The Andover Fourth of July Committee is focusing its efforts in May on the annual fundraising campaign. Volunteers will be canvassing from street to street for donations to support the Fourth of July celebration.

If no one has done your street in the past, please think about being a volunteer. We desperately need help. We are not a line item in the Town budget; our becoming a Town committee was based solely on insurance issues. Expenses run high for this event, and we need lots of those little green bills or checks.

Ads for our program are another source of income, so think about an ad for your business or organization, or just a personal message. Wanda Smith (735-5434) and Irene Jewett (735- 5271) are in charge of both ads and donations. They each wear two hats, as do most of the committee members.

Once again, Rose Tilton has made a beautiful red, white, and blue quilt, quilted by Linda Barnes of The Constant Quilter. Raffle tickets will be available at various events, as well as on the Fourth. The drawing will be in the fall.

Proceeds will go into the Fourth of July fund. Last year we managed to just about break even, after going in the red the previous years.

Remember, our parade theme this year is “Summertime.” We are hoping to have a lot of entries, floats, vehicles, and animals. There is prize money for these categories.

We encourage children to participate in the Children’s Parade, which meets in front of the ProClaim building. They will be judged, and ribbons and prizes will be awarded.

Activities on the Village Green will be very lively this year. In addition to the vendors that provide many goods and services, three and possibly four bands will be playing throughout the day.

There is still space available on the Green. Contact Doug Phelps at (802) 310-1045 or DPhelps@nullus.ibm.com to reserve your spot.

Parking is a problem on the Fourth. If anyone has an area near the center of town, it would be a big help if you would make it available.

Sadly, no one has answered our appeal for committee members or volunteered for various jobs, which are parade line-up, parking, flea market helper, raffle ticket seller, car judge, set-up and clean-up, and putting out the signs on either end of town.

We are very hopeful that this is an event that you wish to continue and that volunteers will come forward. For questions about the parade and raffle tickets, call 735-5493; for all other questions, call chairman Bob Ward at 735-5061.