Also, remember that when localities have a Christmas parade (which we already renamed the Holiday parade), they usually have it on Black Friday, but due to the fact we don't want to pull people out of the malls (might lose $.08 sales tax, you know it's been down lately) and the downtown strip, we move the parade to a date that nobody thinks that a "holiday parade" should be held...the Saturday before Thanksgiving, then we change the route each year so nobody can figure out when or where it will be.

Kevin, that's Schenectady's planning at it's best. They always treat us like mushrooms and keep us in the dark and feed us BS.

...then, the morning comes, they pick us and they smoke us...THAT'S HOW NEW IDEAS START AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

http://www.dailygazette.com

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The parade is a different day...on different streets...to stop from hurting the local businesses...


NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY THE THEME IS FAIRY TALES AND BEDTIME STORIES!


(and may I ask that the moderator change the title of this link...You used the "C" word in the title. It's now a "Holiday" parade...gotta be PC!)

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Restrictions set for parade route

The annual Gazette Holiday Parade is set for tonight with the standard holiday parking restrictions. The parade is to start at State and Lafayette streets at 5 p.m. and is to go west on State Street to the Schenectady County Community College entrance at Washington Avenue. It is expected to conclude at about 8 p.m. Those in Schenectady not attending the parade are asked by police to avoid downtown. Ramp closures from 3 p.m. until the parade’s end are: I-890 Westbound Washington Avenue exit ramp 4C Rice Road Eastbound Washington Avenue exit ramp Streets to be closed from 4 p.m. until the parade’s end are: State Street from Washington Avenue to Nott Terrace. Erie Boulevard between State and Union streets. Lafayette Street from Union to State. Broadway from Hamilton Street to Liberty Street. Franklin Street from Nott Terrace to Jay Street. Liberty Street from Nott Terrace to Clinton Street. Clinton Street from Smith Street to State. Church Street from Argyle Place to Liberty Street. Westbound lanes of the Western Gateway Bridge. Parking restrictions will also be in effect from 1 to 9 p.m. on the following streets: Broadway: Hamilton Street to Ten Eyck Apartments (East side). State Street: Washington Avenue to Nott Terrace (both sides). Erie Boulevard: Erie to State streets (both sides). Liberty Street: Jay Street to Nott Terrace (both sides). Lafayette Street: Union to State streets (both sides). Franklin Street: Nott Terrace to Jay Street (both sides). Barrett Street: State to Franklin streets (both sides). Railroad Street: Argyle to State Street (both sides). Church Street: Argyle to State Street (both sides). .......http://www.dailygazette.net/Re.....=Ar00903&Locale=

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Return holiday parade to day after Thanksgiving

    For the past 25 years or so, the Purcell clan — consisting of Grandma Gert, eight brothers and sisters, their spouses, 26 grandchildren and several great-grandkids — have gathered together for the traditional day-after-Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma Gert’s, followed by the Christmas Parade. The timing was perfect for such a gathering, as many friends and relatives came from out-of-town, as well for the holiday weekend.

    Unfortunately, for the past two years, the parade was changed to the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and many of the family and friends cannot make it to town.

    I urge you to return to the tradition of holding the parade the day after Thanksgiving. It’s something we have all looked forward to every year. Why fix something when it isn’t broken?

    DEBBIE PURCELL
    Clifton Park
http://www.dailygazette.net/Re.....=Ar00706&Locale=

Quoted from Kevin March

The parade is a different day...on different streets...to stop from hurting the local businesses...


NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY THE THEME IS FAIRY TALES AND BEDTIME STORIES!


(and may I ask that the moderator change the title of this link...You used the "C" word in the title. It's now a "Holiday" parade...gotta be PC!)

Mr. March is spot on here. The Christmas Parade was always Black Friday to start the Christmas Shopping season. Last year tradition was trashed for some Proctor's bomb. It made sense when there were stores Downtown. Not just governmental gin mills and bad art. What this does is hurt existing Downtown business because you can't drive anywhere. The crowd size has tanked but is puffed up by the Gazetto who co-sponsors this. Usual "crowds" of one deep. The changing route is also stuna. Anything to frustrate and confuse drivers.

