STRAFFORD — The Strafford Kazoo Band, led by the Whelihan family, marched in the annual Strafford Independence Day parade around the town common like they always do.
Behind them walked the Coffin family “Formula 1 Racing Team,” a stroller complete with pit crew.
“We’re really hoping we can make it through this year with no spills or sunburns,” said Hallie Morris, nodding to her infant son, Landon Morris, the team’s captain.
Landon, great-grandson of longtime resident Ned Coffin, who passed away in 2016, had fallen asleep in his stroller. It was time to call it for the 7-month-old.
Slowing to a resentful halt in front of the United Church, a fleet of young dirt bikers revved their engines impatiently as the parade continued its leisurely circuit around the common.
“This parade is fun, but it’s really slow,” Aubrey Phelps, 10, said through her helmet.
Behind her, the kazooers paused for a quick rendition of America (My Country ’Tis of Thee) before continuing on, and Gabe Zoerheide towed his children, their cousins, a few bales of hay and five sheep behind his pickup truck.
The Newton School hosted the action on the common, where volunteers led participants in musical chairs and the penny pitch, and a single paper ticket got you popcorn or a lemonade. Snow cones were available for those who could cough up two.
But the events on the common weren’t all fun and games.
Susan Hodges, Suzanna Liepmann and Gayle Giovanna, representing the Strafford Climate Action Now group, marched behind the Kazoo Band before returning to their tent to remind attendees about the importance of using less plastic and eating less meat.
“With all the other crap going on in the world, this is still a really important issue,” Susan Hodges said.
“There’s a good concentration of people here, and there are small ways we all can help out at home to make things better.”
Next to their tent, Carol Langstaff of Sharon urged passersby to sign a petition to garner support for bringing a community nurse to Strafford, which among other forms of care help elderly residents age at home.
“I want every town to have this,” Langstaff said, noting that a handful of towns already do, including Norwich, Lyme and Thetford.
Over behind the Town House, its clock tower standing just as it has since 1799, Tom Root helped Bill Coburn prepare chicken for the annual Fireman’s Barbecue.
“We showed up here at 7 (and) by 10 got the fire going. We’ll cook them at 1 and serve them at 5,” Root, an eighth-generation Strafford resident, said of the cookout’s strict schedule. This is his 46th year getting up early to help with the event, which benefits Strafford Fire & Rescue.
Games on the common lasted through the afternoon, and at 5 p.m., after Root and Coburn finished up their 10-hour labor of love, $12 got you half a chicken, creamed corn, a roll, a salad and a dessert.
Frances Mize is a Report for America corps member. She can be reached at fmize@vnews.com or 603-727-3242.