CARTHAGE — After mulling over for the past month the suggestion of changing the annual holiday parade to a nighttime event, the Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday decided to keep the status quo.

Chamber President Teri L. Ellis said she had received a lot of feedback about having the parade at night. “With the bright lights, it would make it more festive,” she said.

However, she said she heard from Carthage Central School District Superintendent Peter J. Turner that if the parade were at night, the school band would not be able to attend.

Representing Mr. Turner at Wednesday’s Chamber board meeting, district Fine Arts Director Richard P. Weber said there were concerns about instruments playing properly in cold weather; walking hazards due to inadequate lighting, and the availability of players due to the holiday weekend.

Mrs. Ellis also said that many senior citizens would not venture out at night and that putting lights on floats would be an added cost for participants. “It’s a good parade; if it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” she said.

The parade is set for 11 a.m. Nov. 10. To put a float in the parade, call the Chamber at 493-3590 by Nov. 1.

In other business, Mrs. Ellis welcomed Jeremiah S. Papineau, editor of the Carthage Republican Tribune, and Cheryl Schroy of First Niagara Bank as new board members. Natalie M. Burnham, the Carthage Area Hospital Foundation executive director, has replaced Richard A. Duvall on the board as the hospital liaison.

The board will continue the Sounds of Summer concert series but will not pursue a grant through the St. Lawrence Arts Council, since it limited the choice of performers. Chamber Executive Director Lori A. Borland said she conducted an informal poll of concert attendees and learned they would like to hear more old country and ’50s and ’60s rock.

Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.

You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:

• Watertown Daily Times
• The Ogdensburg Journal
• Daily Courier-Observer