With gauchos in place, a celebration of Fair Haven’s rebirth began in an appropriate spot: Chatham Square.
The gauchos topped the outfits of the Fair Haven Middle School’s marching band. The students were among the neighbors, from pre-school age to nearly 100 years old, who turns out in Friday’s brilliant sunshine for a “homecoming” parade through Clinton Avenue, Pine Street, Atwater, and Grand. (Pictured: Zuhaily Soto holds up the Farnam Neighborhood House banner beside her tacher, Taquanna Thomas, as longtime Farnam chief Elizabeth Gambardella follows behind.)
Check out the different uniforms and other get-ups on display — not to mention the variety in Fair Haven’s constituent communities. Therein lay the secret of the celebration. (Pictured lining up: St. Rose of Lima students in their daily uniform of vests and skirts.)
Chatham Square was the right spot to begin the parade because it has been a center of grassroots renewal in Fair Haven. The park itself has been beautified. More important, neighbors immediately nearby have connected with each other and drummed up a host of events. (Click here, here and here for samples.)
By “homecoming,” parade organizers meant Fair Haven’s thriving communal institutions in general — and in particular the Mary Wade Home, which has worked with neighbors during a period of expansion and become an anchor. It just finished moving and renovating a one-family home. One hundred five seniors are living at the Home, with another 120 enrolled in adult day care there (and thus able to remain living in their own homes).
“Everyone talks about old Fair Haven and how great it was,” said Mary Wade CEO David Hunter (at right in photo). “It’s still great. And this shows it.”
“I’m on fire, baby!” proclaimed Lawrence Murphy. He dressed in his clown outfit to plug his Uncle Chip’s Entertainment biz. He shared a laugh with neighborhood rebuilder Angelo Reyes and go-to community volunteer and storeowner Norma Francheschi.
The cheerleaders from St. Francis School had their Royals cheerleader jerseys, skirts and pom poms ready. As the parade pulled up past Mary Wade Home, they stopped for a spirited performance.
Margaret Baulowski and Joan Vendettti, along with other Mary Wade residents, lined the sidewalk, cheering them on. Baulowski is 99 years old. Vendetti? “Thirty one.”
Fair Haven’s beloved top cop, Lt. Luis Casanova, and Chief Stephanie Redding were in uniform, too. They led the parade by cruiser.
Also parading on wheels was Julie Coiro, 92, a former member of the Army Nurse Corps. She rode in a Wrangler Jeep piloted by neighborhood activist Mary Ann Moran.
“Mary Wade in the house!” exclaimed Clauditta “Cookie” Curson as the parade passed the Atwater Senior Center. As usual on Friday mornings, Curson, an Easter Seals recreation worker, had brought her group to the center.
Sure enough, Mary Wade did pass by .Or “Mary Wade,” played by retired Mary Wade Home nurse Kassy Aurora. She offered a history lesson while on the march. The real Mary Wade started the home in 1866. “Her sister was the one who had the money. Mary ran the home for women in need.”
The parade ended with a party for all of Fair Haven’s diverse denizens in Mary Wade’s Courtyard. Abate and Grand Apizza sent along the pizza, gratis.
And from the “Flava Cart,” Jose Torres scooped out the coconut helados.