Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Jim Bennett changed things just at the last minute.

Lewiston’s delegation had practiced their entrance for their All-America City awards presentation over and over, planning on cheering and clapping on their way to the stage.

That’s what most cities did. “Now, we’re going to go the other way,” Bennett said. Instead of cheering, Lewiston’s delegates walked quietly to the stage while Lewiston DJ Nick Knowlton played “Oh Lewiston,” the theme song from the 1994 play “Lewiston: A New Home,” on his portable sound system. At the second round of the chorus, Lewiston started clapping – quietly at first. By the time, the song wound down and lead judge Robert Rawson, Jr. asked Lewiston if they were ready, they were as loud as the others.

“Yes!” they yelled in unison. “And we’re setting the pace!”

Bennett, Lewiston’s city administrator, said he hoped the change in pitch would set Lewiston apart from the other 27 cities competing in the National Competition.

“We want them to focus on the story, calm them down and get them to pay attention to what we’re saying,” Bennett said.

It was quite a contrast to the presentation by Lincoln, Calif., earlier Saturday. As soon as the door to the main ballroom opened, a group of 50 Lincoln delegates began surging to the stage, chanting their slogan, “Live! Life! Lincoln!,” loudly the entire way.

Lincoln, a community roughly the same size as Lewiston and just north of Sacramento, competed in the All-America City competition last year but failed to win the title. Delegates said they learned from last year, and brought more people with more energy.

Golden, Colo., went the extreme other way. They, too, competed last year without winning. This year, they brought seven people and a subdued presentation.

“This time, we wanted to concentrate on telling our story and showing our pictures,” said Golden Delegate Ed Dorsey. “Last year, we had about 30 people, and our presentation was a bunch of lines in a staccato. So this year, we wanted to tell our story and do less passing around of the microphone.”

They’ll find out if it worked tonight.

More than half the delegations made their presentations to judges Saturday. Another 11 will present their stories today, and judges will retire at 1:30 p.m. to begin picking winners. They’re scheduled to announce the 10 winners at a ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. Pacific time today – about 10 p.m. in Maine.

Most of the presentations Saturday were high-energy affairs. Contestants are allowed to bring any prop they can carry by hand. For most, those were massive signs.

Lewiston’s crew were confident after they finished.

“You could see it in the judges’ eyes,” Bennett said. “They were engaged, involved. They really hung on what we said.”

Fair

The rest of Saturday afternoon was devoted to setting up the Civic Pride fair, a trade show for all 28 cities.

“It’s been pretty stressful for all of the cities,” said Aleks Humeyumptewa, spokesman for the National Civic League. “So this is meant to fun, a chance for all of you to relax. Just have fun.”

The league sponsors the All-America Awards. Humeyumptewa said the fair will have no effect on the group’s final score.

The fair includes a talent showcase, and Lewiston is part of that, as well. Bennett and Public Works Director Paul Boudreau donned costumes and took the stage as their alter egos,” Gingo” and “Dusty,” clowns from Lewiston’s Kora Shrine.

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