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By Bill Bates

For the 14th Year in a row, the volunteer members of the Mount Ephraim Fire Department, Station 45, will host its 14th Annual Christmas Parade Of Lights on Saturday, December 13, 2008commencing at 7:00 pm.

Pictures with Santa will be available also at the Bell Road Firehouse from 4 to 6 pm. Pictures are $5.00 each and include a holiday frame.

The parade will start in front of the John D. West Senior Housing Center on West Kings Highway and proceed up to the Mary Bray Elementary School and then turn right on Davis Avenue where it will then proceed to the Bell Road Firehouse to end the parade.

Santa and Mrs. Claus have been invited to the parade and will be the special guests that will wrap up the parade. They will stop in front of the Mary Bray School to officially light the town Christmas tree. Also in front of the Mary Bray School, Mr. Andy Gilmore Sr., the Parade Emcee will be announcing the parade for the judges as well as the spectators as this is one of the largest crowds along the parade route. Also members of the R. W. Kershaw School Band will be performing musical selections through-out the parade along side the judgeʼs stand.

After the parade, the fire department invites everyone back to the Bell Road Firehouse located at 200 Bell Road for an Open House where they will provide food, beverages and the presentation of awards.

The Mount Ephraim Celebration Committee is sponsoring a Toys for Tots Drive during this years parade.

\”The objective of Toys for Tots are to help needy children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation\’s most valuable natural resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.\” (taken from http://www.toysfortots.org)

The Celebration Committee is collecting new and unwrapped toys from November 1 to December 13th. Collection boxes will be at various locations throughout the community including Mary Bray School, R.W. Kershaw School, Casual Cuts, Mt. Ephraim Chrysler Dodge, Sacred Heart Church, Auto Shine Car Wash, Canal Liquors, Domino\’s Pizza and Nancy Mulford Dance Studio. The committee will also be collecting new and unwrapped toys along the Christmas Parade Route. For more information, feel free to visit www.mtephraimcelebration.com.

For more information, you may call the firehouse at 856-931-6532 or visit the fire department\’s website at www.mefd.org.