Perhaps the gray wristbands that Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini passed out to dozens of children Saturday best described Johnston High School’s 2018 Homecoming.
For starters, the words on that wristband were printed in black and read: “Johnston’s Finest – Working Together – Making a Difference.”
In short, the JHS Homecoming Parade, that Tamburini noted attracted one of the largest crowds in recent memory, was indeed a dynamic display of high school students, youth football players and extraordinary works of art from members of all four classes on Cherry Hill whose talents shined bright Saturday.
“This is community spirit of the finest kind,” said Tamburini, who again led the annual march in his shiny black police cruiser from the JHS parking lot down Atwood Avenue to Hartford Avenue. The route then continued back into War Memorial Park and up Memorial Drive to the high school for the 51st consecutive year. “I’ve never seen so many spectators for this parade.”
That may have been true about the parade participants too, as Gov. Gina Raimondo, Lt. Gov. Dan McKee, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and many local elected officials headed by 1972 JHS grad Mayor Joseph Polisena led Saturday’s parade.
Although the parade, as well as the entire Homecoming celebration received a rating of “Extraordinary Plus” from a number of adults and students, was the wonderful work of the Emily Raposo led JHS Student Council, many people like Tamburini had a hand in the day’s success.
For example, this year’s march was led by two members of the Providence Police Department’s Command, namely “Charlie”, a Percheron/Standard bred Cross ridden by Officer Dan Famigletti and “Charlie,” a Clydesdale ridden by Officer Doug Gould who came to Johnston courtesy of PPD Deputy Chief Tom Verdi.
Likewise, the Ron Lamoureux led and national award-winning JHS Marching Panther Band sent its music into the air and seemed to increase the day’s intensity level of excitement all along the parade route.
In keeping with what some called “another terrific tradition of Homecoming” was the day’s unsung heroes – members of the Johnston Police Department who again, as people told Tamburini along the parade route: “Your guys are doing a great job with traffic control.”
It seemed like motorists didn’t mind waiting in short lines for the parade to pass so the JHS students and supporters could shine brightly during the annual Rite of Fall.
Even The Tomorrow Fund, for which the JHS Student Council raised $1,000 during a recent fundraiser, showed up with three cancer survivors and officials who marched in the parade carrying the non-profit’s banner.
Vielka Pichardo, a JHS senior, marched swiftly in the parade wearing the school’s Panther mascot outfit and tossing candy to children along the parade route.
People marveled at the clever creativity of all four floats and offered continuous praise for Student Council officers, President Emily Raposo, Vice President Nicholas Petrillo, Corresponding Secretary Ana Petrella and Recording Secretary Caleb Lee and the group’s Faculty Advisor Greg Russo who has coordinated countless celebrations like Homecoming and Battle of the Classes, just to name a few, during his tenure at JHS.
Even JHS Principal Dennis Morrell had a hand in the parade’s success, as he drove his spiffy red Cadillac convertible in Saturday’s parade then served as a co-host of sorts for the annual Homecoming Alumni Breakfast which was prepared and served by members of the Johnston Lions Club.
“I can’t believe the crowd,” Robert Civetti, a Johnston Town Councilman and one of eight Lions who worked the breakfast, said. “This is a tremendous turnout and super show of support for Johnston High School and the town in general.”
King Lion Joseph Swift led his group that included David Civetti, Joseph Sabetta, Paul Buono, Christy Giardina, Tina Ferro and Wendy Andriole while JHS Alum and Valedictorian Dina Sabetta and volunteer Pam DelPonte, a licensed food service provider who volunteered her time to that the Student Council did not have to hire a food provider to oversee the Lions volunteers during the event.
It was, as Russo said, quite the day for Emily Raposo, who was crowned the 2018 Homecoming Queen while Nick Gallo was honored with the title of Homecoming King. The Senior Class won the Battle of the Classes even 2017 HC King Phil Jessop rode in the parade alongside Brittany Lyon, last year’s Prom Queen, who took the place of HC Queen Lauren Civetti who is a freshman at Towson University in Pennsylvania.
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