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Bright Sunshine Lit the Way for the 58th Annual Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade
A glorious winter sun shone brightly on the 58th annual Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade. Held on Sunday December 6th, and presented by the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce and local sponsors, the parade is the highlight of a day filled with family fun and community spirit. Lifetime Rochester resident and Director of the Rochester Community House, Mary Lee Kowalczyk, served as Parade Marshall and led the bands, marchers, clowns and floats through downtown Rochester. The 2009 parade's theme was the popular holiday song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and the day's entries reflected the song’s lyrics unusual list of gifts and their creators’ abundant imagination. A panel of judges spent the bright, cold morning before the parade determining which entries deserved special recognition. Adult Float 1st Place –Rochester Area Neighborhood House 2nd Place – Rochester Lions Club and Leader Dogs for the Blind 3rd Place – Oakland Township Historical Society Business/Industry Float 1st Place – Royal Park Hotel 2nd Place – Bloomingdale Construction 3rd Place – Art Van Furniture Youth Float 1st Place – Baldwin Cub Scout Pack #106 2nd Place – Macomb County 4-H Midnight Riders Club 3rd Place – Cub Scout Pack 356 St. John Lutheran School Clowns 1st Place – Rochester Fire Department Marchers 1st Place – Michigan Ballet Theatre 2nd Place – Canine Academy 3rd Place – Rochester Area Jaycees Drill Team 1st Place – Crittenton Hospital Medical Center 2nd Place – Rochester Hills Public Library 3rd Place – Rochester Adams Cheer Teams Novelty 1st Place – Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve 2nd Place – One Wheel Elves 3rd Place – Famous Dave’s BBQ Grand Marshal Award Rochester Area Neighborhood House WXYZ-TV, Channel 7 Detroit shared the event’s excitement with the approximately 115,000 metro Detroiters tuned in to the broadcast. Local cable broadcast station Community Media Network also filmed the parade. This recording can be seen on viewers’ local cable stations and DVDs of this recording can be purchased for $15 at the Chamber office. “We couldn’t put on this parade without the support of our sponsors, volunteers, participants and spectators,” explains Sheri Heiney, the chamber’s executive director, “We would like to especially thank all the city, police, sheriff and fire officials that give the parade their assistance and time. We just couldn’t do this without all of them!” The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce is Oakland County’s largest chamber and was awarded the 2008 Michigan’s Outstanding Chamber award and winner of the 2009 Automation Alley Non-profit of the Year Award. The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce thanks their partners Oakland University, Crittenton Hospital, Bill Fox Chevrolet, Shelton Pontiac Buick GMC, Walmart, and Blue Cross Blue Shield for their support. The Mission of the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce is to provide leadership and resources in order to advance business development in partnership with civic, cultural, and educational interests for the benefit of its members and the community.
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Community House Director Mary Lee Kowalczyk Named Grand Marshal of 2009 Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade  Rochester, MI - Mary Lee Kowalczyk can’t believe that after viewing the Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade from the sidewalks of Main Street since its inception, she will now have the honor of leading the parade as the 2009 Grand Marshal. “I am just blown away,” Mary Lee said. The Director of the Rochester Community House and Rochester native has long family ties to the area. “My Grandfather DeBeane owned property on Main Street, he raised cattle and Belgium horses where Rochester High School is now located and my father was a tax and business consultant with an office on Main Street.” But it was Mary Lee’s community dedication that inspired many residents to respond to nomination her. Mary Lee is best known for her involvement in the creation and stewardship of the Rochester Community House. “It started with a 1968 letter to the editor of the Rochester Clarion from a teenager who wrote that there was no place for young people to go,” Mary Lee remembered. “The Rochester Junior Woman’s Club began looking for a permanent facility where not only local teens, but service groups could meet.” As president of the club, Mary Lee was instrumental in approaching the City of Rochester for use of the 1940 Avon Pavilion. After a successful fund raising campaign and building renovation, the Rochester Community House opened its doors in 1975. Now home to civic groups, school reunions, fundraisers, weddings, receptions, adult and children’s classes and other community events, the Community House has undergone two further transformations under Mary Lee’s leadership. She was also influential in the creation of C.O.R.E., a community resource group. Her latest community effort is another partnership, working with Neighborhood House and the Lions Club to offer a community kitchen to residents impacted by the current economic downturn. The mother of three, and grandmother of five, is looking forward to sharing the parade day excitement with her husband, Walter and their sons and families. “My sons are thrilled and two will be traveling from California to share in the fun.” The Grand Marshal will lead the historic parade down Main Street in downtown Rochester and be honored at the annual Grand Marshal reception, held at the Great Oaks County Club on Thursday, December 3, 2009. The 2009 parade will be held on Sunday, December 6th, starting at 1:45 p.m., and includes dignitaries, bands, children’s group, community organizations and local businesses. The parade is also broadcast live on WXYZ-TV Channel 7. The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce thanks their partners Oakland University, Crittenton Hospital, Bill Fox Chevrolet, Shelton Pontiac Buick GMC and Walmart for their support. The Mission of the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce is to provide leadership and resources in order to advance business development in partnership with civic, cultural, and educational interests for the benefit of its members and the community.
