Alsatia Club picks a parade-less queen

There was no Mummers Parade this year, but the Alsatia Club still chose a queen.

It was a welcome, salvageable slice of tradition for club members on Saturday, after the disappointment of canceling the annual parade because of a snowstorm.

Each year, each of Washington County's high schools has a representative in the competition. One of the princesses becomes the queen by chance. All receive a gift-wrapped box with a silver pendant. Whoever gets the one gold-plated pendant becomes the queen.

This year, the honor went to Monica Maloy of Hagerstown, representing Washington County Technical High School. She was crowned by the reigning Miss Maryland, Carlie Colella of Hagerstown.

The other princesses at the club on Saturday were Jillian Reid of North Hagerstown High School, Alexis Small of South Hagerstown High School, Sam Kelly of Williamsport High School, Miranda Kearney of Clear Spring High School and Jaclyn Hixon of Hancock Middle-Senior High School.

Four princesses were not there: Theresa Barton of St. Maria Goretti High School, Cori Potter of Smithsburg High School, Tori Poffenberger of Boonsboro High School and Julia Thompson of the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts.

Chuck Metz, chairman of the Alsatia Club's queens and princesses committee, said the club might arrange for this year's princesses to ride in next year's parade since they missed the chance this year.

The same offer was made to Kate Long, the 2011-12 Washington County Teacher of the Year. Long, a social studies teacher at Western Heights Middle School, was this year's honorary grand marshal.

The parade was to have co-grand marshals, to honor two longtime local businesses: Krumpe's Do-Nuts in Hagerstown, represented by Max Krumpe, and The Foltz Manufacturing & Supply Co. in Hagerstown, represented by Tim Foltz.