LETTER: Waterbury Rotary’s NQID thanks
July 1, 2023 | By Gwenna Peters
To the Community:
The 11th Not Quite Independence Day is now history and the weather was warm and rainy. In true New England nature, the people of Waterbury came out with umbrellas, tents, rain ponchos, and enthusiasm to celebrate and dance in the rain.
The spirit truly expressed, there are no bad weather days, you just have to get outside and enjoy everyday. Waterbury Rotary Club appreciates the support of those who lined the streets for the Green Mountain Mile run, the parade, and then danced in the rain at the park to the music of the band The Hitmen. The concert ended at 8:00 when the sky opened up and poured rain down on the crowd, as a chill entered the air the people dispersed to continue the celebrations on porches of homes along Main Street. The spirit of the evening was lively despite the precipitation.
Thank you to Tom Thurston for coordinating the Green Mountain Mile run. There were over 110 runners, many of them enjoying splashing in the puddles through the center of Waterbury. The results from the race can be viewed online at webscorer.com.
Thank you to Harry Shepard who headed up the Rotary committee for the parade. Thanks also to Gary and Sally Dillon from the Waterbury Fire Department who helped to coordinate parade sign-up and safety. The parade was also supported by sheriff's deputies for traffic control.
The parade review committee awarded certificates for entries including:
Best Antique Vehicle: Middlesex Electric
Funniest Float: Bridgeside books with Where’s Waldo?
Most Patriotic: Waterbury Fire Department Honor Guard
Best Kids Entry: Green Mountain Performing Arts
Best Use of Theme: Waterbury True Value Hardware
Best Overall Winner: MakerSphere
Rusty Parker Park was full with children playing games that were led by Rotary member June Hibbs and her enthusiastic committee supplying everything from fishing to pig races for the younger crowd. The band The Hitmen played as people danced in the rain or enjoyed beverages under a tent. Multiple vendors provided fries and poutine, pizza, fried dough, vegetarian fare, frozen ice, hamburgers and veggie burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, gift items, hard cider and beer.
It was nice to see multiple generations enjoy a patriotic event and gather together.
The fireworks were delayed until Sunday night given the weather. The delay did not deter the crowd as the parking lot behind Randall Street was packed at dusk on Sunday for viewing fireworks in the hazy air. It was a social time as children played tag, people enjoyed
beverages as they sat in their lawn chairs, and neighbors shared stories. The patriotic fireworks were a nice end to an early holiday festival.
Thank you, Waterbury.
Sincerely,
Gwenna Peters, president
Waterbury Rotary Club
See Waterbury Roundabout’s Not Quite Independence Day coverage in the Community section.
Fireworks from Stowe Street. Photo by Gordon Miller