Marblehead to honor hometown olympians

MARBLEHEAD – Marbleheader Maureen McKinnon-Tucker, the 2008 Paralympic Gold Medalist, will have a day in her honor Saturday.And the Marblehead-Swampscott YMCA has finalized plans for the parade in honor of Shalane Flanagan, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27.Selectmen voted Wednesday afternoon to proclaim Saturday as "Maureen McKinnon-Tucker Day" and approved a parade in honor of her achievement in the two-person keelboat event off Qingdao, China.The parade will step off at 1 p.m. at the Old Town House, proceed down State Street to Front Street and end at Ft. Sewall. Marchers will be led by a police motorcycle, a fire engine and a police cruiser, similar to the Christmas Walk Parade. At the request of police a temporary parking ban will be enforced around the Old Town House from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.Selectmen Chairman Jackie Belf-Becker will read a proclamation during the ceremonies. Several other speakers are expected.Selectmen also voted to place a sign at the entrance to the town: "Home of 2008 Paralympic Sailing Gold Medalist Maureen McKinnon-Tucker."McKinnon-Tucker and her partner Nick Scandone were Gold Medal favorites after they took an early lead in the Skud 18 sailboat series.Selectmen proclaimed Sept. 27 "Shalane Flanagan Day" at the request of Paul Gorman, YMCA executive director and Susan Guertin, YMCA aquatics director. Flanagan won the bronze medal in the 10,000 meter track race at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.A motorcade route will begin at 1 p.m. at the YMCA on Pleasant Street, proceed up Pleasant to Washington Street, turn right onto Atlantic Avenue, left onto Smith Street, right onto Pleasant Street and left onto Humphrey Street. The motorcade will bear left on Humphrey Street to Tedesco Street, then bear right onto Leggs Hill Road and turn right on Leggs Hill Road to the new YMCA building.At the new YMCA there will be a ceremony that includes presentations from the Town of Marblehead, the Marblehead School Department, the State of Massachusetts and the Marblehead Swampscott YMCA.Selectmen voted Sept. 10 to present a proclamation to Flanagan on behalf of the town, and to have her achievement at the 2008 Beijing Olympics noted in the 2008 Annual Town Report.