On the SidE. . .

ON THE SIDE. . .
This and that from the world of Valley politics.
CAN'T RAIN ON MY PARADE: The Fourth of July Parade in Austintown is a Skolnick family tradition. Come hell or high water, we watch the parade. The former hasn't occurred yet, but the latter did Tuesday. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't eat "street candy" just because it lands in a puddle.
I typically get smacked in the head by a flying Tootsie Roll or a lollipop, and the perpetrator is usually a politician. I got hit in the head again this year, but I wasn't as alert as previous years so I can't tell you who tossed that butterscotch candy.
Those throwing candy should stay away from red and white Starlites and those nasty-tasting hard blue mints. You can't go wrong with Starbursts or Now & amp; Laters [or as I call them, Now and Nows because I simply can't save some for later].
This is a big election year, made obvious by the number of politicians in the parade. Because of the heavy rain, some --most notably U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and state Rep. John Boccieri -- were quite wet. But I'll take a handshake from rain-soaked politicians over those drenched in sweat because of the heat and their insistence on wearing long-sleeved shirts and suits.
skolnick@vindy.com