Volunteers enable Halloween parade

Retired Sgt. Major Haskel B. Westmoreland served as grand marshal of the parade.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

NILES — Lack of support and volunteers often spells the end of a tradition. Many people will complain when an event stops being held, but only a few people will come forward to help save it.

When the Halloween parade lost its organizer, Bonnie Wilson, who had moved from the city and couldn’t do it any longer, Becky and Todd Thomas stepped forward. He’s been a firefighter in the city for 16 years and recently became a captain. They’ve been coordinators for four years.

“It’s been a tradition for more than 60 years,” Becky Thomas said, though she admitted she didn’t know the date of the first event. “We just didn’t want to see it canceled, so we volunteered.”

In fact, she pointed out, the whole parade is dependent solely on volunteers. Thomas said the planning began in August for the October activity. She estimated some 1,000 people are involved.

“It wouldn’t happen without the cooperation of the city, major’s office and especially the police department,” Todd Thomas said. He said that support and the support of the community make the parade a reality. “It’s an important tradition.”

This year’s parade took place at 2 p.m. Sunday under sunny conditions and blue skies though a bit of wind made onlookers and participants aware that the cooler weather of autumn had arrived. Volunteers were thanked by the smiles on children’s faces as they scooped up candy thrown from vehicles in the parade and applause of adults who attended the annual Halloween happening. The parade, which began at the corner of Dragon Drive and Federal Street near Niles McKinley High School, traveled on Route 46 to Robbins Avenue to State Street and then back to Federal Street. All along the route, there were spectators watching. The event lasted about an hour.

Grand marshal was retired Sgt. Major Haskel B. Westmoreland of Farmington, a member of Army and Navy Garrison 252 who served three tours of duty in the U.S. Army in Vietnam.

An array of diverse participants — Shining Stars Dance and Baton School, Shenango Valley Corvette Club, Relay for Life teams, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, antique tractor buffs, hot rod and classic car owners, local fire departments, children in Halloween costumes, local churches local businesses, mounted police, candidates for office and IUE-CWA Local 717 — had turns in the spotlight as they passed spectators. Some people brought lawn chairs for a comfortable vantage point and others sat on porches of houses along the parade route. Younger children were in strollers while older children stood by their parents waiting for the candy to come their way.

Three honor guards — Army and Navy Garrison 252, UAW honor guard and Trumbull County Career and Technical Center’s junior Reserve Officers Training Corps — were among participants.

Gretchen Lelesch of Niles has been attending the parade for some 18 years. “It’s a nice local event. And it’s nice to see the community getting together,” Lelesch said. “I know of a lot of the kids in the parade.” Her daughter, Patience Lelesch, a sophomore at Niles McKinley High School, marched with the band.

Lelesch was with 8-year-old yellow lab, Haley. “She wouldn’t let me leave her at home,” the pet owner said. Haley seemed to enjoy the parade and the people, as the outgoing canine wagged her tail and nosed passers-by for a stroke on the head.

Family groups spanning generations also were evident in the crowd, though an estimate of the number was unavailable. Linda Heffner of Girard held her great-granddaughter, Haven Heffner, 3 1/2 months. “She keeps kicking,” Heffner said of her smiling great-granddaughter and took the kicks as a sign of approval of the parade. Linda Heffner’s daughter, Felicia Nitzsky of Niles, was keeping track of 2-year-old granddaughter, Alicia Nitzsky. “She likes it because she got a basket full of candy,” Felicia Nitzsky said.

Larry Shively of Niles sat on a lawn chair on the parade route while his 3-year-old granddaughter, Lola English, scooted out to get her share of candy. “My favorite part are the tractors,” he said. “It’s a nice community event.”

From the back of an SUV parked along the parade route, Devin Ridenbaugh and Amber Smith, students at Howland Junior High School, took photos of participants. “I got some of the cars to show my Dad,” Devin said. “It’s fun to watch,” Amber said of the parade.

Devin’s mother, Barbara Ridenbaugh, said she can remember coming to the parade as a young child with her parents.

As the parade ended and the crowd dispersed, Stephanie Burnett of Hartford, waited with her 3-year-old son, Carter, dressed as Batman. They were waiting for her husband, Michael, and other son, Cole, 2. “It was my first time at the parade and I really enjoyed it,” Stephanie Burnett said.

Carter added that he “liked the candy” and “got his brother’s favorite” for him. Carter said his favorite parts were the firetrucks and an orange tractor.

Burnett said it was fun to see her husband, an assistant prosecutor in Trumbull County, and Cole, also dressed as Batman, riding in a candidate’s car in the parade.