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Community Corner

Photos: Half Moon Bay's Fabulous 4th of July Parade

Half Moon Bay's 2012 4th of July parade was Americana at its brightest. The only thing missing was the sun.

It's billed as an old fashioned, small town 4th of July parade and Half Moon Bay's 2012 version certainly lived up to its name--half the town's residents were in the parade, while the other half jammed the sidewalks, sat on curbs and spilled into the street--especially when candy was tossed to kids from floats, cars, or horseback. 

The festive crowd cheered everyone. They waved at Grand Marshal Ray Martini, a decorated World War II veteran. They clapped for the American Legion, the Boy Scouts, the Coastside Mothers Club (and kids), the Horseshoe Pitching Club, and the ladies who make you laugh out loud--the Half Moon Bay Library Drill Team. Those librarians know how to maneuver a book cart!

Animal lovers saw horses, miniature horses, ponies, goats and dogs. Lots and lots of dogs. The Pooch Parade, kind of a parade within a parade, drew pure breds and mutts. They wore everything from a simple bandana to "punny" outfits for their strut down Main Street. One black dog wore a sheepskin coat, making him a "sheepdog" while another donned a coat that made him look like he was hotdog.

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The parade is notable for how many kids participated. Fifty years from now they'll be telling grandchildren that they marched down Main Street in a parade.

Check Patch tomorrow for more photos of Pooch Parade participants.

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