| December 17, 2007 Annual Christmas Parade draws
a crowd to Hatteras village With Slideshow By IRENE NOLAN
 The skies were a steely gray and gloomy, and the northeast wind was damp and chilly on Saturday, Dec. 15. But the spirits of the Hatteras islanders who gathered for the annual Hatteras Village Christmas Parade were warm and cheery. The lead vehicle, driven by Dare County Sheriff Rodney Midgett, pulled out of Teach’s Lair Marina in Hatteras village just after 2 p.m. From there, the parade made its way through the village on Highway 12. There was a marching band from First Flight High School. There were floats pulled by pickup trucks. There were horses and a horse-pulled carriage. There were motorcycles and boats, classic cars, bucket trucks from Cape Hatteras Electric Co-op, trucks from the Hatteras Island Rescue Squad, and fire trucks and ladder trucks from all of the Hatteras Island volunteer fire departments. In all there were about 34 floats, according to Dennis Robinson, who co-chairs the parade with Karla Jarvis for the Hatteras Village Civic Association. Vehicles lined Highway 12 from Teach’s Lair to the Hatterasman Drive-In. Some folks chose to stay in their cars, but most were got out to cheer on the marchers. They brought their kids, who were diving for candy being tossed by people on floats. And they brought their dogs, which had dog biscuits thrown their way by some. Parade Central was in the heart of the village. The judges’ “reviewing stand” was a table in front of the Hatteras Volunteer Fire Department. Just across the street, in front of Burrus Red & White Supermarket, Hatteras Island Commissioner and owner of the market Allen Burrus was doing commentary with Hunt Thomas of the radio station Wilbur & Orville, 92.3 and 97.1, where the parade was being broadcast live. The First Flight High School Band provided appropriate Christmas marching music, and horns on the vehicles and sirens on trucks were blaring. The enthusiastic crowd cheered each and every float, but two got especially loud applause and appreciation. The first was an entry by Richie and Nikki Spears, who operated the Hatterasman Drive-In and Hatteras Sushi Co. until they had to close it this fall because of illness. Richie is a cancer patient that the village has rallied around. A “Thanks for Giving” dance last month raised funds to help pay for his treatment. Richie and Nikki had entered a float in the parade the past few years, always comical and always towed by their funky, bright green vehicle. This year, the vehicle was back, still bright green and decked out to look like a shark with a gaping mouth and sharp teeth mounted on the hood. Richie, in an elfish costume, sat in a chair on top of the vehicle. “Thanks for the love and support, Hatteras Island,” and “Beat Cancer” were the messages on the vehicle. The other Hatteras villager who got loud cheers was Darrin Callahan, who went missing in his boat in a heavy fog on Tuesday, Dec. 11, and had folks on the island praying for his safe return. Callahan, who owns Air Waves Heating & Cooling, had business that day on Ocracoke. When the ferries stopped running, he decided to run down there on his boat. He ran aground on a shoal in the Pamlico Sound and didn’t have radio or cell phone. When he didn’t return home that evening, the U.S. Coast Guard went looking for him by boat and helicopter. He was found in the early morning hours of Dec. 12, safe on the shoal, where he had been waiting for help. Appropriately, Callahan followed the U.S. Coast Guard float, featuring its inflatable boat. He was in a small boat – with emergency supplies – throwing candy to the kids. The boat was pulled by a pickup truck. On the door of the truck was a message: “Callahan’s Overnight Guide Service 1 Way trips Hatteras to Ocracoke Free Helicopter Ride No Refunds for Bad Weather.” There was another message to the community, “Thank you for your prayers and cares.” The parade was about 30 minutes or so long with stops in front of the judges’ table. Afterward, everyone was invited to the Civic Center for cookies, hot chocolate, and awards. Three awards of $250 each were given to: • Most Creative – “Dukes of Hatteras,” Burrus Red & White Supermarket • Most Comical – Richie and Nikki Spears • Most Community Spirited—Kindergarten and first grade at Cape Hatteras Elementary School for “Christmas Around the World” The youngsters’ prizes of $50 each went to First Flight High School Band and the Cape Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies Band, which rode in a float in the parade. Click Here to View Slideshow |
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