Wow! What a parade! Little Forest Hills turned out in full force to celebrate “America Goes to Vote 2008.” The whole neighborhood was awash in patriotic red, white and blue. With over 250 participants, LFH had a multitude of creative interpretations on vote theme.  The Keller family put their best candidate forward, “Mom for President”.  Flanked by capable looking Secret Service agents (mom’s husband and daughter), mother Jenny Keller campaigned from her truck all the way to the park with a huge American Flag draped across the back and sign on the side proclaiming “Mom is Great in 2008“. Jenny wore an apron, starched blazer and an apple pie hat (made out of Play-Doh). A tough campaign staff worked behind the scenes and, by the end of the parade, everyone in the crowd had a red apple campaign button that said “Mom 4 President”. I bet Mom had something to do with that. All the campaigning paid off as Jenny and company were voted the top prize for the Most Original Float.

Others captured the spirit of our election process and our right to vote in their own unique ways – how American is that?! There were “Poll Watchers” who carried binoculars to keep a close eye on things. The Fix it Folks’ banner read “United We Work” and another sign said “Helpzapoppin at your house - Disabled, Handicapped, Shut-Ins - Call the Fix-It Folks. There was a “Vote for Pedro” t-shirt. Jane Ann McGee for ran her dog Lilly Belle as a Presidential candidate and the Margarita Madness girls promised a margarita in every glass.

Original hand-painted signs are the hallmark of the Little Forest Hills parade. And this year was no exception. LFH creative neighborhood sign painters came up with some real campaign “winners” to help get everyone in the parade mood.  Bill Walker (author of “Your Cat Voted for my Dog”), paints the coolest-looking vintage signs! Our graphic artists Sylvia Williams and Jenna Clifford create their novel and beautiful designs. Sign painter Steve Boll who always says, “I can’t think of anything to write on a sign then comes up with the greatest slogans.

And what’s a parade without showing off our pets. But, dogs need to drink and cool off after giving it their all in the parade. To make sure the dogs are cared for, Jennifer Pell (aka the Doggy Lady) provides the Doggy Cool-Off area. Every year, Jennifer loads buckets water in her pickup and hauls them over to the park (there’s no running water at the park) to set up doggie swimming pools. Thanks to Jennifer the dogs get to have their own party. It’s fun watching all the dogs tromping and splashing around in the dog pool and lapping up the cool water. It was crowded, but, hey dogs don’t mind sharing!

The fun doesn’t end with the parade! Everyone gathers at Casa Linda Park for watermelon, drinks and prizes. Daughter-in-law, Pam Frazior volunteers each year to cut up the watermelons. She cut so many watermelon slices she put a callous on her knife hand – and she doesn’t even live in the neighborhood!  Special thanks go out to Pam and to the dozens of neighbors who helped set up and clean up the park. Thanks to our neighbors in Casa Linda Forest and Gerhard Schuttger for letting Uncle Sam (aka Scot) ride in his antique Roadster. And thanks to Sylvia Williams, the Parade Coordinator, who pulls it off every year with love and poise, this year even with a broken wrist. What a country! What a Community! What a true spirit of the 4^th!

Scot Williams --- Parade Coordinator and Uncle Sam