Rochesterfest is an exciting week-long community celebration for Rochester folks, complete with cheese curds, cotton candy, lumber jack competitions, and a grand parade.
This year RNeighbors made a very memorable, Dr. Seuss like appearance in the Rochesterfest Parade on June 23! Thanks to an artistic RNeighbors Board member, Mike Podulke, and wife Stephanie, RNeighbors wheeled its way around the parade route with a pop art entry made of 100% recycled materials. Flowers from garage sales, cast-offs from a bride’s centerpieces, pvc piping, and old wheels from a cart were all crafted together to form a 15 foot high neighborhood pole. The environmentally friendly float was fashioned after a Maypole and was pulled rather then motor operated.
Despite using recycled items, it was colorful and fantastic! Many of the children immediately recognized the Dr. Seuss theme, which is the highest compliment for the creators. Colorful streamers extended from the pole, representing the 24 existing neighborhood associations in Rochester. Each streamer was carried by a different neighborhood association leader. Balancing the Maypole took teamwork and coordination from each volunteer. Without working together, the PVC pole would bend all the way down to the ground, appearing like it would completely snap off at any moment. Only the conscious effort of the RNeighbors’ staff and association leaders successfully moved the float. Cheering and encouragement from the crowd made this effort more exciting, especially in the slightly downhill portions of the parade.
Not to be out done by the large floats distributing candy, RNeighbors handed out “Get Out and Walk in Rochester” flyers. These orange and green flyers encourage people to walk at least 30 minutes a day and offered great walking destinations around Rochester. Also, RNeighbors partnered with the city’s Public Works Department to distribute small plastic litter bags to aid in reducing trash, especially candy wrappers from the parade. Litter and excess trash pollutes the sewage system and makes cleaning the city’s water more difficult.
The parade was a wonderful opportunity to show the many faces of the RNeighbors organization, especially for those unfamiliar with RNeighbors. This community-oriented 501(C)3 nonprofit corporation supports neighbors in three program areas: Neighborhood Organization, Improvement, and Communication. But the most important aspect of the parade was to honor the neighborhood associations and their leaders who do such great and underappreciated work uniting their neighborhoods.
The citizens of Rochester will continue to see RNeighbors out in the community, participating in events, and getting to know all of our neighbors who collectively make Rochester a great city.