The 2010 season on the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour and other pro tours, will once again be dotted with more than 30 golfers

The 2010 season on the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour and other pro tours, will once again be dotted with more than 30 golfers who have deep ties to Las Vegas golf courses. It's tough to pin the exact number these days because more golfers move to the area seemingly everyday, but the following is a guide to the official websites of the most new-media friendly Las Vegas golfers who include Natalie Gulbis, Charley Hoffman, Adam Scott and new resident Rickie Fowler.

As a note, we classify a pro as having deep ties to Las Vegas golf courses if he or she qualifies in one or more of the following categories: once lived here for a substantial amount of time (more than five years), currently lives in Las Vegas; and/or attended and played golf at UNLV. Those not qualifying who earn honorable mention but are not included as official Vegas golfers are those that work with Las Vegas resident Butch Harmon, and spend time at the Harmon School located at Rio Secco Golf Club. Two examples: Stewart Cink and Phil Mickleson.

The following are direct links to the official websites of many of the tour players with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses. You can continue reading this article for more detailed information about each of the websites. The following are the direct links: Erica Blasberg, Alex Cejka, Rickie Fowler, Robert Gamez, Natalie Gulbis, Charley Hoffman, Kevin Na, Adam Scott, Nick Watney, and Dean Wilson. Information on the various other Las Vegas golfers who either don't have official websites or we were unable to locate them can be found at the official tour websites. Those other Las Vegas golfers include Scott Piercy, Chris Riley, Inbee Park, Kim Hall, Stephanie Louden, Chad Campbell, Tommy Armour III, Craig Barlow, Ryan Moore, and others.

Not only are many pros with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses embracing online information, but a fact about playing golf in Las Vegas is that the official websites of Las Vegas golf courses is where you will find the best Las Vegas golf rates. The Las Vegas golf region is home to more than 50 world class golf courses and most have good websites that offer online Las Vegas golf tee times and Las Vegas golf packages, plus up-to-date information about the best rates and deals. And this website offers you direct access to many of these official websites. The featured course for this article is Rhodes Ranch Golf Club, a Ted Robinson Las Vegas golf course that offers a nice set of par 3 holes plus typical Robinson fun and challenge.

Rickie Fowler (rickie-fowler.com) tops the list of "new media friendly" Las Vegas golfers. Fowler is arguably the newest official pro with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses. Fowler moved to Las Vegas in October, just one week before the playing of Las Vegas' PGA Tour event, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Fowler now lives in Summerlin and plays and practices at Las Vegas golf courses TPC Las Vegas and TPC Summlerin. TPC Las Vegas is a resort Las Vegas golf course where visiting and local Las Vegas golfers are always welcome. Fowler is adept at Facebook, Twitter and his team continually updates his website. A latest tweet: "Out grindin with D Woo at Summerlin." Fowler is the new generation of golfer and we believe "D Woo" is fellow Las Vegas resident and PGA Tour player Dean Wilson.

The aformentioned Dean Wilson is also online at DeanWilsonGolf.com, a website hosted and created by 808Golf.com, a publishing company that highlights Wilson's native land of Hawaii. Wilson's website features regular updates about his PGA Tour events plus information about his background and does list a blog that isn't updated very often. Wilson has lived in Las Vegas for several years and is one of the many who regularly play and practice at Las Vegas' TPC golf courses.

Natalie Gulbis (nataliegulbis.com) ranks up there with Fowler as one of the best at embracing new media technology. Gulbis continually posts to her journal on her official website, plus is always promoting various events and/or products. A recent Gulbis post breaks the news about an upcoming appearance on the hit show CSI that is based in Las Vegas. "I recently had the opportunity to make a guest appearance for an upcoming episode of CSI. I have been a fan for many years and was excited to be part of the show! It was fun to have the chance to see firsthand what goes into the production. Be sure to tune in to check out the episode on Thursday, January 21, 2010 on CBS at 9pm!" Gulbis has lived in the Lake Las Vegas Resort community for many years and practices at SouthShore Golf Club in addition to spending time with Harmon at his school.

Another Las Vegas LPGA Tour player and resident is Erica Blasberg (ericablasberg.com), who has played professional golf since 2005 following a career at the University of Arizona. Blasberg has earned more than $320,000 in her LPGA Tour career through 2009, but had a tough 2009 season as she finished 128th on the money list, earning $26,408. Blasberg did play in the LPGA Tour Championship to end the season, earning another $3000. Blasberg's website features up-to-date current news about her game but the "my thoughts" section on the website isn't updated very regularly.

