E.P. Celebrates Labor Day With Parade

Early-morning thundershowers and threatening skies put a damper on the second annual East Providence Labor Day Parade Monday morning, Sept. 2. But it didn't seem to limit the smiles.

"I'm glad they got it started again," said Maria Tashdjian of East Providence, one of the people who came out on Taunton Avenue to see the parade. "Bringing it back is a great idea."

She also came out with her family to see her son, Tyler, who plays clarinet in the East Providence High School band, which marched in the parade.

City Councilor and Assistant Mayor Thomas Rose Jr., the co-chair of the parade, said the weather definitely cut into the attendance. But the entire Rhode Island contingent of the Pink Heals organization and the Rhode Island Shriners made the parade a success.

"I'm pleased overall," Rose said. "We had seven divisions."

The parade started at East Providence High School at 10 am and marched west on Waterman Avenue through Six Corners to Taunton Avenue and the City Hall, where it concluded with the giving of a proclamation to the Pine Heals organization its fight to make everyone aware of breast cancer, in particular.