Life is grand for Paulette Weirich

By C. Dials

Paulette Weirich will be celebrating her 30th year as the Oak Harbor Apple Festival Grand Parade Chairman.

Paulette graduated Danbury High School in 1958 and moved to Oak Harbor in 1960. She was looking to get involved in the community and decided to work with Connie Durdel, who at the time was the Head Chairman. The following year, Paulette took over the responsibilities and became Grand Parade Chairman.

For the past 30 years, Paulette has volunteered her services and dedication to making the Apple Festival Grand Parade what it is today.

"When it first began we had about 30 participants and now we have seen anywhere from 130 to 150 participants who want to take part in this special event," she said.

Her children, Chris, Phil, Steve, Nadine Thompson, Julie Solas and Francine Harder have always actively helped their mother prepare for the parade.

When they were children, they would take their chalk and mark numbers on the streets, for the parade line-up.

She is the designated representative of the Oak Harbor Apple Festival, and twice a year she attends the OFEA (Ohio Festivals & Events Association) conferences.

When she returns from the conferences she always brings back fresh ideas, plans and suggestions for making each year bigger and better.

Paulette coordinates the entire Grand Parade and Kiddie Parade, but her daughter Julie Solas, heads up the Kiddie parade.

The theme for this year's parade is "Stars and Stripes Forever." The National Bank of Oak Harbor, will be the Grand Marshal. Paulette selects the Grand Marshal each year and chooses someone in the community that deserves recognition.

Previous people who have been selected have been, Roger Carpenter, Wilbur Wistinghausen and Ron Heiks.

The Shriners Association has made Oak Harbor Apple Festival their main focus and there will be over 13 different units, out of Toledo, taking part in the parade in their jeepsters and lancers.

Looking back throughout the years Paulette's most memorable moment was when she was sitting in the judge's booth and her son approached her and said, "We are having a problem with the parade and you need to come with me to resolve it."

She got into the car and when she approached the horse and carriage there was a sign on the carriage that read "Paulette Weirich, 15 yrs., Grand Parade Chairman."

She was over whelmed and climbed into the carriage and took part in the parade that she has dedicated herself to.

Paulette said, "What touches me the most is when people come up to me and compliment the parade and how much they enjoyed watching it. That is what makes it all worthwhile."

The parade is held on Saturday and begins on Church Street at the Oak Harbor Middle school and goes east to Main Street where it ends at Veterans Park.

For more information on the parade and events, be sure to look inside this weeks Ottawa County Exponent for the Apple Festival Program.