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We’d like to welcome you to Munchkinland: Chesterton was turned into the Land of Oz this weekend, with hundreds of fans of the fantasy story coming together to celebrate the 1939 movie. The weekend saw wonderful weather and huge crowds of people from all over the country and the world.

Top Row Left to Right:

--Representing the Lollipop League at Saturday’s Oz Festival parade was Hayley O’Keefe. With her rainbow socks, striped shirt, and multi-colored lollipop, she prompted many smiles while walking the parade route. Hayley is the daughter of Tom and Lisa O’Keefe of Chesterton.

--NONOS visit OZ: The local group organized to prevent a Northern Indiana Public Service Company odorization station in Jackson Township brought its message to the Wizard Saturday. Carrying placards and walking beside a chemical tank similar to the one which would be installed at the odorization station, Neighbors Opposing NIPSCO Odorization Station walked in the parade to spread their message against the industrial facility proposed for land on 400 E. in Jackson Twp.

-- Savannah Tipton, Summer Tipton and Charity Vallangeon, all of Yost Girl Scout Troop 524, dressed in Oz costumes for the Saturday morning parade.

The Chesterton High School Trojan Guard was one of the high school bands featured in the parade. Left to right are Ed Vargas, Jeremy Ness and John Marciniak.

Center Row Left to Right:

-- Wicked Witch Kelly Nixon acts as ‘instructor’ in heart healthy excercise for Lindsay Nixon as Glinda, Marie McLaughlin as Tin Man and Sommer Watts as Dorothy on the Duneland Wellness Center float.

-- Lollipop Kid Jerry Marin and his wife Elizabeth wave to the crowds from the Munchkin float.

-- Waving from atop the Munchkin float are Clarence Swensen, Myrna Swensen and Mary Ellen St. Aubin, Chesterton’s First Lady Munchkin.

Bottom Row Left to Right:

-- Matt Mullin went to extra heights in his portrayal of the Tin Woodsman, wearing six foot stilts so he towered over the parade crowd.

-- Terry Lorenz, as the Scrarecrow and

-- Steve Sherk, as the Cowardly Lion, rode on the float of official Oz characters.

(Tribune photos by Dana Gilbertson)

Posted 9/22/2003