What, no movies being projected on the wall of some building outside in sub freezing weather at night? Oh the horror of it.

Quoted from benny salami

Anything to frustrate and confuse drivers.

You forgot to finish that sentance ... allow me.

..."as they make their way to Colonie Center, Crossgates, Stuyvesant, Clifton Park, etc."

There, now don't you feel better?

Quoted from 147

What, no movies being projected on the wall of some building outside in sub freezing weather at night? Oh the horror of it.

Too funny!! That's Schenectady Planning! With no sound in sub-zero temps to a "crowd" of one person. And the Gazetto cheers it and puts a picture on the front page of the one lunatic who showed up, It gets better, the idiots at Proctor's don't rent the picture they purchase it! It's your money and nobody says nuthin-with one notable exception.

     This year they are closing streets at 3pm! Avoid Downtown like a plague. Anyone who shows up at 3pm should be immediately locked up and sent to a psycho ward. Can't wait to see the Gazetto blarney about the "record" crowds.

The CHRISTMAS parade should have continued to be on black Friday. Although my guess as to why they changed the starting time to 5pm instead of 7pm, was to get the people in and out of there before the 'night trash' ventured out. It appears to be for safety purposes. Too bad!!!

What amazes me is how ALL OF THESE YEARS, NYC never had to change their route or day. An obvious much larger venue, and yet they seem to be able to maintain the status quo....for the people!

It's all contrived BS like the flop "Arts Nights". Then it comes out that the Krats gave Proctor's $300,000 to support "Arts Nights". No wonder your County taxes are skyrocketing under these tax and spend Krats.

     Nothing going to change until the evil troika of Metrograft, the County Bored, and the Gazetto is broken up. Metrograft must be ended, all Krats running next year must be dumped and the Gazetto is running on empty. The NYC Parade is the same day, same time to support business and shopping. This horrible Parade is to support incumbent Krats and non-profits. Tradition and Christmas mean nothing to these self serving bureaucrats.

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SCHENECTADY
Holiday parade draws chilly crowd
Wind grounds Curious George
BY JASON SUBIK Gazette Reporter

    The wind was too much for Curious George Saturday night but not for Schenectady area families who braved frigid temperatures to attend the annual Gazette Holiday Parade.
    Nell Burrows, Schenectady County Chamber of Commerce group services manager, who helped organize the parade, said when wind gusts reached 23 miles per hour, the two-story gas-filled Curious George balloon, sponsored by Price Chopper, had to be grounded. However, she said she was impressed by how little the cold appeared to dampen spirits of the public who flocked to Lafayette and State streets, the new route for the parade.
    “It was wonderful. Amazingly, there were thousands of people out even though it was so cold,” Burrows said.
    Evening temperatures dipped into the teens, and wind chills made it feel even colder.
    The theme of this year’s parade was “Fairy Tales and Bedtime Stories,” and many of the floats featured homages to Mother Goose, “The Three Little Pigs,” “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” “The Little Engine That Could” as well as more modern children’s stories like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
    Approximately 130 different organizations and companies participated in the parade. The major sponsors for the event were The Daily Gazette, Price Chopper supermarkets, the Schenectady Chamber of Commerce, the city of Schenectady, the Holiday Inn, the 109th Air National Guard, Fox 23 television, 1st National Bank of Scotia, Marshall Sterling, General Electric Co., Stewarts Shops, First Niagara Bank, Ellis Hospital, Sportime fitness center, Brown Transportation and Mohawk Ambulance Service.
    Nolan Galica, 7, of Niskayuna, a veteran Gazette Holiday Parade watcher, said he enjoyed this year’s edition despite the cold. He said he was impressed with the dancers from Ferrara Jack Dance Studios, who dressed in Disney character costumes. ....................
http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00100

“Fairy Tales and Bedtime Stories,” and “The Little Engine That Could”

How fitting for Schenectady.