Annual Labor Day tradition in Youngstown a community favorite
Staff reports
Great weather greeted the crowds who came out for the annual Labor Day Parade in Youngstown on Monday, Sept. 4, where more than 50 units were featured on the village's Main Street route.
Presented by the Village of Youngstown, along with the Porter, Youngstown, Ransomville Business Association, the decades-old community favorite played host to a number of participants. Notable entrants included organized labor with Ironworkers Local 9 of Niagara Falls; a salute to this nation's military by Youngstown VFW Lake Ontario Post No. 313; honoring the area's history, with a Redcoats contingent from Old Fort Niagara; marching bands, including the MacKenzie Highlanders' Pipes and Drums Corps; the Youngstown Volunteer Fire Co.; youth sports with Lewiston Porter Youth Football; community pride members with the Youngstown, NY All-American Kazoo Band (pictured); plus elected officials and a number of political hopefuls.
PYRBA organizers report parade judges - Porter historian Lynne Zanardi, Youngstown First Presbyterian Church Pastor Rex Stuart and Peggy Shear of Ransomville - were tasked with selecting five "best of" participants, a first for the 100-year-old-plus Labor Day celebration.
Winners included: the Best Pet Award - "Mindy," who's owner is Victoria Quarantillo; Heroes Award - VFW Lake Ontario Post No. 313; Best Representation of History - Old Fort Niagara; Best Float - Ironworkers Local No. 9; and Best Parade Favorite -Youngstown Village Dinner, with parade organizer Cathy Pasquantino.
"Thank you to all the participants!" parade organizer Jane Price of PYRBA said. "We can't wait to see you next year, where we are looking to give even better prizes - although we aren't sure we can get bigger trophies than what we had."
(Photos by Wayne Peters)
