Parade Committee Names 2009 Grand Marshal

Beth Caldwell, president of the Newtown Labor Day Parade Committee, announced this week that former state representative Julia Wasserman had accepted the invitation to serve as the 2009 Grand Marshal for the annual Labor Day Parade, Monday, September 7. The committee is thrilled to have Ms Wasserman as grand marshal, said Ms Caldwell, as her years of service to the town are a perfect complement to the parade’s theme this year: “A Passion For Newtown.”

“Can you think of a better candidate?” asked Ms Caldwell.

The Labor Day Parade Committee is also looking forward to a revamping of the parade, she said, as it is felt that the line of march has become cumbersome in recent years. “We want to get back to that ‘Norman Rockwell’ sort of feeling the parade originally had,” Ms Caldwell explained, “and away from what has become a big, long advertisement for businesses.”

More floats from local businesses and organizations will be welcome, said Ms Caldwell, and a limit to the number of vehicles a business can enter in the parade will be set.

“It’s fun to see big trucks, but even for little kids, there can be too many, so we want to get away from that,” she said.

The parade is intended as a fun, end of summer event when family and friends can congregate along the Main Street, renewing acquaintances, making new friends, and enjoying the bands, dancers, entertainers, and creative floats that wind their ways through town during the parade. “We hope to bring back that small town feel this year,” commented Ms Caldwell.

Organizations interested in entering a float may contact Robin Buchanan at 426-6195.