New Tom and Becky announced

Alex Addison, son of Greg and Diane Addison; and Paige Cummins, daughter of Richard and Melissa Cummins, are the new Tom and Becky for 2009-10 in the Hannibal Area Chamber of Commerce Tom and Becky program.
One special new event planned for them this year is traveling to Bermuda in November with actor Richard Garey, who portrays Mark Twain both in Hannibal and across the country.
When they learned they were the new Tom and Becky, Alex and Paige were speechless at first, as they were surrounded by people congratulating them, including the alternate Toms and Beckys.
Alex and Paige were soon posing for many pictures and being interviewed by TV, radio and newspaper reporters.
Alex said he is most excited about being an ambassador for Hannibal and it looking forward to going to Bermuda and California. “I had no idea about the new trip,” he said. He has made one trip outside the country, going to New Zealand.
Paige also chose the trip to Bermuda as what she is “most looking forward to,” adding she is also anticipating “pretty much anything we will be doing.”
Considering the most difficult task in preparing for her role as Becky, Paige said it was “definitely my ‘thank you’ speech.”
The alternate Toms and Becky who will also serve all year are Melanie Blase, daughter of Mike and Dana Blase; Madison Horn, daughter of Ron Horn and Michelle Horn; Abigail Morrall, daughter of Bruce Morrall and Lori Ward; Abbie Thompson, daughter of Bob and Angie Manzke and Shane Thompson; Alex Dowil, son of Mark and Lori Dowil; Alijah Harrison, son of Don and Teri Jo Harrison; Peyton Munch, son of Marshall and Karen Munch; and Tanner Sublette, son of Todd and Kate Sublette.
Before the new Tom and Becky were announced, Terry Sampson, chamber of commerce executive director, explained the Tom and Becky program began in 1956 and is open to all local seventh graders. He had all previous Toms and Beckys in the crowd stand, to be honored.
Sampson then introduced Annette Greenwald, coordinator of the program, and recognized many other people who donate time and other assistance to the Tom and Becky program.
Next, the retiring Tom and Becky, Matt Karr and Candice Howe, shared some of their experiences with the crowd packed into Central Park, as did the alternate retiring Toms and Beckys.
Candice and Matt said they had greeted tourists from all over the world, including people on the American Queen riverboat. They were in the New London Sesquicentennial, and many other local events. And they traveled across the country for special events, including the Calaveras County Fair and frog jump in California. Later they went back to California to see the new Huck Finn.
Matt concluded his speech by saying that, “the verse that has been important to us this year is 1 Philippians 4:13: “I do all things through Him who strengthens me.” “We thank you, Lord.”

Bermuda trip
to introduce
new Garey show

Next to speak was Beau Hicks, executive director of the Hannibal Convention & Visitors Bureau, who made a surprise announcement about the upcoming Bermuda trip. Hicks said Richard Garey, who performs as “Mark Twain Himself” in Hannibal, also “travels the world, and he has a show that is going to premiere this November.” Garey asked to take Tom and Becky with him.
“I agreed before I realized where the show was,” Hicks said. Then he learned it was in Bermuda, which was Mark Twain’s favorite vacation spot. “They will be going to Hamilton, Bermuda, this November with Richard Garey.”
Later Saturday, Sampson explained he had just recently learned about the Bermuda trip, adding, “we think it’s real good news for those young people and just good for the chamber. It will give them an opportunity to be ambassadors in a different place.”
Also, Sampson said, when Garey does his show in Bermuda, “we thought it would be good to have Tom and Becky there to help greet the people and help promote the year 2010 for next year,” because 2010 will be the 100th anniversary of Mark Twain’s death, with many events being planned.