Two of Hallmark Channel’s biggest stars will be this year’s Christmas Boat Parade Grand Marshals
By Gary Sherwin – November 10, 2023
Source: Stu News Newport https://www.stunewsnewport.com/index.php/2-uncategorised/15928-two-of-hallmark-channel-s-biggest-stars-111023
Gary Sherwin
Nine years ago, when the 106th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade was held, a few of us thought something was missing.
Not that there was anything wrong with the parade, which was going to feature its usual holiday splendor. But a few people felt it needed a little extra touch that many other parades around the country usually feature.
It was a Grand Marshal.
It almost seems impossible that a parade of this caliber can be held for more than a century without a Grand Marshal. Even much smaller parades in Orange County have them, with some even having multiples for the same parade (Say you Garden Grove Strawberry Festival).
But in 2014, that omission was corrected and Leslie Mann, a popular comic actress who has appeared in numerous films like Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, as well as singer Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray fame, were named double Grand Marshals. (I guess we were playing catch up).
Both had longstanding ties to Newport Beach, with Mann growing up here and McGrath still a resident. Since then, we have had several different kinds of Grand Marshals from Mickey Mouse to Angels Owner Arte Moreno.
This year as the parade continues to grow in national prominence in its 115th year, we are thrilled to have two Grand Marshals from a media company that embodies the very essence of the holiday season…the Hallmark Channel.
This cable favorite is hugely popular, especially during the holidays when their ratings soar as viewers seek out positive and uplifting tales in a world that sadly needs more of them.
Hallmark is sending two of its biggest talents to serve as Grand Marshals, Andrew Walker and Nikki Deloach, stars of many of the channel’s most popular holiday hits.
Walker has starred in Three Wise Men and a Baby, and Deloach has appeared in A Dream of Christmas, among many others. Both are thrilled to be in the parade and Deloach said that being Grand Marshal has been a bucket list item of hers for years.
“We are absolutely thrilled and deeply honored to be named Grand Marshals of the 115th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. Just like Hallmark, Newport Beach truly embodies the magic of the holiday season, and to be a part of this cherished tradition is a dream come true,” said Deloach.
“The city’s transformation into the most festive coastal destination is truly enchanting, and we can’t wait to share in the joy and love that this parade represents,” added Walker.
They also have robust social media followers, as does Hallmark, which helps Newport Beach tell its story to the world.
Over the last few weeks, as word of the Grand Marshals slowly started to surface through the local rumor mill, I was taken back by the loyalty and passion of Hallmark Channel fans here in Newport Beach.
Some don’t publicly admit that they watch, including many men, but apparently, they do. In a troubled world, Hallmark is an escape for many, especially during the holidays when the network produces about 40 original films a year to broadcast over a two-and-a-half-month period.
A beloved holiday Christmas network is partnering with a beloved Christmas parade. What could be more perfect?
But how did it all come about? Once again, it is another Newport Beach connection.
Credit Crown Media (parent company of Hallmark) executive Maureen Barrett, who lived in Corona del Mar more than 10 years ago, is the former vice president of marketing for Visit Newport Beach.
Barrett is a vibrant person who has a deep fondness for the city, and we have kept in touch over the years. After she left Newport Beach, she became the head of public relations for the Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney World.
Earlier this year, we discussed the possibility of the network being a part of the parade and she was all on board. After talking with some other network executives, she greenlit the initiative and then it was on to deciding which of the network’s talent would serve as Grand Marshals.
Walker and Deloach were quickly named since they were wonderful ambassadors of the network and excited about the possibility. And, they both eagerly wanted to be involved after hearing about the parade.
As in past years, they will be honored on the Opening Night of the parade at 5 p.m. on December 13 onstage at Marina Park, where they will be given a proclamation from the newly named mayor and celebrated by other local officials. Then, they will proceed to the specially appointed Grand Marshal boat outfitted with a large LED screen so people on land can see them, and they will lead the parade around the harbor for the next two hours.
For many of us involved in the Christmas Boat Parade, we have drawn inspiration from another iconic parade just up the road a bit, the Tournament of Roses, the granddaddy of all holiday parades.
The Rose Parade is an extremely professionally run operation, complete with a staff operating out of the beautiful Tournament House in Pasadena. They have had Grand Marshals since its inception in 1890, including two former Newport Beach residents, John Wayne and Shirley Temple (who served twice as Grand Marshal, once as a child and another as an adult).
