Sixteen Years Later and Town Party is Still Going Strong
by Laura Cahners-Ford
July 1, 2010, pg 1

Sixteen years ago the Friends of the Charlotte Library threw a party to highlight the library-building project. The party has since turned into an all-town event that celebrates Charlotte’s community spirit. Once again the Friends group is hard at work preparing for this year’s party to be held on the Town Green on Saturday, July 10, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Events will include the usual suspects – book sale, parade, Quinlan School activities, community organization displays, lunch at the fire station and other favorites. New this year is a carnival at the Charlotte Children’s Center.

The book sale, an annual favorite, will open at 11 a.m. sharp. Sale proceeds add to the library’s book budget. Donations of books in good condition can be dropped off during library hours through July 8.

The parade will pass the Town Green at around 11 a.m. with decorated floats, antique cars, tractors and fire engines, bikes, trikes, scooters and skateboards. The parade has grown over the years, and all are welcome. Be creative and join in the fun; the parade forms at the Old Lantern at 10:30 a.m. As Fire Chief Chris Davis always says, “Whatever anyone wants to bring and whatever shows up goes down the road. The more the merrier.” Officials will be on hand to monitor traffic.

Head across the street to the Fire Station for a hearty lunch served by the Fire & Rescue Auxiliary. Many, many thanks to Rita St. George, her daughters, Chardy and Dawn, and Fire & Rescue’s Administrative Assistant Kay Gault for again taking on this mammoth task. Enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers, pasta salad, chips and drinks as well as ice cream and locally baked goods for dessert (and to take home). Tour the station, check out the rescue equipment, and watch an extrication demonstration. Kids will love sitting in a fire truck!

Next door, the Senior Center will be hosting a show of Richard Haesler’s photographs of Central America and will have coffee for sale.

The carnival at the Charlotte Children’s Center runs from noon to 2 p.m. in the center’s parking lot. (Please park elsewhere during this event.) Activities will include a bounce house (for children 3 and up who meet the height requirement), carnival games, face painting, cotton candy and sno cones. Tickets will be available at the center’s table under the big tent on the green or at the carnival. Director Kristy Sargent says, “This is the first carnival that the Charlotte Children’s Center has ever put on. We are excited and hopeful it will be a big success and help to enhance community spirit.” Crossing guards will direct pedestrian and car traffic.

Back on the green, visit the big tent where town organizations will be displaying and dispensing information about their activities. Among other things, you can bid on specialty baked goods at the Grange teacup auction, buy raffle tickets for interesting prizes at other tables, pet and walk a pug, buy a book about Charlotte from the Historical Society, or sign up at the Lewis Creek Association to help rid the lake of invasives.
Other stops for kids include the Quinlan School for the fishpond and animal tracks identification activities and the library’s Teen Advisory Board Pennies for Peace kickoff near the book tent. (Roll your penny donations down Jenny Cole’s fabulous space ship marble run.)

So, don’t miss the town’s biggest event of the year, the Town Party, Saturday, July 10, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Town Green.