100 local and regional entries in 50th Canfield Fourth parade

July 5, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

CANFIELD

Eleven-year-old Rylee Manley is well aware that timing, pacing and a sense of rhythm are key ingredients for successful dancing in any genre.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t hurt to display those qualities while filling part of a parade route with bubbles.

“I liked throwing candy and the people, and having fun,” the Canfield girl said, referring to her favorite parts about participating in Saturday’s 50th annual Canfield Fourth of July parade.

The 90-minute parade had nearly 100 local and regional entries, including a pipe-and-drum band from Euclid, said Clare Neff, a parade committee member.

Rylee, who has spent about six years taking dance lessons at Canfield-based Stage Left Dance & Theater Arts Academy, also brought a bubble-blowing machine to be part of the one-mile parade, which began at the Canfield Fairgrounds and traveled on South Broad Street (state Route 46).

Her dad works at Toys “R” Us in Boardman, which made adding the unusual attraction possible, said Rylee, noting that she hopes to be a professional dancer.

“We always like to say that we blow people away with our dancing, so we thought we would do the same with the bubbles,” Kim Lisowski added with laughter.

Lisowski, Stage Left’s owner, turned more serious, however, when she mentioned the overarching reason for her students’ consistent participation in the parade: to give back to others.

“It’s a lot of fun to do something for the community and show our patriotic spirit,” explained Lisowski, who teaches ballet, hip-hop, jazz and other forms of dance to about 115 students age 2 to 18.

Among them is 11-year-old Maya Hoffman of Salem, who has danced for seven or eight years, six of which she has taken part in the Canfield parade.

In addition to contributing to the bubbly experience for some of the thousands of spectators of all ages who lined the parade route, Maya enjoyed throwing and eating plenty of candy, she said with a chuckle.

Of course, making countless bubbles wouldn’t be possible without the proper liquid, which is where Victoria Wellington, 13, came in.

The Boardman teen spent part of her sixth appearance in the parade helping to refill the machine. She also said she hopes to fulfill her desire to pursue a dancing career and possibly perform on Broadway.

The parade’s grand marshal was Rocco Fumi of Canfield, a retired pharmacist who also was part of the event’s first committee 50 years ago.

“This is one of the most exciting and honorable things I’ve ever received,” said Fumi, who works part-time for Kensington Golf Club in Canfield.

From 1950 to 1955, Fumi was in Ohio State University’s pharmacy school, from which he received a Distinguished Service Award. For many years, he owned Buckeye Pharmacy, and he remains active with St. Michael Church’s Bible-study group.

Adding color to the parade were vintage vehicles, courtesy of the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club Inc.; a red, white and blue peace symbol made from small balloons on the back of a pickup truck; and nearly 20 Canfield High School Class of 1965 members on another truck. Also eye-catching were several people on a vehicle performing a mini demonstration on spinning, a high-intensity workout in which participants pedal stationary bikes to music to improve their endurance and build their muscles.

In addition, the Junior Women’s League hosted a bike-decorating contest, and the Canfield United Methodist Church did its best to win another contest for best float, said Neff, the committee member. Other festivities included clowns, activities and games for children and a dunking booth, she added.