Correspondent photo / Bill Koch Kimberly Capel, front, and Carol Ann Drick sat under a tree in front of the Austintown library branch, holding a sign proclaiming, “Welcome Back. We love parades!” Many communities curtailed events in the last two years because of the pandemic.

AUSTINTOWN — Hundreds of people lined South Raccoon Road from Highway Tabernacle Church to Fitch High School for Austintown’s Fourth of July parade.

Organizer Bruce Shepas said it had 66 entries, not quite as many as in 2019. But after the COVID-19 pandemic’s surge, the event is “bouncing back.”

That was an appropriate word choice for Shepas — co-owner of Austintown Bounce.

The Fitch Band played the national anthem. Other high school students also represented the football and soccer teams to Falco Tech, the robotics team that stood on a float displaying its T-shirt cannon. Member Trent Pregi said the T-shirts have been known to fly all the way over Falcon Stadium.

Among the more than 100 vehicles was a modified GEM electric vehicle driven by Stacey Deavers, owner of Charly’s restaurant. Asked why he chose to enter this year, he replied: “My wife’s a (township) trustee!”

Mark Roth pulled a replica of the Austin Log Cabin for the Austintown Historical Society, assisted by daughter Olivia, 4. Roth said he tries to attend the parade every year and was happy for the opportunity to be a driver.

Austintown Kiwanis members commandeered a pickup truck with their familiar blow-up sign. Township resident Gary Reel said their chapter has existed since 1954 and is believed to have been in the parade every year since 1976. Among Austintown Kiwanis’ local activities are providing dictionaries for third-graders, awarding college scholarships and removing litter from Kirk Road.

Denise Robenolt roamed the parking lot of Highway Tabernacle passing out water and hot dogs. As a member of the church, she said that “if anyone needs any sort of prayer, we offer that too.”

Austintown residents Kimberly Capel and Carol Ann Drick sat under a tree in front of the library holding a sign proclaiming, “Welcome Back. We love parades!” Capel said she especially enjoys the July 4 parade because it unites the community and because “it’s in the Constitution–freedom of assembly. It’s what we’re doing now.”

Drick added that the Declaration of Independence entitles us to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and “this is what makes me happy.”

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