Rain was no damper on the Mardi Gras Parade on Friday night through the village of Philmont; and the festivities continued on Saturday with a full dress parade through the village streets.

The 81st Annual Columbia County Volunteer Firefighters Association Convention took place this weekend, presided over by the current president John Blaauw. The grand marshall of the parade was Stanley Stickles, a Philmont resident and past Treasurer of the C.C.U.F.A.

Janet Shumsky sat in the reviewing stand for this year's parade by the Columbia County Volunteer Firefighters Association. After the association's annual convention at the Claverack Town Park, Janet Schumsky was elected president. Ms. Shumsky is the first woman ever to serve as the association's president.

Every fire company in Columbia County is staffed entirely by volunteers.