Well, the parade is over for another year, and I think it’s going to take at least a year to prepare for anything that will top this year’s edition of Newtown’s classic parade.

The parade made a big impression on a lot of people, but Janet Williams was truly moved. She called The Bee on Tuesday, trying to find out where to send a financial contribution for next year’s parade. She came from Danbury with a girlfriend to attend the parade and found it to be “amazing.” When she learned that it is funded entirely by donations, she wanted to help. Anyone who is interested in making sure next year’s parade takes place can send donations to Newtown Summer Festival, c/o Fleet Bank, 6 Queen Street, Newtown 06470.

For many Newtowners, the parade was a family affair. You may have noticed Shirley Ferris, the state commissioner of agriculture and wife of Newtown farmer Charlie Ferris, marching in the parade with a banner held by her two young granddaughters, Emily Kimball and Sarah Ferris.

Milt Adams traveled the parade route riding on his antique tractor with his son, Josh, who did most of the steering. When Milt got halfway down Main Street, his brothers Phillip and Stuart were lying in wait. Reversing the candy distribution trend of the day, Phil and Stu pelted Milt with candy from the sidelines.

I’ve never really understood the candy-throwing thing. What is the appeal of candy, or any food stuff for that matter, thrown at the same time and on the same road where horse manure is being distributed liberally?

As I was watching at the parade, you always knew when parade participants had some kind of goodies for the kiddies because there was always a sudden rush to that white line (I could always hear parents saying “don’t go past the white line”). Some youngsters had bags they held out for marchers to fill; much easier than trick-or-treating at Halloween time.

 I saw Danny Amaral of Amaral Motors traveling the parade route Monday, except he wasn’t driving a Chrysler Plymouth. He was on a bike.

Congratulations go out to Newtown resident John Klopfenstein who may have captured the photo of the day Monday. John, watching the parade along Main Street, photographed the B-17 bomber just as it was passing over the flagpole. John dropped the photo of at The Bee Tuesday morning.

Members of the Rocking Roosters Square Dance Club demonstrated their talents as they marched in the parade. Anyone who would like to learn about square dancing is invited to attend the club’s annual open houses on Wednesdays, September 13 and 20, at the mini-mall in the Sand Hill Shopping Plaza (next to T.J. Maxx) on Route 25. The free events start at 8 pm and include demonstrations and refreshments. Those planning to attend should dress casually and comfortably and wear low-heeled shoes.

I think I know why so many people attend the parade. As you are driving on I-84 eastbound, there are all these signs that say “Free Coffee,” “Free Soft Drinks,” and “Free Donuts,” all at Exit 10. Since hardly anything is free anymore, I’d stop too. Newtown’s Girl Scouts did a terrific job with the free coffee booth last weekend, by the way.

Members of the group known as “Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown” were spotted at the library book sale this past weekend handing out leaflets to the long line of paperback aficionados. The leaflet promoted the town’s purchase of the 185-acre campus and use of it as a “Central Park.”

Speaking of the book sale, word has it that the Booth Library book sale is now the largest in New England.

Duane and Dot Baumert are back in town this week after spending most of the summer out of town. First they sandwiched 80 miles worth of white water rafting out in Idaho in between a couple of rounds of golf. Then, after attending their daughter’s wedding, the Newtown couple traveled to Turkey where they reunited with Faari, who stayed with the Baumert family back in the early 1980s while attending Newtown High as an AFS student.

Best wishes go out to longtime Newtown High School teacher and cross-country coach Richard Pesce, who is recovering this week from a bout with kidney stones.

I bumped into Newtown builders Ro Glantz and Bryan Robik last Friday at the US Open in New York. Ro served as assistant coach for the NHS girls’ tennis team this past spring.

A steady stream of people and trucks have preceded the Parks and Recreation Department’s move back to Town Hall South from Fairfield Hills on Friday, September 8. The Parks and Recreation Commission will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, September 12, at 7:30 pm at Town Hall South.

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