(Due to limitations of the ongoing pandemic, especially the past two springs, a queen and court were not named for 2020 and 2021. Look for a new queen in 2022.)
2019 Michigan Peach Queen of Romeo, Isabel Wallace
Isabel (Izzy) Wallace, 19, of Washington Township, is the daughter of Michael and Amy and sister to Christopher and David.
She is a 2018 graduate of Eisenhower High School. At Eisenhower, she was a member of the National Honor Society and the captain of the Girls Varsity Golf Team.
Wallace is currently a student at Michigan State University where she is double majoring in marketing and advertising. On campus, she is on the Eli Broad Student Senate and is a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and the MSU Women’s Glee Club.
Additionally, she writes, performs and produces her own music. She composed “Grace’s Song” for a family suffering with cancer. The song was the inspiration for the Music for Myeloma event which has raised thousands of dollars for cancer research.
Wallace said she is beyond excited to be the 2019 Michigan Peach Queen of Romeo because of all that she will get to accomplish this year for her community and beyond.
She said that she has been given the opportunity to stand as a role model for young girls and given a position to inspire others.
2019 Romeo Peach Queen Runner-Up, Brittany Ladson
Brittany Ladson, 22, of Macomb is the daughter of Todd and Ranae and sister to Damian, Taylor and Alexis.
She was a 2014 graduate of the Utica Academy for International Studies. While in high school, she was involved in Key Club and honor roll.
Ladson is currently at student at Michigan State University in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. At MSU, she is involved in Golden Key International Honor Society, Sigma Sigma Phi Social and Spartan Street Medicine.
Additionally Ladson is involved in St. Baldricks, Romeo Relay for Life, Samaritan House and Fido and Fluffy’s Rescue.
Brittany said that she is thrilled to serve the community that helped build her into the person she is today. She hopes to grow closer to the hands and hearts of those who make Romeo the wonderful community that it is.
2019 Lil’ Miss Peach Blossom, Abigayle Deskins
Abigayle “Abbi” Deskins, 4, is the 2019 Lil’ Miss Peach Blossom.
She has just finished her first year of preschool. Abbi loves all animals, but her favorite is her cat, Cali.
She loves playing with her friends and spending time outside. In her free time she enjoys being a T-Rex, unicorn, butterfly, Godzilla, cat, fairy, princess or a pony, depending on her mood.
As a baby, she was known for her pterodactyl impression, but now has honed her skills to an excellent Godzilla roar.
She is very into Jojo Bows right now, and has an extensive collection.
Abbi loves to bake and plant vegetables with mom and jump on the trampoline with dad. She is a sweet, sensitive girl with a wild heart and a magnetic personality.
Abbi is over the moon excited to be voted 2019 Lil’ Miss Peach Blossom.
2019 Mr. Peachy King, Blake Goike
Blake Goike, 4, of Bruce Township, is the 2019 Mr. Peachy King.
He is the son of Matt and Jesi (Foltz) Goike and has a five year-old puppy named Teddy.
He is a student at Krambrooke Children’s Center.
Blake was a two-time Peach Festival Baby Photo contest champion and is the son of the 2005 Romeo Peach Queen.
Blake loves to be active and plays soccer, t-ball, football and basketball. He spends time riding his dirt bike and playing his guitar while singing country music.
2019 Romeo Peach Festival Parade Grand Marshall,
Ray Nightingale
Ray Nightingale, 77, is the 2019 Romeo Peach Festival Parade Grand Marshall.
He is the former owner of Nightingale’s Service and he has been an active Romeo Lions Club member since 1978.
“It is an honor to be chosen Grand Marshall; I can’t believe they would pick me for that,” he said after receiving the news.
Nightingale was born the third of 11 children and a 1960 graduate of St. Lawrence School in Utica.
He worked in the family business, Nightingale Service in Shelby Township, which at the time was owned by his father and uncle, until August of 1960 when he joined the U.S. Air Force.
After being honorably discharged in 1964, he went back to work for his father.
He has been married to his wife, Annette, for 57 years and they have three children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren (with the sixth on the way.)
He is the second generation to own Nightingale Service in Shelby Township, with his two cousins.
In 1975 they branched out and opened Nightingale Goodyear in Romeo at 31 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue.
His cousins retired from the business in 1990 and he became partners with Doug Winters. Nightingale retired from the business in 2003.
He has been working for Star Transportation in Bruce Township since 2006 where he transports seniors and the disabled.
Nightingale is currently the longest active serving member in the Romeo Lions Club where he earned the Melvin Jones Award, which is the one of the highest and prestigious awards given by the Lions Club.
He and his wife have chaperoned the Romeo Peach Queen and Runner-ups at local parades, festivals and other activities.
They even received a “Pat on the Back” for winning the dance contest at one of the Queen’s dances, beating many of the younger contestants. Ray claimed “it was just a lot of experience.”
Whenever he took on a task at the Peach Festival his family always supported and helped.
They ran the beer tent on Sundays; he was chairman of the Peach Festival Car Show held at Ford Romeo Engine Plant; helped at the Blind Camp; organized road rallies to raise money for Penrickton Center; and currently his family helps out at Beers Around the World at the Lions Field during the festival.
Ray’s other interests include snowmobiling, his old cars, travel and after playing softball for 50 years—he likes watching his grandkids play their sports and other activities. He said the most rewarding activity for him is to help others when he can.
Nightingale will be driven in his 1958 Corvette (weather permitting) by his brother Bob. The car is usually seen in the children parade with the Peach Queen and now it is Ray’s turn to take the big ride.
Organization of the Year –
Striber-McVicar VFW Auxiliary, Post 2052
Our Organization of the Year is the Striber-McVicar VFW Auxiliary, Post 2052, which celebrated its 85th anniversary in April. The current President is Ron Moscow and Senior Vice President is Karen Rasey.
The VFW Auxiliary is one of the nation’s oldest veterans’ service organizations. The Veterans of Foreign Wars welcomes any veteran who has served in any foreign war with “boots on the ground.” The Striber McVicar Auxiliary is open to any parents, grandparents, child, grandchild, brother or sister of a veteran serving in a foreign war.
VFW Striber-McVicar Post 2052 hosts the annual Memorial Day Parade in Romeo. They are an active post holding regular fundraisers in the form of delicious “Steak Outs,” Farmer’s Breakfasts and Meat Bingos. They one of the groups that participate in the Romeo Methodist Church’s “His Table” on Tuesday nights, which is a free meal for anyone who is in need.
For information, please contact them at 586-752-7301.