All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Photo by Karen Copperberg The Slepicka family of Niwot, chosen as this year’s Parade Marshals, led the parade on some of their vintage tractors. Jerry and Marsha Slepicka, together with their (grown) children Vanessa(23) Brandon (20) and Jessie (20) have made their home in Niwot since 1990. The log cabin home they built along 79th Street has some of their tractors displayed in front. Involved in most Niwot events, including 4-H, sports, orchestra and color guard because of their kids, the Slepickas, always eager to lend a hand, felt honored to be this year’s Grand Marshal as a family.
Photo by Karen Copperberg The Matranga family of Longmont said they “always” participate in the Niwot 4th of July parade. The Dad, while jogging in place and bringing up the rear, said it was tougher to keep up with his family in warm weather, as it was about 90 degrees and more humid than Coloradoans are used to at parade time.
The sun was out with temperatures near 90 degrees, and it was a wonderful setting for the annual 4th of July Parade in Niwot. In addition to the annual Pancake Breakfast, hosted by Bert Steele of Niwot Market and the Niwot Community Association (NCA), and all the wonderful decorations for the kids, bikes and dogs provided by the NCA, this year’s parade was bigger and better than ever.
Pat Murphy, ever the volunteer pancake breakfast champ, said there was no final tally yet of the amount raised for cancer survivor Mary Jo Wysocki of Winot Coffee, but she estimated over 600 were served breakfast, including kids. Murphy emphasized that they (NCA) couldn’t do it without all the volunteers, and said thanks belongs to the kids and adults who helped.
NHS cheerleaders painted childrens’ faces and handed out decorations for strollers and bikes while NHS football players sold ice-cold water bottles. There was so much activity that it was difficult to take it all in; if you were there, it must have seemed that the entire town attended.
Taking about 22 minutes for the entire parade to pass by (LOTS longer than usual – really!), the number of participants seems to grow each year. There were people from Longmont, Niwot and Gunbarrel all along the parade route, and all of them said, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” or, “It’s our regular thing – we love it,” when asked where are you from, or have you come here before. One lady, visiting family from California said, “It’s my first time – but I love it!”
Music during the breakfast was again provided by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, and Niwot Realty sponsored Bongo the Balloon Man. Sparky the Fireman was there with the Mountain View Fire Protection District, as was the classic Engine #10. This year, giant draft horses, with two somewhat smaller colts, marched in the parade from MacKenzie Shires. The bagpipers, led by Niwot’s Paul Schafer, who does double duty with the Community Band, is a personal favorite. Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the NHS Marching band, as well as a fine collection of vintage cars deserve a mention, as do the Parade Marshals, the Slepicka family, who rode their fine collection of tractors.
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