Date: Fri 06-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Labor-Day-Parade

Full Text:

with photos... Labor Day Parade Fends Off A Hurricane And Brings On The

Sunshine

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

They were expecting howling winds, torrential downpours and some thunder and

lightning. Instead, they got warm, sunny skies and a big crowd for Newtown's

annual Labor Day Parade Monday morning.

The popular event, which marched down Main Street, up Glover Avenue and over

to Queen Street for the 35th consecutive year, was spared the wrath of

Hurricane Eduardo and ended up being one of the sunniest Labor Days in recent

years.

It's no wonder the Newtown Summer Festival Committee dubbed this year's parade

theme "the place to be on Labor Day."

Parade organizers admitted their fear of having to cancel the parade because

of the weather, but had their prayers answered in the end.

"We thought it was the best parade ever," said Kathy Hupenthal of the Labor

Day Parade Committee. "We really had picture-perfect weather."

A crowd of more than 12,000 people was estimated to have packed the streets

for the two-hour parade.

Parade Chairman Kym Stendahl said she saw gray skies as she peered upward with

her son around 6 am on the day of the parade. Nonetheless, she was thankful

that it wasn't any worse.

"I figured, `oh well, it'll just be clouds and rain. That's not too bad," she

recalled Tuesday. "But to have blue skies and sun, that was totally

unexpected. They were predicting torrential downpours."

Leading this year's parade were marshals Jim and Joan Crick, who were

described by one observer as "the perfect parade marshal couple."

As always, the Newtown High School band, marquettes and cheerleaders headed up

the parade and were followed by many familiar bands, firefighters, horse

guards, clowns, football players, guys on bikes and politicians. There were

some new faces, as well, including Police Chief James Lysaght, Jr, who is

believed to be the town's first police chief to march in the parade. The new

chief is reportedly planning a police department color guard for next year.

Also new this year was Mint Conditions Music, a float featuring pianist Roger

Young at a white baby grand piano taking classical requests from the parade

crowd.

Parade officials on bikes rode along the parade route in an effort to keep

things running smoothly. Last year, according to Mrs Stendahl, there was at

least one 25-minute gap between parade groups near the finish. Few delays were

reported.

Also improved this year was the public address system, which was brought in by

former Newtown resident Greg Ray. Taking advantage of the improved sound

system were masters of ceremonies Hank Gellert and Richard Coopersmith at the

judges' stand on Queen Street and Bob Tendler and MaryAnn Murtha near the

flagpole.

This year's top float prize was awarded to Dr Gellert's office with Mint

Conditions Music finishing as the runner-up.

The best senior musical was awarded to the Connecticut Firefighters Pipe and

Drum with the Connecticut Rebels finishing second. In the junior musical

category, the CWV Drum Corps took home the top prize, while the Grassy Plain

Drum Corps finished an impressive second.

The best non-musical performance was awarded to the Pyramid Motor Patrol.

Dance Etc was the runner up.

This year's best school was the Montessori School. The Sandy Hook Volunteer

Fire Department was judged to be the parade's top fire company.

The Rooster Award, given out annually to the parade's biggest crowd pleaser,

went to the Mattatuck Drum Corp.

This year's judges included Steve Small of Steve's Liquors, Pat MacInnis of

Flag Pole Realty, Diane Hyman of Flagpole Realty, town historian Dan Cruson,

Peggy Baiad of William Raveis Realty and Morgan Mclouglan of Mcloughlan

Vineyards.

In all the parade cost a total of $15,000, nearly $4,000 more than what the

parade committee managed to collect. The committee, now in debt, begins

planning next year's parade in January and doesn't know where it will come up

with the money for its annual fundraising mailings. Mrs Stendahl said this was

the first year her committee came up short in the way of donations.

Balloon rides were scheduled to be held in Ram's Pasture during the parade but

were canceled due to windy conditions.

The 1996 Labor Day Parade Committee included Kathy Hupenthal, Carol Luf, Kym

Stendahl, Lisa Franze and Lynn Kuhn.