Hopefully, some folks tuned in to Andover’s cable TV channel (Comcast channel 8, TDS channel 16) to see last year’s parade. Or perhaps you went to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/AndoverNH4thOfJuly to see a slide show or posted a selfie with Uncle Sam on the Village Green. 

Did you pick up a copy of the 2020 Fourth of July Program which, by the way, will be a collector’s item many years down the road? If you did get a copy, you saw the dedication to Howard and Ellie George.

Andover was blessed with a fire truck parade thanks to the effort of our fantastic Andover Fire Department. If you were lucky enough to be outside in Andover around noon, you heard the blaring of the sirens and saw two fire trucks and the Gator drive by along the parade route. The year 2020 was not without a parade after all!

In East Andover, there was another parade on Maple Street. This was arranged by Irene Jewett’s son-in-law, Bob Dobretz, to recognize Irene’s 99th birthday on July 30. Two fire trucks, the Andover rescue vehicle, and a few antique autos met at the Dobretz residence and drove up Old College Road and down Maple Street, pausing at Irene’s house as she was sitting outside. They ran the sirens, tooted, and waved as they passed homes along the way. Irene was a dedicated member of the Andover Rescue Squad for many, many years, as well as a long- time dedicated member of the Fourth of July Committee.

Now the Fourth of July Committee is looking forward to next year and will be meeting on the first Wednesday in August, August 5, at the Andover Fire Station. Our agenda will include next year’s parade, fireworks, and special activities on the Village Green. We already have commitments from the Kearsarge Community Band, the Shriners mini cars, and the Muchachos Marching Band to name a few. As next year’s celebration approaches, we will be disclosing some surprises.