Panther Pride

By PETE FONTAINE

Extraordinary…exceptional…extra-special…

Those are just a few of the words people used to describe Saturday’s historic Johnston High School Homecoming – the 50th such event held on Cherry Hill.

There were classy guards, one provided by the well-dressed Johnston Police unit of Deputy Chief Joseph P. Razza, Major Thomas H. Dolan and Det. Chris DeCesare and the other unit being under the leadership of recently promoted Explorer Post 405 Chief Katherine Rocha.

There were marchers of all ages, beginning with JPD Chief Richard S. Tamburini who walked the entire route instead of driving along with the town’s youth football and cheerleading corps to the JHS Panthers football squad, the Sue Parillo coached champion cheerleaders, the award-winning high school marching band and banner-carrying representatives of all four classes.

There were four classic, colorful and creative floats constructed by members of the classes of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

There were more cars, some convertibles, carrying school officials and others who simply wanted to show their Panther Pride on a day when Columbia Blue and White ruled supreme.

But the 50th anniversary of JHS Homecoming was without question one of the Panthers best-ever productions, thanks to the tireless works of five undergrads – Student Council members President Philip Jessop, Vice President Emily Raposo, Recording Secretary Isabella Nastasi, Corresponding Secretary Carlos Fragoso and Public Relations Correspondent Lauren Civetti, and veteran organizer and faculty member Greg Russo.

Homecoming 2017 was a turning back of the hands of time, with Mayor Joseph Polisena breaking out his 1972 wrestling jacket – that still fits – when he completed at 132 pounds for the Panthers.

Polisena also had hand in making the Golden Anniversary event special, as he invited Gov. Gina Raimondo and Lt. Gov. Daniel McKee to join the line of march as well as pay a special tribute and join the 28 Homecoming Queens of yesteryear for a keepsake photo.

The complete list of former Homecoming Queens included: Lorraine Zannechia, ’69; Carol Tanzi, ’71; Harriet Sukaskas, ’72; Lisa Salvatore, ’78; Lorna Solitro, ’79; Bernadine Adamo, ‘80; Rhonda DelPonte, ’81; Karen Saul, ’82; Teresa Scotti, ’85; Francine Scotti, ’86; Marybeth Voccio, ’88; Melissa Alba, ’91, Andrea Ferranti, 96; Alisha Ballwean, ’97; Jesse Grande, ’98; Jen Soccio, ’01; Jenna Interini, 04; and Maria Susi, ’05.

Also there was Jennifer Baggesen, ’08; Giana Ricciardi, ’09; Megan Macera, ’10; Tessa Centracchio, ’12; Jordan Campagnone, Stephanie Lemoi, ’13; Taylor Russo, ’14; Erica Perkins, ’15; and Sarah Banno, ’16.

There were also two others beauty queens, former Explorer Post 405 Chief Allegra Graziano - Miss Rhode Island American Beauty, and Barbi Jo DiMaria, Class of 2000, who is a Disc Jockey for WPRO-FM.

Saturday’s Homecoming Parade was also rated as one of the best in recent memory and as Deputy Chief Razza said, “This was the largest turnout of spectators I’ve seen in many, many years.”

From the time the parade stepped off from the JHS parking lot and headed down Atwood Avenue, marchers were greeted by cheers and applause from what was seemingly a human tunnel on both sides of the road.

Yet another reason for the parade’s special tag came courtesy of Hugh Clements, veteran Providence Police Chief, who remembered his former boss – Tamburini – and sent along two members of the Mounted Command to lead the annual event.

“Thank you Chief Clements,” Tamburini told PPD Officers Antonio Laranjo and Doug Gould who were atop “Goliath” – a Percheron and “Charlie” of the famed Clydesdale horses. “The people love seeing the horses.”

The same held true for the floats, which were constructed at various locations in Johnston throughout Friday night and into Saturday morning then trucked to JHS.

The Class of 2018 won this year’s competition with an entry entitled “Ticket to Win.” The Juniors took runner-up honors with a theme “Our House, Our Rules” while the Supreme Sophomores grabbed third with a float named “Back to ‘67” when the first-ever Homecoming was held on Cherry Hill.

Even the first-time float building Class of 2021 used some special skills in constructing its entry “We Struck Gold” that received lots of praise from parade watchers.

At halftime of the Panthers’ football game versus visiting and victorious Westerly, Senior Lauren Civetti – who serves as the first-ever Public Relations Coordinator for the Student Council – was crowned Homecoming Queen, 2017.

Homecoming King honors went to Philip Jessup, who is the SC’s popular president.

The Royal Court included Evin Califano, Jake Cooke, Ty Harriel, Dylan Lavoie, Gabriella Costantini, Fallon Davis, Alyssa Johnson and Theresa Villella.

“As always, the Homecoming at JHS was a day full of memories and quality time fore the community,” said Emily Raposo, the Student Council Vice President. To which Russo offered, “Yet another marvelous milestone for the JHS Panthers.”