Former UNLV golfer Adam Scott (adamscott.com.au) is also very new-media friendly, as he keeps an up-to-date blog at his official website. Scott formerly trained with Harmon, but the two haven't worked together for awhile. Scott recently won his home-country major, the Australian Open, capping a tough year and updated fans via his blog. "I've been meaning to write for a few days now and the days keep getting away from me. It's been a good end to the season and I've been enjoying some down time. I was pleased with finishing the year with 4 top ten finishes including winning my first national championship on home soil! I've been close at home, but I never got over the line until this year. I think winning the Australian Open makes it even sweeter. Unfortunately I had to go through about six months of just playing pretty awful but that's how the game is. I feel like my game is stronger and I'm definitely a better player and learned a great deal by going through the rough patch. It was also very special that Greg Norman was at the Aussie Open and presented me with the trophy." Scott no longer lives in Las Vegas.

Former UNLV All-American and current Las Vegas resident Charley Hoffman (charleyhoffman.com) works hard at his official website where he offers a clothing line to help raise funds for his new foundation. Hoffman's website also offers updated news and a blog in addition to ways to support his charitable efforts. You can buy "Think Green" shirts or Hoffman gear featuring the slogan, "This guy is good!".

Las Vegas resident and European golfer Alex Cejka (alex-cejka.com) has an official website which is written in his native German language, but is updated often. The site features news and information plus a kids corner and more. By using the website freetranslation.com you can cut and paste Cejka's words and have them translated into English. A recent post about his 2009 season: "Yes, I can be satisfied. I am very proud that I had to fight this year neither for the tour card or (had to play) the Qualifying School. With my season, I was very satisfied, for I played well. At the beginning, it was, on the basis of my injury, (difficult), but in the course of the year, I found my form." Cejka earned $953,664 and finished 95th on the official PGA Tour money list.

Most of the official website of Las Vegas native Robert Gamez (robertgamez.com) is dedicated to his annual fundraiser for his foundation. Gamez now lives in Florida but recently held his event at ChampionsGate golf course. The event included a gala evening highlighted by comedian Gary Valentine of King and Queens fame.

Fairly new Las Vegas resident Nick Watney is alive in the new media world via Facebook where a regularly-updated page features news and posts from Watney, who also works with Harmon. A recent post at the page reveals that Watney, who attended Fresno State, was recently honored as the Sacrament Bee Athlete of the Year. The Facebook page also lists his website as his profile page on PGATour.com. Lastly, Las Vegas resident Kevin Na, a native of South Korea, has a very limited web presence at KevinNa.com.

The Roseville gains a toehold ontot the Ladies European Professional Golf Tour

Del Paso Country Club is reducing its initiation fee by $30,000 in the latest signal that a sagging economy and abundance of competition for the golfing dollar continues to take a toll on area private clubs.

The cost to join Del Paso is dropping from $75,000 to $45,000. The move is intended to stimulate new membership interest, general manager Bob Kunz said.

"The factors outside of our walls have changed," Kunz said. "We need to offer a price point that is relevant to a new normal."

Del Paso generated significant new membership interest when it renovated its course and reopened in July 2006 after an 18-month closure. The cost to join swelled from $60,000 to $75,000 and the number of members reached 485, the club's ceiling. Del Paso now has 400 members, Kunz said.

Hal Drury, a Del Paso member since 1950 when he paid an initiation fee of $1,400, said he believes it's the first time the cost to join the member-owned club has decreased in the past 59 years.

Granite Bay, with an initiation fee of $60,000, takes over as the area's most expensive club. The club attracted 25 new members in 2009 and is at its 475-member cap, membership director Michael Lee said.

Granite Bay discussed lowering the initiation fee it has maintained for seven years, but last year instead increased the percentage it refunds to outgoing members from 50 to 75 percent of the listed fee. That made current and prospective members happy, Lee said.

Granite Bay is owned and operated by ClubCorp.

How does Lee feel about Granite Bay being the new top dog in town?

"I'm pretty proud of it, to be honest," Lee said. "It says a lot about Granite Bay and product that we have."

Serrano costs $35,000 after having recently dipped to $20,000 in a temporary membership push.

Catta Verdera is $20,000, but general manager Jeff Wilson said he intends to implement a plan in the first quarter of 2010 that will significantly reduce that fee to stimulate new membership.

