Residents Celebrate in Place with The Red, White & YOU! Decorating Contest

Our Community feature article by Christina Manning

Although the COVID-19 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, Newtown Square and Broomall 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.

After this year’s parade had to be cancelled, the Committee quickly formed a subcommittee that came up with a great alternative. And they really pulled it off!

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!

Best Residence: Connie and Pat Drumm, St. Albans Rd, Newtown Square

Best Residence: Connie and Pat Drumm

Photo courtesy of MN Fourth of July Parade Committee

“What an awesome idea the Red, White & YOU! Decorating Contest was!” said Best Residence winners Connie and Pat Drumm.

This is the type of event that makes living in Marple Newtown such a joy!

Connie and Pat decorated their front yard with American flags, red, white and blue hanging decorations, a Happy Independence Day banner and more! “A special shout-out to the Committee who gave their time during the holiday,” Connie said. “Congratulations to all the winners but, in my book, my neighbors are all winners! Red, White and Blue, we will always be true to you!”

Best Group: St. Albans Swim Club, Brookside Rd, Newtown Square

Best Group: St. Albans Swim Club

Photo courtesy of MN Fourth of July Parade Committee

Longtime St. Albans Swim Club member Preston Tyrrell helped St. Albans win Best Group. Like many others, the 4th of July parade has always been a favorite childhood memory for Preston, and with it cancelled, he wanted to find another way to celebrate. “I saw on Facebook they were still accepting entries for the contest,” he said, “so I called the President of St. Albans and asked if we could enter.” Members of the swim club showed up wearing red, white and blue shirts and USA stickers. They took pictures and submitted them to the contest. “Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty showed up as the judges and it was really exciting for the children. It was nice to be able to still celebrate the 4th of July in a festive way that brought back childhood memories.”

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!”

Most Creative: Mary Grambash Miller, Brookside Rd, Newtown Square

Most Creative: Mary Grambash Miller

Photo courtesy of MN Fourth of July Parade Committee

Fellow Newtown Square resident, Mary Grambash Miller won Most Creative for the contest. “I feel I am a very creative person anyway and love participating in these types of events,” said Mary. “With everything going on in the world right now, I thought it would be great to include diversity.” She created large signs showing the words “Liberty and Justice for All” surrounded by children of all colors. “The contest was really neat,” Mary said. “I hope they continue to do this every year even if we have the parade.”

Hometown Hero Award: Beth Scott, 3rd Ave, Newtown Square

Hometown Hero Award: Beth Scott

Photo courtesy of Beth Scott

Newtown Square resident Beth Scott won the Hometown Hero award for her incredible display of 20 people – Hometown Heroes, Heroes of Color and LGTBQ+ Heroes. “I wanted to show heroes ranging from military soldiers, lawyers, police officers and astronauts, who represented people of all color and backgrounds.” After a month of hard work, Beth was overwhelmed with emotion when she won. She wanted to make a difference with her display, by bringing a justice and equality tone to it. “If just one child saw my display while walking down my street and thought, ‘That Hero can be me someday!’ then it was totally worth it.”

Best Window: From the Top Dance, Chapel Rd, Newtown Square

Best Business: The Flag & Sign Place, West Chester Pike, Broomall

Best Use of Red, White and Blue: The Schaub’s Salute to America, Ann Rd, Broomall

Most Fun: Land That I Love, Hearth Rd, Broomall

Best at Night: Frese Household, S Malin Rd, Broomall

Best Under 14: Deepnoor Kaur and Jyotnoor Singh, West Chester Pike, Broomall

Most MN Pride: Rita’s Italian Ice, Sproul Rd, Broomall

Local businesses also got in on the fun, including Rita’s Water Ice, which 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.

Most Marple Newtown Pride: Rita’s Water Ice

Photo courtesy of MN Fourth of July Parade Committee

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 and Lady Liberty,” said Jan.

We were so touched by the reactions of the Winners, some of whom even became emotional. I hope this will be a new Marple Newtown tradition for years to come!