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YOUNGSTOWN -- For years, Tim Gilboy has worked diligently performing many aspects of restaurant work, but that doesn't mean he's devoid of taking in a bit of down time and relaxation -- part of which entailed sitting in the back of a large wagon.
"I love parades," said Gilboy, who works for Joe Gallagher's Lunch Bucket and is a client of Iron & String Life Enhancement, which is part of the Purple Cat agency.
Gilboy seemed at home in such a setting, because he was part of a parade Saturday on the South Side that the 7th Ward Citizens Coalition hosted in collaboration with ISLE.
Before retiring in 2020, Gilboy had worked 21 years for Stonebridge Grille & Tavern in Boardman, where his duties included everything from taking out trash to washing dishes. Gilboy, who had a Canfield apartment and received services from the Purple Cat, performs similar tasks at Joe Gallagher's Lunch Bucket; he also does landscaping and maintenance work for the Purple Cat's farm on U.S. Route 422 in Coitsville, Jimmy Sutman, ISLE's director, noted.
ISLE was among the estimated 25 entries in the 1-mile parade, which began and ended in the Pemberton baseball park's parking lot on Shady Run Road shortly after a downpour. It proceeded through neighborhoods on Detroit and Florida avenues, Jean Street and Shady Run Road, in an effort to bring the community closer together, Lee Keys, a 7th Ward Citizens Coalition board member, said.
The family-friendly, multigenerational parade also was to display Fourth of July patriotism while espousing a greater sense of unity in the community, Keys explained.
Serving as grand marshal was Kenneth Stanislaw, the Lansingville Neighbors' president.
For his part, Sutman was not a bit reluctant to show his patriotism, because he was dressed as Uncle Sam.
Other parade participants included Touch the Moon Candy Saloon, Catholic War Veterans Post 1292, the Youngstown police and fire departments and Mahoning Paddle & Pedal of Struthers. Various neighborhood associations, as well as groups representing several political candidates seeking local offices, also were part of the festivities.
Keys, who is first-year parade chairman, said the 7th Ward Citizens Coalition took over the event this year, which had been called the Lansingville Parade. He also holds to the goal of seeing it grow.
"Stanislaw passed the torch to us to bring it along further," Keys continued.
Echoing that perspective was John Zagotti, who added that the parade was intended to bring neighbors and others together. He also wants to see more young people become part of the event, which is a colorful and pageantry-filled reminder that "everybody can get along," Zagotti said.
Those happy to see the vehicles pass by and candy being distributed included Martin and Kali Holl, who live on nearby Taft Avenue, and who brought their son, Hudson Holl, 3.
It's an enjoyable annual site to see in the neighborhood, said Kali Holl as her son eagerly filled his bag with a variety of candy that parade passers-by handed him.
After the parade's conclusion, hot dogs and other foods were given away.