Mummer's the word on WB17 New Year's Day as it will broadcast the Mummer's Parade beginning at 10 a.m. Steve Highsmith, Mike Dardis and Toni Yates anchor. Steve MacLaughlin, Alison Harmelin and Mike "I love a parade" Missanelli will strut with the people in the streets. Displaced Philadelphians can see the parade online at www.wb17.com. Last year's parade was the most-watched program in Philadelphia on New Year's Day.

The Penn's Landing New Year's Eve fireworks will be televised on NBC 10 instead of 6ABC this year. Last year, more than 2.3 million viewers tuned in to the live cutaway of the fireworks during "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" on 6ABC.

KYW-3's Pat Ciarrocchi will be spending her New Year's Eve serving as mistress of ceremonies for The Philadelphia Orchestra's traditional New Year's Eve concert. This year it's at the Kimmel Center. Ciarrocchi will lead the audience in a sing-a-long of "Auld Lang Sine."

More than 800,000 viewers enjoyed "Philadelphia Freedom" of not paying $5,000 a ticket for the opening of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Friday, as 6ABC's live coverage of the concert featuring Elton John had a 12 rating/19 share from 7-10 p.m. Each rating point equals 28,010 households.

Despite being contacted by three out-of-town stations since her departure from Fox-Philadelphia two months ago, Chernekoff says she is staying in the Delaware Valley for now. "I'm taking a break from television, for the moment, and enjoying real life. That includes exploring some new and very interesting opportunities," said the news anchor.

African Americans who are making a difference in the community may be nominated at www.wb17.com for WB17's second annual "Unsung Heroes" special that will air at the end of February.

Visit Laura's web site / or listen to Laura on WBCB 1490-AM Monday and Friday at 8:45 a.m.

Thursday, December 20, 2001