It does not seem possible, but it is almost time for the Christmas Parade.
There still seems to be some confusion on the date - it is on Friday, Nov. 30 with a step-off time of 6:30 p.m. The theme for this year's parade is "A Tradition of Caring at Christmas." Lineup will begin at 5 p.m. on West Third Street from the Third Street Bridge west to Hallock Street. The Resource Center and TRC Foundation are, once again, cosponsors of this annual holiday event.
If you are in the parade we would ask you enter Third Street, going east, from the Hallock Street side. You will line up as you arrive and we will have people on location to help you with the actual lineup. The Jamestown Police Department will be on location and assisted by DJDC volunteers. Those entries actually leading or heading up the parade will lineup on Porter Avenue.
Street closures for the parade will begin at 3 p.m. with the closing of Third Street. The Police and Parks departments will be putting out barricades at the closed street locations.
We would ask people respect barricades and not drive around them - the barricades are on the street for one reason and that is safety. We do not want any paradegoers hurt and we do not want any accidents with cars on the streets. Safety is or prime importance to us all.
Prior to the parade you will be entertained at Tracy Plaza by Razz and Friends with a great stage and sound system. Once the parade reaches Tracy Plaza, we will have the singing of the national anthem by Yara Olmo, our marshal for this year's parade. There will be a flyover by Starflight. Following the National Anthem, Mayor Sam Teresi will light this year's Grand Christmas Tree. Hospice will be making a presentation at this time also. This year's announcers will once again be Jade Barber (Boice) and Bill Daly.
The parade will then proceed. At the end of the parade we will, of course, have the gentleman in red - Santa Claus. The Jamestown Fire Department will add their expertise to the parade by doing the holiday Snowball Drop at the corner of Third and spring for all to enjoy. The Snowball Drop will be followed immediately by a fireworks show put on by Young's Explosives of Rochester. There will be no parking on the west side of Spring Street between Third and Fourth streets for the fireworks and safety reasons).
There is one last thing we should mention. We all wish to help those devastated by Superstorm Sandy in New York and Long Island. We will be sending donations to the devastated areas by bus immediately following the parade. Donations will be accepted along the parade route during the parade. In addition donations can be left at DJDC any time prior to the parade. Just enter through the Second Street door. The Chamber of Commerce and DJDC are sponsoring this collection.