The Rose Parade’s Grand Marshals have a long list of duties, including touring floats prior to the event and having a very early breakfast on New Year’s Day with the president of that year’s parade at Tournament House.
Our Grand Marshals have it a bit easier, but standing on the bow of a boat and waving at bystanders on land is not as easy as it sounds. It can get cold out there and waving for a couple of hours can get tiring.
But for another group of Grand Marshals during the Boat Parade, this work will come somewhat easily. On Saturday night, Dec. 16, the 2024 Rose Queen Naomi Stillitano and her court will also serve as our Grand Marshals, further uniting the Christmas Boat Parade and the fabled Tournament of Roses. As you may have heard, Newport Beach will be featured in this year’s Rose Parade with plans for the longest float entry in parade history.
If you are a boater, it’s not too late to join our parade and our celebrated Grand Marshals. Just fill out the form here: www.christmasboatparade.com/enter/.
It’s all pretty terrific. Grand Marshals are great focal points for the event, and they also generate wonderful national media coverage, which is another purpose of the Boat Parade. This year, we have hit a high point, and having both the Hallmark Channel and the Rose Queen and her Court featured in our parade makes our self-proclaimed holiday postcard to the world even more joyous.
And, really, when it is all said and done, isn’t that what the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is all about?
Gary Sherwin is President & CEO of Visit Newport Beach and Newport Beach & Company.
Source: Stu News Newport https://www.stunewsnewport.com/index.php/2-uncategorised/15928-two-of-hallmark-channel-s-biggest-stars-111023
Paul BlankBy Amy Senk
Corona del Mar resident Paul Blank was named Newport Beach Harbormaster last spring, a grand achievement to cap off an on-the-water lifestyle that began at age 10 with a two-week sailing class offered through the city’s recreation department. The harbormaster’s job is typically described as being a lead ambassador for Newport Harbor, one of the largest recreational harbors in the country, and includes overseeing a dozen or so employees and an annual budget of $1 million-plus. But like most things in the past year or so, the first several months have been filled with surprises. I caught up with him to learn more.
Q: What role did you play as harbormaster in the days after the oil spill, and what stands out in your mind now as the most notable thing that happened?
A: The response to the Amplify Energy Oil spill in early October was swift and multifaceted. My specific roles included surveying the harbor beaches for oil contamination, monitoring the harbor entrance for potential intrusion or contamination and participation in the City of Newport Beach Emergency Operations Center, which integrated with the Unified Command Response managed by the U.S. Coast Guard. A huge amount of my time was spent communicating my findings to others in the EOC and the UCR as well as with Harbor constituents and my patrol team in the Harbor Department. When the decision was made to close the harbor entrance, I was there to witness it and then established a patrol presence to advise mariners in a firm but friendly way of the closure and alternatives while they were unable to get in or out of the harbor. As the situation evolved, my role shifted into advising mariners, local businesses and residents where they could go for support or to file claims for loss or damage sustained as a result of the spill. I also spent considerable time and effort supporting the vessel decontamination site that was established at Marina Park. I am thankful that through the duration of the crisis, we were not forced to close or curtail activities on the harbor. Sailing classes, races, rowing, paddle boarding and casual harbor cruising all continued even though the entrance was closed. While not everyone could engage in all the activities they may have wished to while the entrance was closed, the harbor remained clean, safe and well enjoyed.
Q: We keep seeing mega yachts off the coast of Newport Beach. Have they caused any problems?
A: Newport Harbor has become a more popular port of call for mega yachts this year. Some vessels choose to enjoy anchorage off Big Corona Beach for their visits. Others have stopped there while waiting for a favorable tide to enter and transit the harbor. I am pleased to have made the process of reserving and making use of the Large Vessel Anchorage easier for the yacht managers. I am also pleased with the tenor and tone of the dialogue that continues with nearby residents and businesses. Concerns remain about traffic and congestion in that part of the harbor, but no negative impacts have been observed or reported to me. Newport Harbor is a “no-discharge harbor,” meaning no waste or refuse may go overboard. All vessels mooring or anchoring in Newport Harbor, including these mega yachts with dozens of paid, professional crews, are subject to dye-tab testing of their marine sanitation systems. This is the method we use to test the integrity of the vessel’s plumbing and waste holding tank. One vessel was tested upon arrival recently and didn’t pass. We allowed the crew an opportunity to check the settings on all their pumps and valves. A little less than an hour later we returned to re-test and the vessel passed. No pollution or waste was discharged into the bay in that first test, so no citation was issued, and the vessel was welcome to stay in the harbor. If any vessel is subsequently witnessed discharging into the bay, citations are written which come with a financial penalty and the vessel may be asked to leave the harbor. Thankfully it doesn’t happen very often.
