Some Newark Central School District students, staff and Board of Education members were featured on decorated floats or walking alongside three of the thirty-two brightly decorated entities participating in the first annual Newark Holiday Parade of Lights November 30th.
To view the article with photos from the parade, visit: https://5il.co/325qr
Despite the frosty early evening air, the hour-long lighted parade warmed the spirits of not only the participants but an estimated 1,000 viewers who lined the Main Street route to see the lighted floats, fire department and other trucks, work vehicles, tractors and more kickoff the holiday season in Newark.
Second in the parade line-up were the 21 members of the Kelley School Bucket Brigade riding on a decorated wagon pulled in a pickup truck, owned and driven by Jeff Hamelinck, father of Brigade member Anna Hamelinck.
Cindy Briggs, Kelley School instrumental music teacher and district Pre-K-12 Music Department leader said she and her family, Logan Randolph, mother of Brooks Randolph, who is a member of the Bucket Brigade, and Jeff Hamelinck, former Kelley School principal who is the Phelps-Clifton Springs School District Director of Curriculum & Instruction, decorated Hamelinck’s wagon before the parade.
“For decorations, the students wore lit-up Santa hats, light-up glasses, necklaces and bracelets,” Briggs said. “The light-up glasses, bracelets and hand warmers which were great because it was so chilly were donated by Kortni Calabrese, owner of Canal View Family Restaurant and mother of Bucket Brigade member Gabe Figueroa. Through a Facebook post, Denise Lake of Walworth donated most of the decorations for the wagon.
Bucket Brigaders enjoyed participating. Here are just a few reactions.
• “It was great, but it was cold. I was wearing snow pants!
• “It was fun, and if you weren't there, you missed out. Our songs were really cool.
• “It was good and the warm bus at the end felt amazing.”
• “I had fun, I was cold, but it was really good and there were tons of lights. I really liked the end of the parade when we got to see the other floats.”
Another colorfully and brightly decorated float with lots of balloons, lights and megaphones carried members of the 7-9th grade Modified Girls Competitive Cheerleaders.
Their coach, Mya Gonzalez, said the cheerleaders had lots of fun being in the parade.
Gonzalez was among those who worked on the float inside the Upstate Refractory Services building on Erie Boulevard with Krista Nolan, mother of cheerleader Lana Nolan; Lincoln School Principal Kari Hamelinck, mother of cheerleader Elizabeth Hamelinck, Jeanna Woods, mother of Kaya Woods and others who helped by providing materials and their time.
NSCD BOE President Julie Nevelizer probably was one of the only parade participants or viewers who wasn’t cold. That’s because she was inside the NHS Red Fox furry Mascot costume, complete, for the occasion with a lighted tiara and Rudolph the Red-Nosed (lighted) Reindeer sweater, as she rode on a float.
Walking alongside the float were her sons, Landon, a Newark Middle School 7th grader and Liam Nevelizer, a NMS 6th grader; BOE members Steve DeRenzo and Miranda Brooks-Ruggeri and her twin sons and NMS 6th graders Javante & Jiovanni Brooks.
“The walkers passed out miniature candy canes to parade onlookers. We also passed out what was left of the candy canes to those who were at the Community Center’s Holiday party,” the BOE President continued.
Julie Nevelizer, DeRenzo, Katie Pullen, another BOE member and Brooks-Ruggeri decorated the float November 29th inside Nevelizer’s father’s barn. Decorations included holiday inflatables and other things from the BOE members’ households. Julie’s husband, Rob Nevelizer, pulled the float with his truck.
“We used some of the NHS Cross-Country course flags and wind banners. Thank you to Jessica Wells for letting us use them,” Nevelizer said.
“The Board of Education has set the goal to immerse ourselves into the community more this year,” she said. “This was one amazing event to connect with the whole community. I know I personally had a smile on my face the whole entire time I was on the float, Hearing kids and adults excited to see the Fox mascot was priceless and one memory I will never forget. During the tree light-up ceremony and the holiday party, community members expressed how pleased they were in seeing the kids and school well represented during the parade and in the tree decorating contest. The Board cannot wait to do this again next year. Plans are already happening in how to make our float
Newark Mayor Jonathan Taylor December 2nd said he was pleased with the school district’s representation in the parade as well as Pullen and Briggs’ help on the planning committee. Other Committee members included: Edith Skellie, Jo Crockett, Laci Graham, Jessica Wells, Mike Muscolino, Tanya Hassler, Chrissie Kent and Eileen Taylor.
“The parade was something I wanted to do for a long time,” Taylor said. “But I didn’t have the volunteers to make it happen until this year. The 2024 Home for the Holidays Planning Committee worked hard to make all the activities a success. I can’t thank them enough. Preparing for something like this isn’t easy. We will be meeting again in January to begin planning for next year.
In her Facebook post about the event, Pullen also thanked the Village’s Department of Public Works, including Doug Townsend and Dan VanKouwenberg, “who brought our vision to light—literally.
“This event was about so much more than decorations and a parade. It was about showcasing the incredible community spirit that makes Newark special and bringing people together in a way that creates a true sense of belonging. It was a celebration of the people and the pride we all have in our village—because at the end of the day, it’s our community that makes the magic happen.
“Looking ahead, we’re excited to build on this year’s success, and we want to hear from you! We'll be introducing a volunteer and feedback form soon. Be sure to follow the Newark "Home for the Holidays" page to get involved and share your ideas. Your voice matters, and together, we can make next year even better.
“Thank you to everyone who helped, participated, or simply came out to enjoy the festivities. This event truly showed what we can accomplish when we work together, and I’m so proud to have been part of it.”