According to Doug Damon, the parade chair for the organization, most of the key parade units are already lined up and the committee is working to reduce unregistered units that show up the day of the event. Damon said operators of all vehicles must be 18 or older, have a valid driver's license and the vehicle must be certified for safety reasons.
For parade-goers, the event is a chance to see a variety of units that span all types of fun. 'There will be somewhere between 1,000 and 1,200 participants,' he said.
The parade begins at 11 a.m. in Brewer just after the Walter Hunt Memorial Race and will run the usual route along Wilson Street across the Joshua Chamberlain bridge and down Main Street in Bangor.
Damon said the theme of this year's parade is celebrating education, and the Grand Marshals for this year are Eastern Maine Community College and Beal College, both of which are celebrating their 50th and 125th anniversaries respectively.
'We're embracing education and the educational institutions in the area. It's a chance to value them as a hallmark of an advanced society. In Maine and especially in Bangor, we have two great organizations that help lead the way.'
Also announced Monday was the lineup for the July 4 Chords for the Cure XVI charity concert set for the Bangor Waterfront. Headlined by The Stone Doctors, a Rolling Stones tribute band comprised of professionals from around the region, additional acts slated to perform include local groups Bangor Jazz ensemble from Bangor High School, soloist Peter Scott from Montreal, and possible a third if scheduling permits.
Admission will be free this year, and concertgoers are asked to consider a free-will donation though the many volunteers who will be manning a bucket brigade. All the proceeds will benefit The 4th of July Corporation and the new neo-natal ICU at EMMC.
(Editor's Note:To help the 4th of July Corporation reach their goal of $30,000 for this year's event, those business and individuals who make a donation will be listed each week in The Maine Edge. To make a contribution to this community event, send your check or money order payable to the 4th of July Corporation, C/O The Maine Edge, P.O. Box 2639, Bangor, ME, 04402-2639.)
Complete list of donors as of June 15:
Bagel Central $125
Cross Insurance $125
Penobscot Eye Care $125
Chapel Hill Floral $250
Com-Nav $250
Hammond Lumber Co. $250
Maine Distributors $250
NH Bragg & Sons $250
PDQ Door Company $250
Penobscot Cleaning Services $250
Peoples United Bank $250
Rodeway Inn $250
Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications $250
WBRC Architects $250
Katahdin Trust Company $500
Maine Savings Federal Credit Union $500
Rudman & Winchell $500
John T. Cyr/Cyr Bus Tours $1,000
RentBangor.com $1,000
Van Syckle Kia $1,000
WABI TV5/The CW $1,000
City of Brewer $2,000
City of Bangor $5,000
Total raised thus far: $15,625
Needed to reach goal: $14,375
