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Vol. 31, No. 32 | Richmond Suburban News | December 10, 2014
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Parade signals official arrival of Christmas By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com With Santa Claus making an early appearance, the Christmas season kicked off on Sunday with the annual Mechanicsville Christmas Parade in the Village. Streets were lined with what some are calling record numbers of spectators for the event, which is presented by the Mechanicsville Rotary
Club and the Mechanicsville Ruritan Club. Trophies were awarded to: Best in Keeping with the Theme (Memories of Christmas) — Village Bank. Best Motorized Unit/Large (non-commercial) — Grace Christian School. Best Motorized Unit/Small (non-commercial) — Frank Whitaker. Best Motorized Unit/Large
(commercial) — Halligan Bar & Grill. Best Motorized Unit/Small (commercial)- — TuckawayHarbor Child Development Center. Judges Pick — Astro Events of Richmond. Best Equestrian Unit — Varina Rising Stars 4-H Jodi Deal/The Local Equestrian Unit. Best Scout Unit — Girl Even the Grinch enjoyed the festivities at the annual Mechanicsville Christmas Parade. Presented see PARADE, pg. 28
by the Mechanicsville Rotary Club and Mechanicsville Ruritan Club, the parade is a holiday favorite. Spectators filled the streets along the route. More photos are on Community, page 9.
Remembering Bill Bosher: ‘Everybody knew him’ By Melody Kinser and Jodi Deal news@mechlocal.com
“E
verybody knew him, and everybody has a story about him.” That statement by retired Fairmount Christian Church minister Harry Gills pretty much sums up the
legacy of Dr. William C. “Bill” Bosher Jr. When Bosher’s sudden death on Monday, Dec. 1, made the headlines last week, Hanover County, like neighboring jurisdictions, was impacted. Sadness spread quickly throughout Mechanicsville, where he was wellknown and loved.
According to Gill, Bosher made a splash in his younger days as a youth minister at the church. He recalled an incident that took place during a youth activity when Bosher lost his grip on a bunch of helium-filled balloons in the sanctuary. The inert gas sent them floating up to the ceiling, where, Gill said, they remained.
He shared another story about Bosher raising eyebrows by riding a bicycle up and down the church’s center aisle. Then there was the Christmas Eve when Bosher’s father recruited him and his brother Paul to make deliversee BOSHER, pg. 27