OK for Sept. 1 parade, car show

FALLS VILLAGE — The Board of Selectmen approved a request from Colin Chambers to close off the  downtown area for a Sept. 1 parade and car show. The request was made at the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday, Aug. 8.

Chambers said he has planned, with Lime Rock Park, a parade of vintage race cars that will go through Salisbury and end in Falls Village. The cars will be parked in town and spectators will have a chance to look at them up close.

Chambers, co-owner of the Falls Village Inn, asked for the closing of Railroad Street from the inn up to Main Street, and possibly Main Street as far as the driveway of 107 Main (P.D. Walsh’s Country Store and the Senior Center), between 4:30  and 7 p.m. on Sept. 1.

He also asked for the use of the town Green for a hospitality tent for the same time.

Chambers has coordinated with the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department for traffic control.

The selectmen were enthusiastic. “It’s a wonderful thing,” said Chuck Lewis.

“Fantastic,” said Peter Lawson.

The selectmen considered a query from the Recreation Commission on the possibility of closing the town pool for private events, as a fundraising mechanism.  All three selectmen expressed reservations and asked for more details.

First Selectman Pat Mechare reported that it will be necessary to file for an extension on the state grant for the Falls Village Children’s Theater at 103 Main St.

As it stands, the grant money must be spent by Dec. 31 of this year, and project delays make that contingency extremely remote.

The selectmen unanimously approved a motion authorizing Mechare to file for an extension to June 30, 2013.

The board named Elizabeth Clark as town historian. Lewis said that Clark, who serves as the curator of the Canaan-Falls Village Historical Society’s Depot Museum, “has been doing the job anyway.”

Note: Mechare asked reporters to mention that absentee ballots for the Aug. 23 referendum vote on the new firehouse (see story, this page) will be available. Eligible voters include anyone who owns property in town valued over $1,000 (including automobiles).

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