North Ridge is $9,500.

Winchester, which had an initiation fee of $60,000, went into foreclosure last year, its members losing all of their equity.

Welch carries on

Kim Welch remains the queen of pro golf's fringes.

The Roseville resident continued a frustrating streak last week in Spain, gaining a toehold onto the Ladies European Professional Golf Tour but falling one stroke short of gaining tour membership and exempt status.

After three prequaliyfing and four qualifying rounds, she finished a stroke out of the magic top 30. A second-round 80 in the final stage that included a quadruple 9 didn't help. She had an eagle 3 on the 18th hole in the final round.

Welch, a St. Francis High School graduate and winner of the Golf Channel's "Big Break: Ka'anapali" reality series last year, was a member of the LPGA Tour in 2009 but with status so low she gained entrance into just four tournaments.

She's again an LPGA Tour member for 2010, but with similar status.

the golf tour event at Dakota Dunes

Even though, economically, 2009 was a challenging year for some, tourism in Saskatoon had many success stories.

Todd Brandt says a newer festival in the city, the Fireworks Festival, was a huge success and the weather cooperated.

Unfortunately that was not the case for the Cameco Canada Remembers Air Show, which was cursed with excessive rain.

Brandt adds that convention activity was steady and the summer months had the usual strong line-up including the Children's Festival, Folkfest, and the Jazz Festival.

He lists the B-MO Canadian Figure Skating Championships, the golf tour event at Dakota Dunes, NASCAR at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway and the World Junior Hockey Championships as sporting highlights for 2009 in Saskatoon.

Doing some number crunching of various events, Brandt says something like the World Junior Hockey Championships will have an economic impact of 44-million dollars in the province, but even a smaller event could bring in anywhere from 400-thousand to a million dollars in activity to the city.

The money was raised from the John A. DiNapoli Memorial Benefit Golf Tournament

On Tuesday, more than 100 family members, friends and colleagues of slain police officer John A. DiNapoli gathered across from the Appleton Street police headquarters to pay their respects to DiNapoli, who was shot dead in his police cruiser 10 years ago, and to two other city police officers killed in the line of duty.

DiNapoli's son and daughter, Andrew D. DiNapoli, a nine-year city police officer, and Jobeth DiNapoli, stood with Jamie B. Gonsor, daughter of late police officer James E. Gatzounas, stood beside the memorial as the Police Department's honor guard brought a wreath to the memorial. Gonsor is also John DiNapoli's goddaughter.

DiNapoli, well-known for his knack for telling jokes and his laughing way of interacting with children, was 52 and had been a police officer for 22 years when he answered a disturbance call on Dec. 22, 1999. Unarmed and in an unmarked police cruiser, DiNapoli encountered Eddie O. Morales, who shot a 9 mm gun at DiNapoli 10 times. DiNapoli was struck five times. Morales is serving a life sentence after a first-degree murder conviction.

"Today, I'm happy and sad," said officer Gary G. Wagner, one of DiNapoli's close friends and a member of the department's honor guard. "I'm sad I don't have my friend, but I'm happy to see his memory has not been lost."

For his closest family members, like his children, his mother, Myra DiNapoli, and his sister, June A. Sullivan, the memories of the day 10 years ago never go away. "What can I say? He was the best there was," said Myra DiNapoli, now 91. "You couldn't ask for a better son."

Sullivan was at the Holyoke Public Library, about a block away from the shooting, when her brother was killed. She remembers seeing the police helicopters and wondering what was going on as she returned to her job at a career center on High Street. She got the bad news shortly after when her husband Edwin J. "Snooky" Sullivan came to her office.

Because the shooting happened shortly before Christmas, it has cast a pall over the holidays for the entire family every year since, she said.

"We had his presents under the tree that he never opened," Sullivan said. Over the years she has given them to other people.

Sullivan said she and her mother and other family members usually get together on the anniversary of the shooting."It's a sad day for her," she said.

"It's hard on everybody, and it doesn't get any easier for my grandmother, even after 10 years," added Garrison J. Rivard, John DiNapoli's nephew and godson as well as a former police officer who was among the first responders to the shooting scene. "I served with John for 18 years; I was in the ambulance with him on the way to the hospital. I held him the whole way there."

Before the ceremony, Wagner presented the Rev. Robert A. Gentile, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church, with a donation for Blessed Sacrament School. The money was raised from the John A. DiNapoli Memorial Benefit Golf Tournament.

