By Ed Karvoski Jr.. Contributing Writer
Region – Reflecting this year’s theme of “Around the World,” the annual Lake Quinsigamond Boat Parade displayed an international flair with nine entries Sept. 10. For the first time, the parade began and ended at Regatta Point in Worcester instead of Donahue Rowing Center in Shrewsbury.
Capturing first place was a boat with cutout camels and an Egyptian pyramid by Shrewsbury residents Jessica and Scott Schedin, and Diane and Hays Williams with their son, Joshua. The Patenaude family of Shrewsbury placed second with a frighteningly fun boat featuring the Transylvania region of central Romania. Third place went to the Allen family of Worcester for their boat celebrating the Summer Olympics host city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Boats were judged for creativity by state Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury; state Rep. Hannah Kane, R-Shrewsbury; Shrewsbury Selectman Maurice DePalo; and Angela Snell, director of Shrewsbury Parks, Recreation and Cemetery.
Event sponsors were Full Throttle Marine and More, Shrewsbury Federal Credit Union, Shore Side Docks, Ski Chair and USA Marine.
The parade was held following a Classic Boat Show as part of Celebrate Lake Quinsig Day. The full day of activities also included a food truck with music provided by DJ DeSoto and the Rusty String Band. This year’s event was organized as a collaborative effort by Lake Quinsigamond Watershed Association (www.lqwa.org), Bay State Woodies (baystatewoodies.org) and Regatta Point Community Sailing (regattapoint.org).
