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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 2017)
AUGUST 3, 2017 // 11 Continued from Page 10 In addition, the Regatta includes sailboat races, a concert, and a movie night and barbecue in Warrenton. Children can make floats for the Kiwan- is Junior Parade, held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10. The float that wins first place will be invited to partake in the Grand Land Parade. Regatta is a time to celebrate the new queen and the hard work the princesses have done, which includes giving speeches, making appearances and attending parades. Court members are Sydney Ordway, Megan Postlewait, Rebecca Sprengeler and Mack- enzie Strain. McMahan said the Regatta court builds character and confidence. “Being a princess was like, ‘You can do it,” she said. “There’s nothing like walking around, all matching with our sashes, pins and crowns, and all the little girls … saying, ‘That’s a princess, that’s a princess!’” As queen, McMahan has been someone for the princesses to rely on for advice and guidance. “It’s nice to form the sisterhood with the girls.” McMahan described her meetings with the Regatta members as a happy place and r a chance for them to separate themselves from difficulties in their lives. ‘Representing our community’ Travers, who retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2016, said he wanted to be presi- dent because Regatta is a meaningful event, and he believes in its mission. “I was fortunate to get selected,” Travers said. “I thought, ‘This is a fun group of people.’” As president, Travers is in charge of co- ordinating meetings and fundraising events, making sure there are enough staff and volunteers, and working with the Regatta court. “This community is absolutely amaz- ing,” Travers said. “People are so giving, so thoughtful. Regatta means a lot.” There are 15 people on the Regatta board, including Dan Arnoth, who has been involved in Regatta since 1989. To him, Regatta means heritage, he said. “I fell in love with the float and the court and have been doing it ever since.” Before becoming a board member in 1992, Arnoth was an escort to the court and president. He has been involved with Regatta for 18 years and now organizes the Grand Land Parade. “I’ve done every event for Regatta. You name it, I’ve done it,” he said. Arnoth was also involved in the Astoria Regatta’s award-winning float. “It’s been very successful,” he said. Most notably, the Astoria Regatta Festi- PHOTO BY DANNY MILLER The parade marches down Exchange Street during the 2016 Astoria Regatta Grand Land Parade in downtown Astoria. PARADE PRIDE This year, the Astoria Regatta Festival Float, presented by Columbia Bank, earned first place for commercial entries in the Portland Rose Festival Starlight Parade and for a community festival in the Long Beach Loyalty Days Parade. The 2016 Regatta Queen, Aubrey McMahan, sat on the Columbia Bank love seat while the princesses stood on the side of the float. It also received the Clatsop County Community Award in the Warrenton Fourth of July Parade and the Mayor’s Trophy in the Ilwaco Kids Loyalty Days Parade. The float will be featured in the Grand Land Parade during the Regatta festival with the 2017 queen sitting on the love seat. val Float earned first place for commercial entries in the 2017 Portland Rose Festival Starlight Parade. “I feel we’ve reached our goal represent- ing the community,” Arnoth said. CW PHOTO BY JUSTIN GRAFTON Astoria Regatta Board Member Dan Arnoth, right, with Bürgermeisterin Christiane Staab, 2016 Grand Last Parade grand marshal