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Rochester, MI -The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced the theme for the 2009 Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade. Selecting the title of the popular holiday song, The Twelve Days of Christmas as inspiration, the committee is asking children’s groups, community organizations and local businesses to use the song’s lyrics to create their parade entry. The repetitious melody with pretty phrases, and a strange list of gifts, lends itself to almost endless possibilities in creativity and originality. Held on Sunday, December 6, 2009, the parade begins at 1:45 p.m. at the corner of Tienken and Rochester Roads and continues south along Main Street to Third Street in Downtown Rochester. Parade committee chairman, Tim Crawford said, “We will have Santa in the parade like every year.” Parade applications are available at the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce. Call 248-651-6700 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information. The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce thanks their partners Oakland University, Crittenton Hospital, Bill Fox Chevrolet, Shelton Pontiac Buick GMC and Walmart for their support. The Mission of the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce is to provide leadership and resources in order to advance business development in partnership with civic, cultural, and educational interests for the benefit of its members and the community.
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TOM WERTH NAMED GRAND MARSHAL OF 2008 ROCHESTER HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS PARADE 
Rochester, MI The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced that former City of Rochester mayor and longtime councilman, Tom Werth will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 57th annual Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade. Chosen by the parade committee from community members’ nominations, Werth was surprised by the designation. “It is an honor and a privilege,” Werth said. The lifelong Rochester resident is well known for his dedication to his community. Werth’s career in local government spanned 34 years. “I started as a councilman and eventually officiated at my son’s wedding as mayor,” Werth explained,” it was a moving and memorable experience.” Werth has long roots in the Greater Rochester Area. “My grandfather arrived in Rochester in 1899 and my father was born in a house at 2nd Street and Main in 1909. Both of my grandparents worked for the Western Knitting Mill, which is now the Rochester Mills Beer Company.” Werth received all of his education in the area, graduating from Rochester High School in 1958 and entering Oakland University, then known as Michigan State University – Oakland, as a member of its charter class of 570 students. He still wears the diamond class ring presented to each charter class member by the school’s founder, Matilda Dodge Wilson. Werth learned valuable life lessons during summers spent working on the McGregor Stock Farm, now the site of the Great Oaks Country Club. “One of the farm workers told me there are three things in life that are no good unless they are spread around.’ Werth said, “They are money, manure and knowledge. What else are we here for if not to share with others and work for the good of our community?” Werth carried this theme into his working career serving as a probation officer before becoming a juvenile court referee, and magistrate in Macomb County. Werth has continued his community involvement with service on the boards of the Paint Creek Center for the Arts, the Downtown Development Authority, Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve, Meadowbrook Learning Center, and National League of Cities. He is also active in the Selfridge Air National Guard Base Community Council, the nation’s largest service organization dedicated to providing support and assistance to service members and their families. Werth shares his community spirit with his wife of 42 years, Joan. The couple has two children. Daughter Tracey and husband Jeff Moore live in Armada and son Christopher lives in Oxford with his wife Jackie and their children Skylar and Jade. “I am really honored to be asked to be the Grand Marshal but I want this to be about the Greater Rochester Area, not about Tom Werth,” Werth stressed, “I have been so blessed to serve this community.” The Grand Marshal will lead the historic parade down Main Street in downtown Rochester and be honored at the annual Grand Marshal reception, held at Great Oaks County Club on December 4, 2008. The 2008 parade will be held on Sunday, December 7th, at 1:45 PM, and includes dignitaries, bands, children’s group, community organizations and local businesses. The parade is also broadcast live on WXYZ-TV Channel 7. The Mission of the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce is to provide leadership by advancing business development in partnership with civic, cultural and educational interests for the benefit of Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township. Founded in 1955, the RRCC is the principal voice of the Rochester business community, focused on fostering a favorable climate and promoting orderly and progressive development for this region.
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 56th Annual Hometown Christmas Parade a Success!
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Pixley named Grand Marshal of 2007 Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade
 Rochester, MI The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced that Don Pixley will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 56th annual Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade. Chosen by the parade committee from community members’ nominations, Pixley was surprised by the designation. “It is a humbling experience,” Pixley said. The former director of the Pixley Funeral Home, and lifelong area resident, Pixley has contributed significantly of his time and resources in support of numerous community organizations. Pixley has played an active role in Rotary International, the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Optimist Club, Rochester Community Schools, Greater Rochester Community Foundation, Rainbow Connection, Older Persons Commission, and the Rochester Area Prayer Breakfast. He currently serves as treasurer for the Michigan Polio Survivor Support Group. Stricken with the disease in 1931, Pixley stresses that the disability has never stopped him from doing anything that was important to him. “The post polio effect kicked in six years ago. I am now confined to an electric wheelchair but I still go to my office at the funeral home everyday.”
The 2007 Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade logo was created by Trent Design .
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