The ceremony started 8:45 a.m. At 8:52 a.m., the exact time DiNapoli responded to a call for a disturbance at Sargeant and Walnut streets on Dec. 22, 1999, the police dispatcher put out a call for "Holyoke Police Department, all cars and units."

"We are having a moment of silence for fallen officers John P. Driscoll, James Gatzounas and John DiNapoli, who died in the line of duty this day in 1999," the dispatcher said, her voice carrying above the crowd encircling the memorial that shows DiNapoli with two small children.

Gatzounas died of a heart attack at age 28 after responding to a disturbance on Jan. 1, 1977. His then-wife, Beth Gonsor, was pregnant at the time. Gonsor and DiNapoli's ex-wife, Joanne Silvestris, are sisters.

Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, also a friend of John DiNapoli's, said he has a difficult time believing a decade has passed. His voice breaking, Sullivan offered his condolences to DiNapoli's family and friends.

"Like it says on the back of the monument, it's not how they died but how they lived their lives," Sullivan said.

Wonderful, He wins it.

Tiger Woods has been voted male Golfer of the Year in the annual Golf Writers of America Awards, the PGA Tour said on Thursday.

Woods received 84 percent of the vote (168 votes) with 10 percent for Steve Stricker and six percent for PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-eun.

The American was a runaway winner of the award for the 10th time in 13 seasons despite the recent tabloid revelations about his personal life.

Woods has taken an "indefinite break" from the game after admitting to being unfaithful to his wife.

South Korean Jiyai Shin, the LPGA’s Rookie of the Year, won the female player award while Loren Roberts won the senior player of the year prize.

Maybe it's time for golf to be calm down

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has said that American golfer Tiger Woods' marriage crisis could have destroyed him personally, and his return as the world's top golfer is in doubt.

Montgomerie also said the shock revelations about Woods' infidelity could make it easier for his rivals to win in future.

"I think the mystique has gone. He is suddenly, and I hate to say it, more normal now. Let's hope golf is not damaged by that. It shouldn't be," The Mirror quoted Montgomerie, as saying.

"It will have an impact on every tournament Tiger plays. There was an aura, but that has been split. It gives you more opportunity of winning these events," he added.

Meanwhile, talking about Woods indefinite break from the sport, European Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley said that he is hopeful that Woods's absence will last just months rather than years.

"Obviously Tiger's main priority now has got to be to rebuild his life. And at the age of 34, he can take as much time as he needs to get it right. But golf needs him back, and sooner rather than later," McGinley said.

"With the economic downturn and with competition from so many other sports, golf has to have all hands on deck and Tiger is the biggest hand there is," he added.

Tiger Woods' infidelity has been anything but a "good thing" for Tiger's family

“God bless Tiger Woods,” says Yahoo’s chief executive Carol Bartz.

Although Tiger Woods' infidelity has been anything but a "good thing" for Tiger's family, major corporate sponsors, and even the sport of golf, it is good for one thing - popular search engine juggernaut Yahoo.

According to Bartz, Tiger Woods infidelity could prove even better for driving web traffic than Michael Jackson's death was.

Speaking to the audience at the UBS Media Conference last week, Bartz says the Tiger Woods sex scandal could very well prove the story of the year and the most widely profitable headline in recent memory.

But don't look for Tiger Woods to benefit from the headlines.

With the prospect of major sponsorships being cut and lost revenue from Tiger Woods' withdrawing from the sport of golf indefinitely, the only way Tiger Woods can conceivably profit from his scandal, according to some media industry analysts, is to write a book.

But as an intensely private individual, Tiger Woods is unlikely to do so.

So what will Tiger Woods do next? No one really knows for sure - even Tiger Woods.

Most of us have not been singled out by massive corporations to sell products to people who trust Tiger Woods or Greg Norman

Woods had not put a foot wrong in public life since he emerged as the greatest player the game has seen nearly a decade ago. He was from a solid, middle-class family, with a father figure who was a perfect mentor. His sense of self-discipline was unmatched in the sporting world and he was always charming.

Tiger was machine-like in the way he went about his business. Occasionally, there was a sign of ill-temper when the golf ball didn't do what it was told (there is now speculation that the mood swings could have been as a result of prescription drugs).

Generally, though, Tiger Woods Inc was a well-oiled machine with endorsements only an all-American, handsome lad like him could have attracted.

