our ticket booths. Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Doris Carey and our secretary/treasurer Annjanette Ellison. A.J. handles the money.
A special thank you to Mr. Roosevelt Nelson with D.J. Relax who did our commentating at the Band Stand. Thank you to our Judges Mrs. Carey, her cousin, Mrs. Candy, Mrs. May Yent and Dianna Guthrie. My wife Dianna Guthrie started this group and she is the glue that holds them together and she is better known as the “enforcer.” It’s hard to say, “no” to her and she is our official beggar. Whether it is to get money from our sponsor’s or deal with overwhelming odds to keep our carnival where it is each year. Also, a special thanks to our clowns Mr. Phillip Sudano and his granddaughter Brea Lynn Rose who brings up the end of the parade with Mr. Rafie Ferren, Jr. and his family, this year he had Parker’s Pt. Peter Pan’s Pirates. They were great.
We have a great community and a large community turn-out no matter what we ask of them. Ms. Celine Goins and Scott Alexander are always in the forefront of volunteers and thank you Jansen Robinson for rallying Edgewood for help.
I am blessed to be the Councilman in our communities and will continue to fight for their needs with the help of my Legislative Aide, Lydia Brennan.
I remain-
Most sincerely,
Councilman Dion F. Guthrie
Abingdon, Edgewood and Joppatown
Wow. This may be the best one yet. I believe we can classify our good Councilman as a functioning illiterate. I could list all the spelling and grammatical errors but it would take until next year’s parade. What an embarrassment.
I did get a chuckle at “dablumes,” but I am clearly not as judgmental as you when it comes to something as petty as grammar.
You clearly have much better grammar and spelling skills than Mr. Guthrie. But how is that relevant at all?