Page 10 - NV4TH2019

Page 6

Labor of love

14-year volunteer enjoys spirit and energy of parade

She doesn't ride a float, march along are safe. “There are maybe 6,000 people in
with the band or dress in a costume, “We are responsible for the general Northville and we get 20,000 at this
but one of the most important people safety of the parade, along with the parade, triple the population. This is
at the Northville 4th of July Parade is police officers,” Reisner said, “Things an important family event for the
seen by everyone. like keeping children out of the way of entire community,” she said.
For 14 years, Parade Security the floats and making sure they do not Reisner said the parade remains
Coordinator Maria Reisner has been dart out chasing candy. Just general patriotic, not political, and offers fami-
seen riding along the parade route on safety precautions.” lies, especially those with young chil-
her Segway, before and during the The group works, too, keeping the dren, a chance to talk about the free-
event, keeping the streets clear and the parade moving along without delays or doms we have in this country that
crowds safe. Reisner and her group of backups. many others may not enjoy.
volunteers which includes 10 or 12 vol- “We try to keep them at the pre- “If the event sparks those kinds of
unteers from the Novi and Farmington scribed distance so there are no conversations and kids learn a little
Hills CERT (Community Emergency holdups. They can't be too far apart or history, that's great,” she said.
Response Team) work to ensure that too close together,” she said. “While the organizers of the parade
the parade entries move along smooth- The Northville parade continues to have changed during the past 14 years,
ly at an accepted pace and that the amaze Reisner even after all these the parade stays true to itself. It is a
crowds, especially excited children, years. community event, tried and true and