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This week, Tiger Woods must be wishing he was not a master of the universe. Like the fictional Tom Wolfe character in Bonfire Of The Vanities, who disintegrated as a human being, our real-life sporting master is doing the same before our very eyes.

Today he is publicly disgraced, locked inside his home with an enraged, sad and embittered wife and two young children. From a public relations point of view, it is a very, very long journey back.The backlash against the media invasion of his privacy has started. Greg Norman has said big sporting stars should be allowed to have a private life away from the spotlight.

Radio commentator Alan Jones said he believed Tiger deserved to be left alone. "After all, these women all knew he was married," he said. They have missed the point. While most media commentators are not angels themselves, they have every right to continue to uncover the trail of destruction Tiger Woods left behind with little regard for anyone but himself.

Norman, Jones et al have overlooked that so far 11 alleged mistresses have come forward and there is the promise of more. This is not a one-off. The women reflect, by the nature of their work, a behavioural pattern in the world's best golfer that must be disturbing to those who have placed their trust in him for so long.

Norman is one who believes that sportsmen should not attract media scrutiny of their private lives - that they are not public figures. That is a nonsense. Tiger Woods and Norman are not your everyday knockabouts.

Most of us do not seek to earn $900 million from endorsements. Most of us have not been singled out by massive corporations to sell products to people who trust Tiger Woods or Greg Norman. Most of us have not put ourselves on such a lofty pedestal that we command millions of dollars just to turn up at an event.

Take the marital issues out of the equation and look at Tiger Woods, the brand. He tells us we should trust his watch maker, his shaver and his sports drink because he uses them. We must use Nike golf clubs because they never let you down.

But the very person endorsing these most lofty of brands is not someone we can trust anymore. Those minders who have protected his lifestyle for so long must now be wondering how on earth Woods can ever come back from here.

They, too, have a lot to answer for. These are the men we are told set up a cordon of protection around Tiger that allegedly included lining him up with a legion of women over a long period and guarding his image so zealously that they fooled almost all of us.

Even more alarming is that if Elin Woods hadn't called 911, we might not know now. The myth would have gone on and we would have continued to look like naive fools in love with the idea that a sportsman and superstar could actually be nearly perfect.

That Elin Woods may stay is a matter for her. Whether we, as Tiger's former disciples, keep adoring him is the question that really matters. We forgave Shane Warne and didn't think we could. But Tiger is not nearly as likable or imperfect as Warnie always was - we loved Woods for very different reasons.

Can we forgive a bloke who built a reputation on perfection? The love affair Woods has had with us, his adoring public, was based on what we now know was myth. He was never really who he appeared to be. Spin doctors and public relations minders can try their guts out to mend his reputation but Tiger Woods has knocked the stuffing out of himself.

Tiger, the man, will never be fully redeemed.

Wood carvings by Irv Brownstein and Bob Franza, including relief and in the round

The 10th annual Arts and Crafts Festival hosted Saturday by the Del Webb's Spruce Creek Golf and Country Club Arts and Crafts League was proof the seniors at the adult community lead an active and productive life.

The event turned the Horizon Center Ballroom into a bazaar reminiscent of a town square or fairground where crowds turn out to admire the handiwork of artisans - friends, neighbors and fellow seniors - who have found new avenues of creativity and self expression, or expanded and rekindled old ones.

The league's more than 300 members learn, teach, share and support one another. Classes are taught by members or professionals from the area. A craft room in the community center offers communal work space, with an array of tools and two kilns for baking ceramics, pottery and other handiwork.

"We have really talented people," said league president Mike Johnson. "I'm amazed every time we have one of these events at the stuff that comes out; such creative people."

He marveled at the mediums represented: "Needle craft, fine art, jewelry, ceramics, woodcarving, knitting and crocheting, basketry, quilting and more."

Johnson also pointed out some of the good work the group does for the greater community,

"Our needle crafters do beautiful work for the hospital making hats for cancer victims, and next week we are doing a fundraiser for The Community Gratitude Food Bank in Ocklawaha," he said.

While the festival serves as an outlet for exhibitors to connect with the SCGCC community and see their work enjoyed, the primary mission is to raise funds for Hospice of Marion County, the league's chosen charity.

Adding to the "fair like" quality, raffle tickets were sold at the door and Gene Ryan announced winners throughout the event. Prizes included donations from each of the 51 exhibitors and gift certificates from a number of local businesses.

