Town Pride Shines at Parade

Chesterfield celebrated Independence Day with a parade, floats, barbecues and even a petting zoo.

Union-News (Springfield, MA)

Author: DAVID KELLY

CHESTERFIELD, MA – For the 48th straight year, the town pulled out all the stops for a July Fourth parade that has cemented its place as one of the great small town attractions in the county.

While other town parades frequently bring in floats and attractions from outside the community or even outside the state, Chesterfield’s parade remains predominantly local.

The opening event of yesterday’s celebration was a flyover by two A-10 attack jets from the state Air National Guard. The planes skimmed the treetops as they buzzed the parade route on South and Bryant streets.

Scores of costume-clad children, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, sheriff deputies on horseback, local and state officials, floats and fire trucks paraded down the road to the approving waves of folks sitting along the route in lawnchairs.

The Bear Hill Boys Quartet warmed up the crowd with various barber shop tunes, and Amanda McCullough belted out the national anthem. Parade Marshals Donald and Nancy Fobes led the march.

Local organizations such as the Hilltown Family Center marched, and a number of awards were handed out. Laurence Barker, 90, received the town cane for being the oldest resident.

Janet Paine received the lifetime volunteer achievement award for her extensive activities over the years on behalf of the Congregational Church, the Grange and the Council on Aging, to name a few. The Brisbois family received the volunteer family of the year award for their donation of time and work for the town.

Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, and Sen. Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, marched in the parade.

One of the highlights were the vintage autos, including a 1929 Model A, a 1926 Bentley and a 1958 Studebaker Golden Hawk.

The neighboring towns of Goshen, Williamsburg and Southampton contributed several loud fire engines to rev up the crowd.

But the events didn’t end with the parade. On the lawn of the Chesterfield Congregational Church, the American Legion Band from Northampton gave a free concert.

Across the street a chicken barbecue was in progress and nearby a petting zoo had been set up with two piglets, one calf, three baby goats and a restless llama. Pony rides also were available.

“I come every year and this is the best parade so far,” said Joyce Cottingham of Chesterfield. “They have outdone themselves this year.”

Angelina Caputo, 10, of Williamsburg said she liked the horses and other animals best. Asked what comes to mind when someone mentions the Fourth of July, Caputo announced, “Fireworks.”

Jim Brisbois, the master of ceremonies, said about 4,000 people had turned out.

He said he initially was nervous about being emcee – especially since the man he replaced, Russell T. Bisbee, had announced the parades for the last 30 years.

“We’re diehard townfolk,” he said. “We love this little town.” The Brisbois family, which won the volunteer of the year award, is made up of Jim and wife Kathleen, sons Jeremy and Nathan and daughter Shannon. Brisbois also noted the tremendous role played by Sue Lehman and Martha Mienka, parade co-chairpersons.

“Part of being a resident in a town is helping it, and that means getting involved,” said the former fireman, Air Force veteran, emergency medical technician, church deacon and now therapist. “This is the last small town parade in Hampshire County and if folks didn’t get involved these efforts would die.”

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