All Generations Love a Parade

By Jen ThomasPrint Story | Email Story
Chamber of Commerce float
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NORTH ADAMS - George and Edith Ames have been coming to the Fall Foliage Parade every year since it began and this year, at the 52nd annual celebration, the Ameses were able to share the experience with their children and grandchildren. "It's the same old parade but it's a chance for all us to come together," said Edith, who was joined by her husband, George, her son, George Ames Jr., his wife, Denise Ames, and their two children Payton, 7, and Brenden, 14 months. The family were just six out of the thousands who lined Curran Highway and Main and Ashland streets to watch the much-beloved Northern Berkshire tradition. With the theme of "Transportation: Then and Now," the parade featured planes, boats, bats and aliens amid the marching bands and business banners. A family-friendly event, the Fall Foliage Parade offered something for everyone. For Linda Oslizlo, a 40-year parade spectator, it's the Berkshire charm that makes the parade so special. "I just love the hometown feeling of the parade and now that I'm older, I want to take my children and grandchildren to enjoy it," said Oslizlo, who moved from North Adams to nearby Pownal, Vt., several years ago. As she walked her 15-month-old granddaughter, Kamryn James, along the parade route for the first time, Oslizlo reflected on how the parade had changed over the years. "There aren't as many floats as there used to be and that's my favorite part," she said. That's a common refrain from many of the longtime parade watchers, but there were quite a few impressive floats this year. Winning the prestigious Harry S. Orr award was the MountainOne Financial Partners float with its airplane theme - an old biplane on one end and a jet on the other. Stamford (Vt.) Community Church won the Grand Marshal's Award for its Noah's ark float; the Oldies But Goodies Rock 'N' Roll Show took the Hayden Award; the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts "sailing into the future" float won the Mayor's Award, and the St. John's Players took the Director's Award. Eleven-month-old Kaden Bills probably won't remember his first Fall Foliage Parade but his parents - Jason Bills and Tara Wiles - love to see the parade from his perspective. "I've been coming to the parade for years, but it's different now because I look at everything through him. I look at what he's looking at," said Wiles. For the Ameses, the Shriners, with their minibikes, go-carts and trucks and their set of wild vehicular tricks, are the best part of the entire parade. "The Shriners make the parade," said George Sr. "That's my favorite part," said Payton.
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SteepleCats Shut Out on Road

iBerkshires.com Sports
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Four Vermont pitchers combined to strike out 11 and allow four hits Tuesday as the Mountaineers beat the North Adams SteepleCats, 11-0, in New England Collegiate Baseball League action.
 
Evan Meier, Bobby Stang, Tonny Woodie and Chris Diaz each had a hit for the SteepleCats, who used five pitchers in the loss.
 
North Adams (0-2) comes home Tuesday to host the Mystic Schooners at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Wolfe Field.
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