According to event chairwoman Mary Ann Schuyler, proceeds from table rentals, the raffle and a hot dog/hamburger lunch amounted to $2,066 donated to hospice.

"I like coming to these; it's one of the nicer things we do," said Joyce McGrath, a former HOA board member. "It's a great place to buy Christmas gifts."

There were rows of tables filled with beautiful items, such as:

Linda Lingenfelter's crocheted purses from grocery bags and sparkling belts from aluminum pop tops.

Carol Pardell's pine needle baskets with bottoms made from wood carvings, jewelry, seashells or other items, which are then boiled in bees wax and paraffin

Billie Capps' etched and painted gourds; decorative bottles and ceramics.

Emmalou Huston's pastel oil and water color paintings of angels and children.

Joyce Kudron's ornamental jewelry designs, with help from Donna Mould.

Harley Olson's tiny cartoon-like animals and characters in "sculpy clay."

Wood carvings by Irv Brownstein and Bob Franza, including relief and in the round.

Tom Hargarten surveyed the room while his wife, Ginny, did some serious shopping.

"Beautiful, very artistic; there is so much talent here," he said.

Exhibitor Bernice Wernick, who does scrap booking, among other crafts, said, "I feel like I live at summer camp ... and this is arts and crafts!"

The so-called monster rock band, meanwhile, was on hand to promote a business chain called Monster Mini Golf.

One hint that Sunday’s 30th annual Taunton Christmas Parade was a rousing success: by noon, the eastbound lane of High Street was backed up all the way from Ingell to Winthrop streets.

More telling than any mundane traffic diversion, however, was the fact that thousands of people lined Broadway to watch one of the more colorful and varied Christmas processions in recent memory.

From a mini-contingent of Philadelphia-based Mummers to a live rock band made up of mini-golf “monsters,” this year’s parade had a little bit of something for everyone. That’s not to say there wasn’t the usual array of civic-and municipal-oriented participants — among which were members of the Taunton police and fire departments, Berkley Fire Department and Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.

But for many in the crowd it was a personal connection of some sort that drew them in.
Fawn, a 32-year-old mother of four, admitted that she had an ulterior motive for showing up: Her 14-year-old son Jacob plays trumpet in the Taunton High School marching band.
Originally from Boston’s Dorchester section, she said that since moving to Taunton eight years ago with her husband and children, she has come to appreciate the quality of the marching bands that participate year after year.

“The bands here are amazing compared to the ones in Boston,” she said, as she kept hold of a leash attached to Douglas, her 2-year-old mostly Beagle mixed breed.

It turns out it wasn’t Taunton High but one of the out-of-town bands that took all of the honors Sunday as this year’s best marching band: Somerset High School band took a majority of votes across three categories — appearance, sound and marching ability.

Their performance — played for six judges standing in a reviewing stand in front of Taunton Green — featured intricate ensemble work, particularly within the percussion section, on an unorthodox song that was more in the style of contemporary classical than John Philip Sousa.

Another highlight was the Build A Band For Santa, a nearly 400-strong, highly-organized collaboration made up of students from Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High, East Providence High and Portsmouth High schools.

This year’s Christmas parade, like others, began at the intersection of Broadway and East Britannia Street. The largest crowds could be found standing along the parade route near side streets on that section of Broadway.

The award for best float went to the non-profit Triumph Head Start, whose “Just Like We Used to Know” featured young children seated around a recreation of Christmas as it might have looked 100 years ago. The float was simple and sparse, with small firs, lanterns and tots wearing old-fashioned fur hats.

“The voting was very close,” said judge Ray Correia. “But they did a lot of research [into] the antique toys, gifts and costumes.”

The Irish American String Mummer Band, which made a rare appearance, performs every New Year’s Day in the much larger Philadelphia Mummers Parade procession. Their bizarrely garish costumes and odd collection of banjos, saxophones and a mandolin went over well with the crowed.

The so-called monster rock band, meanwhile, was on hand to promote a business chain called Monster Mini Golf.

A humorous, although unintended, moment occurred when, during a procession of classic American cars from the 1950s and ‘60s, an early ‘60s Dodge Dart — with a 383-horsepower engine — stalled and died in front of Taunton Green. With four men pushing, the muscle car managed to make its way down Main Street to City Hall.

Bringing up the rear was none other than Santa Claus.

As the parade ended and people began to leave the downtown area, the only procession left to be seen was that of baby strollers being pushed by parents.