The bandmaster in the tall white hat raised his baton. “Give it to me big, give it to me bold!” he called out.
Immediately 21 woodwinds and percussion players did just that, pumping out a hearty “Ode to Joy” that captured the spirit of the fifth annual Fair Haven Community Parade that unfolded Friday.
The Clinton Avenue School band, led by music teacher Joseph Collette, was one of 16 schools and 32 organizations totaling nearly 1,000 revelers participating in the foot-stomping, joyful procession.
Parade master organizer and chief cheerleader Rufina Durazzo said that the first year the Mary Wade Home organized the parade there were 100 participants.
Allan Appel Photo
Dozens of Mary Wade residents lined the sidewalk on Pine and sang along with Durazzo to “Good Time,” the parade’s official theme song.
It’s grown ten-fold with this year first-time participants including the International Festival of Arts & Ideas; color guard units from the army, navy, and marine reserve units; the Board of Ed school security officers in a contingent 17-strong[ and, of course, the ripe tomato representing CitySeed.
Fair Haven Green Market Moves … To Fair Haven
Fair Haven school crossing guard Mary Irvin and CitySeed tomato Cara Donovan.
The tomato was marching in part to announce that CitySeed‘s Fair Haven market is switching locations from Quinnipiac River Park to the parking lot at Grand and Poplar.
“It was a tough decision. We love being at Quinnipiac but hope there will be more visibility [on Grand],” said the tomato. The farmer’s market will inaugurate the new site on July 11 and be there weekly every Thursday throughout the summer.
The tomato walked in the procession along with aldermen, mayoral candidates, and a full contingent of police brass. Others rode.
The line of parade passed the Mary Wade Home and turned south down Atwater Street.
Halfway down the block a white-sashed Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2013, Kendall Leary, waved from her red roadster and made hearts flutter among the crowd sitting on the steps of the Atwater Senior Center.
People waved and whistled as marchers and vehicles paraded down Grand Avenue and turned north to finish their circumambulation. Even some roofers high atop the peak at 26 Clinton Ave. paused from their re-shingling to take in the festivities.
As each and every contingent of marchers turned into the gardens behind the Mary Wade Home to grab pizza and much needed water, Home CEO David Hunter, Board Chair Alfred Goldberg, and Durazzo greeted and extended thanks.
Superwoman & Laurie Lopez
Lopez with LCI colleagues Chris Soto and Nick Licata.
Inside the party began with pizza, pastry, and bananas for 1,000, all contributed by local businesses.
The centerpiece of the party was the presentation of the parade’s annual award for leadership and special contribution to the community.
Past winners have included now Assistant Chief Luiz Casanova and community activists Lee Cruz and Mary Ann Moran.
This year’s award went to Livable City Initiative’s Laurie Lopez who for 11 years has been coordinating with the police, pubic works, and other city agencies while she stomps through abandoned buildings as the area’s first-responding blight fighter, rescues dogs, and makes Fair Haven a better place.
“I don’t do this alone. This reflects everyone I work with,” she said.
Superwoman, aka Dominique Jefferson, was also marching and distributing applications as part of a large contingent from the city’s Construction Workforce Initiative.
“Enjoy the food, enjoy the gardens, see you next year,” declared Hunter.