Five Mile Beat > After a delay, the 103rd baby parade was a hot time

Written by Joyce Gould Thursday, August 09, 2012 03:45 pm

Eric, Sara and Sophia Nemeth, as the Harlem Globetrotters.   The 103rd Wildwoods Baby Parade was held Thursday, Aug. 2. It had been postponed a day because of the threat of wet weather.

Before that, a luncheon was held at “The Wharf” restaurant where members of the Wildwood Civic Club gathered and Queen Oceania and her court were chosen. This is always a moment of high drama.  This year’s queen is Grace Lederer of North Wildwood, and her court consists of Princess Shelby Thornton and Princess Dinae DeMayo. Shelby Thornton was Queen Oceania last year and she brought along her mom Tracey and grandmother Lola Borden. Grace Lederer, the new “queen,” was with her mom Cathryn, and Princess Dinae had her mom Danielle join her for the lunch.

The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce executive director Tracey Du Fault, along with convention hall representative Beverly Trapp, made sure the parade got the recognition it deserved.

Planning meetings will start again in the fall for 2013.

Kay Sparkman, along with Madelyn Calloway and Betty Collins have been the driving force behind the parade, keeping it going for the last 10 years.

Many members of the civic club were present for the lunch, including Pat Cook, Adele Hunter, Betty Shaw, Arlene Ostrander, Sue Kelly, Marie Gallagher, Pat Sorenson and Nancy Pietropaoli. Evelyn Leahy, Kitty Scully, Ginny and Irv Posternock, and Peggy Morey were all in attendance. Donna Troiano announced and crowned the queen and her court.

The parade was held on a hot and humid Thursday, but it didn’t seem to bother the children too much, although a few cried.

Many in the parade are visiting the Wildwoods for the summer. In the crowd we saw a family affair of Christina Grassi Kobielnik, with her nieces Reagan, Monica, and Eden, and grandmother Dee Grassi with 14-month-old DJ. Also from the area were Jody and Gina Barrone along with Amy and Maggie Donahue, as the “Cotton Candy Cowgirls.” Addyson Federoff, 16 months old, was in the PT 109 boat and Kira Triantafillou, 8 months old, attended dressed as the “Guardian Angel for our Troops.”

Promoting the “Harlem Globetrotters” were the Nemeth family Eric, Sara, and 8-month-old Sophia, all from Wildwood. Brandon Turner was “Elvis” and he is from North Wildwood.  Minnie Mouse was portrayed by Aubri Stockwell, 1, and Bitsy Ross was Noelle Salsanull, granddaughter of Linda and Bill Davenport.

Lola Borden, Tracey Thornton, Cathryn and Grace Lederer, stand with Shelby Thornton, Dinae and Danielle DeMayo.

Sue Kelly, Nancy Pietropaoli, Pat Sorenson, and Marie Gallagher.

Princess Shelby Thornton, Queen Oceania, Grace Lederer, and Princess Dinae DeMayo, at the Baby Parade Luncheon.

Civic Club Members Betty Shaw and Arlene Ostrander.

Best dressed walking was Chase Jochens, age 2.

Christina Grassi Kobielnik and her nieces Eden, Reagan, Monica and nephew DJ Kobierowski, along with grandmother Dee Grassi, getting ready for the parade.

The Cotton Candy Cow Girls include Amy Donahue and Jody Barrone in back, and Gina Barrone and Maggie Donahue up front.

Alyssa Rogan in the best dressed category.

Addyson Federdoff from North Wildwood rides the PT 109.

The Lederer women Victoria ,Grace and mom Cathryn.

Nichloas and Callie Stanko from Wildwood.

11-month-old Brandon Turner was Elvis

11-momth-old Noelle Salsanull was Bitsy Ross. Her grandparents are Bill and Linda Davenport.

At the end of the parade route were Margaret Clark and son Steven.

The Holmes and Kozeniewski Families