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Fay Vincent to Lead Sports-Themed Fall Foliage Parade02:04PM / Wednesday, July 23, 2008
 | | Fay Vincent speaks at Williams College last year. iBerkshires file photo |
NORTH ADAMS — The 53rd annual Fall Foliage Parade will celebrate the loyal sports fans who populate North County with former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent as grand marshal.
"We are particularly honored to have Fay Vincent as this year's grand marshal to help us celebrate the splendor of the Northern Berkshire fall foliage festivities,” said Mayor John Barrett III in a statement. "Fay has been part of the Northern Berkshire community for nearly 50 years and we are pleased to recognize him for his many contributions to the area."
The Fall Foliage Festival Parade Committee selected "Salute to Sports Fans" as the theme for the 2008 parade, which will be held Sunday, Oct. 5. The theme is an opportunity for sports enthusiasts to celebrate their favorite teams, sports heroes, or even the history behind the nation's beloved pastimes.
"Our committee wanted to pay tribute to the loyal sports fans of Northern Berkshire County, whether they’re supporting youth football, T-ball, high school, college or pro teams," said Rod Bunt of the Mayor's Office of Tourism and parade director in a statement.
Francis T. "Fay" Vincent Jr. is a 1960 Williams College graduate and a resident of Williamstown. He was Major League Baseball's 8th commissioner from 1989 until 1992 after serving as deputy commissioner under A. Bartlett Giamatti. He also was president of the New England Collegiate Baseball League from 1998 to 2003.
He has written a number of books on baseball, including "The Last Commissioner: A Baseball Valentine," which looks at some of players and controversies during his tenure. Vincent frequently speaks about baseball at venues around the area. The former corporate lawyer and CEO of Columbia Pictures was most recently at the Bennington (Vt.) Center for the Arts to speak about his latest book, "We Would Have Played For Free," in conjunction with the Bennington Museum's exhibit on summer baseball.
Bunt, who is directing the parade for the second year, said, "The theme opens the door to a lot of interesting possibilities for floats and mascots and marching teams and more.
"There are a lot of athletes and fans out there, and this year's parade is a chance for them to be recognized."
The two-hour parade will step off at 1 on Oct. 5 from the Wal-Mart parking lot and continue down Curran Highway before winding through downtown North Adams. Thousands of Berkshire residents and visitors enjoy the annual parade, which commemorates the autumn season. It is sponsored by the city and the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. Last year's parade was themed for transportation.
Although the parade is still months away, the organizational effort is already strong, said Bunt. Over the next few months, parade committee members will coordinate an array of marching bands, floats, banners and other marching units. With so many tasks ahead, the committee welcomes volunteers to help with the parade effort.
This is a perfect opportunity to bring together a team and show support for the annual event, said Bunt.
For more information on the parade or to volunteer, call Christine Hoyt at 413-499-4000, Ext. 26, Bunt at 413-664-6180 or visit www.fallfoliageparade.com.
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