Newtown Makes History Again

To the Editor:

Thanks Newtown, for making the 39th Labor Day parade a huge success. It was wonderful to see Newtown make history once again by gathering as a town to share this annual tradition. All of the smiling faces and cheering voices along the parade route make Newtown the best place to be in Labor Day. Special thanks to everyone on the parade committee who worked so hard to make this parade so special: Brian Amey who tracked donations and coordinated the parade booklet with Lana Patane and also single handedly set up the main reviewing stand; AnnMarie DeWeese and Dale Meier for setting up the upper grandstand; and Linda McDow and Co-Chair Lisa Franze who spent countless hours coordinating the line of march. Our fabulous emcees: Laura Buzaid, Hank Gellert, Mike Giarratano, and MaryAnn Murtha. Thanks also to our judges: Phil Cruz, Joan Salbu of Curtiss and Crandon, Diana Baxter, Helen Serifin, Valerie Giarrantano, and Jerry Valenta.

Our street directors once again did a great job of keeping the parade on track: Al Huppenthal, Mike Giarratano, Jim Setz, Frank Franze, Bill Meier, Cal DeWeese, and Dave Stendahl.

Special thanks to the many others who helped pull off the parade: My Place, The Homesteads, Fleet Bank, Ed Jensen of Newtown Tire who provided the parade committee float, Union Savings, Newtown Police Department, The Newtown Bee, Newtown Park and Rec Department, Gordon McNeil at Cornerstone Academy Printing, Dan McKee at Designs and Signs, Northeastern Communications, Honan Funeral Home, Dunkin Donuts, Margaret Amey, Michael Webb and friends for hanging out the parade booklet, and Mary McDow.

Sincerely,

Kym Stendahl

18 Palestine Road, Newtown                                       September 6, 2000