By Jim Bloch
Sue Daniels, who has headed the city of St. Clair’s Lighted Santa Parade since its inception in 2009, recently announced the winners of the best marching units in the 2024 procession, held on North Riverside Avenue, Nov. 22.
Daniels made the announcements and distributed plaques to the winners at the regular meeting of the city council, held Dec. 2.
Cub Scout Pack 261 took first place in the nonprofit division.
Sine Monaghan Realty won the commercial division.
For the second consecutive year, the Pine River Elementary Pioneers won the Grand Sweepstakes prize as the top entry.
“Santa wasn’t able to make it here tonight, so I’m his representative,” said Daniels, as heard on the recording of the meeting posted on YouTube. “I want to thank the council for allowing us to be here tonight to present these awards to these very deserving individuals. We’d like to thank all of the departments of the city of St. Clair and the Chamber of Commerce for contributing to the success of the 2024 Santa Lighted Parade. We’d like to thank all the citizen volunteers, especially our line-up committee who worked very hard to get all these units in order. We couldn’t have done it without them. Thank you to all the participants. We had 55 units sign up for the parade. But due to the inclement weather, some had to withdraw.”
One of the most notable withdrawals was the Marching Saints of St. Clair High School.
“Based on the current weather conditions and the forecast, Mr. Volz (the band director) has decided the Marching Saints will not perform in the parade tonight,” said the message to parents of band members. Six days later, the Saints marched in the Detroit Thanksgiving Day parade and won Channel 4’s Battle of the Bands for the fourth time, out pointing the Flushing Raiders and Southfield A&T.
It turned out that the rain stopped for the St. Clair parade, which started at 6 p.m.
All of the winners posed for a photo with Daniels, who wore a Santa cap. The audience applauded.
“Congratulations,” said Daniels. “Also, Pine River, your name will once again appear on the big plaque that hangs up in the hallway here at city hall. For another year, you are the winners.”
Daniels invited the students into city hall to view the plaque.
“You’re here to receive an award because of the hard work you put in and the effort you guys put in,” City Superintendent Quentin Bishop told the students. City council is “where a lot of things happen that will affect you.”
Bishop invited the Cub Scouts and the students at Pine River to attend meetings. He asked students to tell council members how the city could better serve them.
“We’re here to serve,” said Bishop. “We’re here to help you. We’d love to hear what you think.”
“Thank you to everyone in the community for your help,” Daniels said. “We couldn’t do it without you and without the help of the council.”
“Thank you and congratulations, Sue,” said Mayor Bill Cedar. “I think that was the best one we ever had.”
“Yes, it was,” said Daniels. “We had the most beautiful entries we ever had.”
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
