HERMITAGE Parade committee seeks marshal

Throwing candy from vehicles in the parade will be banned this year.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The Hermitage Holiday Light Parade Committee is looking for a grand marshal for the event Nov. 23 .
The parade is in its fifth season, and this year the committee has decided to ask the public for suggestions on who should be the grand marshal.
The committee said Wednesday it will accept nominations until Sept. 15.
Nominations should be in the form of a letter explaining why a nominee deserves the recognition. Nominees must have made an "extraordinary contribution to the community" to be considered, the committee said.
That community goes beyond Hermitage and extends across the entire Shenango Valley, the committee said.
Nominations should be sent to the city of Hermitage in care of Amy Gargiulo, 800 N. Hermitage Road, Hermitage 16148.
Safety concerns
The parade is the kickoff to the city's holiday season, and participants decorate floats with lights. Awards are presented to top entries in a variety of categories.
A lot of participants, particularly those in cars and trucks, like to give out candy along the route, but that has raised safety concerns for children, said Joan Andrusky, committee co-chairman.
Those giving out candy two years ago did a pretty good job of handing it out at the curb as they traveled the parade route, but some last year just tossed candy from their vehicles, she said.
That causes some children to move out into the street in anticipation of flying candy, said Gary Gulla, assistant city manager.
Truck drivers hauling floats in the parade have expressed concern, Andrusky said, adding that the committee should enact rules regarding candy distribution.
New rule
Committee member Phillip Steele of Rural/Metro Ambulance, who is also Transfer fire chief, said some of his fire crew recently participated in a large parade in DuBois and brought back a copy of the rules warning that anyone caught tossing candy from a vehicle automatically would be eliminated from competition for prizes.
A similar rule might work here, Steele said.
Committee members agreed but also said participants should get plenty of notice, through organizational meetings and informational fliers, that throwing candy won't be permitted.
Arrangements could be made for people to walk alongside the floats handing out candy as they go, suggested committee member Fran Lengyel.
The parade is a joint effort by the city, the Hermitage Business Association, the Shenango Valley Mall and the Hermitage Community Affairs Committee of the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce.
This year's parade will form at the Hermitage Towne Plaza and move east on State Street and then north on state Route 18 to the Hermitage middle and elementary school complex, where closing and award ceremonies will take place.
gwin@vindy.com