Children's Parade Draws Record Costumed Crowd

By Kathy Keeser
Special to iBerkshires
06:24PM / Saturday, October 03, 2009

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — More than 100 fruits, vegetables, bees, ladybugs, vampires, lambs, pumpkins, chefs, princesses and even a Jack's Hot Dog showed up Friday evening for the annual Fall Foliage Children's Parade despite the dreary weather.

"WOW ... what a parade, this is the biggest Children's Parade that I have seen," said state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, who once again was an awards presenter.

Warming everyone up and bringing a festive spirit to the event was the Drury High School band led by Christopher Caproni. After playing a lively half-hour selection of songs while the children were registered, band led the the parade from Eagle Street, down Main Street past large crowds of cheering folks to the City Hall parking lot. North Adams Police provided the escort and block the roads to the let the dozens of children march.

Mayor John Barrett III was at City Hall to hand out the trophies and prizes. He, too, said he believed it was the biggest Children's Parade since he'd been in office. Before welcoming the audience of more than 150 people, Bosley had everyone laughing as he made jokes with a police radio that was used this year in place of the sound system, since the electrical power wasn't available.

It made for an amusing and if difficult time, at least until the announcers figured out how to use the police radio. Also hand were Michael Supranowicz, president of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the Fall Foliage Parade, along with  parade coordinator Rod Bunt from the Mayor's Office of Tourism.

This year, the Children's Parade was sponsored in a big way by Persnickety Toys. Located on Eagle Street, toy store donated generous gift certificates to the nine first-place winners. Another generous gift certificate was awarded to a runner-up group by Shima, the children's store on Main Street.

Prizes and trophies were awarded for parade participants who creatively fit this year's parade theme "Taste of the Berkshires." One hundred and nine children registered for the parade and all received ribbons thanking them for their participation (and all the participants had wonderful costumes and were true winners!).

Judging, setting up, registering and various other tasks were accomplished by the very capable women of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Pi Upsilon Omega sorority, who have helped at the Children's Parade for the past several years. Helping out this year from Pi Upsilon Omega were: Brittany Shea, Lakin Morris, Jackie Miller, Kaite Bonneville, Laura Gibson, Jacqui Panasian, Joanna Gillis, Cheri Eastman, Madison Hogan, and Chelsy Baker.

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Winners

Floats

â–  1st Place: The Learning Tree Family Daycare ("As Sweet as Honey"), Nick and Lauren Mroz; Liam and Noah Birkland, Keeghen and Brenden Scott, Hailey and Lana Kingsley, Terese and Jenaya McCue, Anthony and Vincent Mulder, and Abby and Emily Goodhind

â–  2nd Place: "Tasty Treats in the Berkshires: Cookin and Servin'" Ashlyn Belisle, Cameryn Belise, Nicholas Abusi, Nolan Abusi

â–  3rd Place: "Support Local Farms, Taste Berkshire Corn," Bradley Chapman






Groups

â–  1st Place: Susan's Family Day Care ("Local Produce"), Lindsey Kurek (green pepper), Olivia Gravel (carrot), Jana Cushn (apple), Dakota Hayes (green beans), Aaron Budway (pumpkin), Arianna Walden (watermelon), Sadie Walden (tomato), Madison Saunders (strawberry), Katherine Richardson (raspberry), Riley Rivard (corn), Cole Hayes (mushroom – fun guy), Hayley Shouk (sign Carrier)
 
â–  2nd Place: "Chowder Fest," AJ Morrissette, Derek Koffi Ziter, and Celia Falco

â–  3rd Place: 4-H Clover Kids, Gabe Lewitt, Ashton Lewitt, Natal Paredes, Erin Marceau, Alan Marceau, Lily Marceau, Isabella Lescarbeau and Sean.

â–  Runner-up: "Rainbow Shack Ice Cream," Elizabeth Wood and Samantha Beveraggi

Individuals

â–  1st Place: Delaney Babcock (Red Lion Inn from the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge)

â–  2nd Place: Payton Ames (candy corn)

â–  3rd Place: Madison Holm (maple tree)

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