Q: What is the Take Back Our Harbor movement, and what are your thoughts about it?
A: Take Back Our Harbor is the tagline for the newly formed Newport Harbor Foundation. The Foundation is a nonprofit group with a mission similar to the Newport Bay Conservancy. While the Newport Bay Conservancy is focused exclusively on improving Upper Newport Bay –essentially everything north of the PCH Bridge – the Newport Harbor Foundation is focused on preserving and improving the lower Newport Harbor. While I am not directly involved with the group, I am supportive of their mission. The group’s efforts align nicely with the Harbor Department’s goal of keeping the harbor clean, safe and well enjoyed.
Newport Harbor Foundation Chairman Dennis Durgan has announced the addition of Newport Beach Harbor Commission Chairman William “Skip” Kenney to the Foundation’s board of directors.
Kenney joins former Newport Beach Harbormaster Dennis Durgan, Val Lyon, and Devon Kelly.
“As we build out our board of directors Skip Kenney’s almost eight years of service as a harbor commissioner and over forty years of business experience is a welcome addition to the Foundation’s board,” said Dugan. “Skip was instrumental in the complex redrafting Title 17 of our Harbor Code so it reflects current conditions in the bay. He listened to the multitude of stakeholders and worked with his colleagues to help create a blueprint for the harbor that helps the Foundation with our goal of taking it to the next level.”
“My service on the Harbor Commission will end next June,” said Kenney. “I am excited about transitioning to the Newport Harbor Foundation and their mission to preserve our most important asset while improving it for future generations. I appreciate the Board’s confidence in me to help realize their mission.”
Kenney has been involved in the shopping center industry for over 40 years, many of which were spent at Donahue Schriber, a well known Southern California based shopping center developer. He formed The Kenney Company in May 1995 to pursue new development opportunities and challenges.
He is a past Chairman, President, and Treasurer of the California Business Properties Association, and a past State Governmental Affairs Chairman for the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
He currently is the Chief Financial Officer of Balboa Yacht Club and has been serving on the City of Newport Beach Harbor Commission since 2014, including three terms as Chairman.
The Newport Harbor Foundation was incorporated in 2019 as a 501C3 non-profit educational corporation dedicated to the preservation and improvement of Newport Harbor. At a recent kick-off luncheon, the Foundation raised $550,000 towards their goal of $2.5 million to purchase police boats and fire boat for the harbor.
Longtime Newport Beach resident Devon Kelly has joined the Newport Harbor Foundation board of directors.
“Devon brings a wealth of harbor history and knowledge to the Foundation’s mission. She has spent her entire life sailing on the bay and volunteering in the community. Her boundless energy is welcome as we push towards taking our harbor to the next level for all to enjoy,” said Newport Harbor Foundation Chairman Dennis Durgan.
“I’ve sailed throughout the United States and Mediterranean and believe Newport Harbor is a treasure that needs to be maintained and managed properly for future generations,” said Kelly. “I look forward to working with the Foundation to develop programs to improve water quality and enhance the harbor’s ecosystem for recreation, boating, and commerce.”
Kelly was born and raised in Newport Beach and grew up sailing and cruising to Catalina. She attended Newport Harbor High School and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She and her husband Gregg have two children who live locally. Kelly taught school at Carden Hall Elementary in Newport Beach, and coached field hockey at Newport Harbor High School. She has served on the Newport Harbor High School Educational Foundation and also was a Board member on the Lido Isle Community Association.
The Newport Harbor foundation was incorporated in 2019 as a 501C3 non-profit educational corporation dedicated to the preservation and improvement of Newport Harbor. At a recent kick-off luncheon, NHF raised $550,000 toward their goal of $2.5 million to purchase police boats and fire boats for the harbor.
Share this entry