Some Zippo Manufacturing Co. employees have been keeping the
home fires burning this winter by helping to prepare for their
first-ever Light the Night evening parade set for July 27.

Core committee members talked about how the idea came about and
what is in store that night.

Zippo’s licensing associate Violet Snyder said she visited her
niece in Sharon this past holiday season and saw a nighttime parade
there. The parade featured floats with lights and marching groups
wearing glow-in-the-dark hats or jewelry, or twirling lit batons.
Residents stayed all day and night for the party, she said,
tailgating and cooking out.

“The lights and everything seemed so glamorous,” Snyder said,
adding the parade brought out a “real community atmosphere.”

Snyder came home and pitched the idea to Zippo, she said, and
they thought the idea was a hot as she did. Since January, she and
several others have been working to make Light the Night a reality
for Bradford.

So far, more than 60 groups, including military units, Boy and
Girl Scouts, clubs and sports teams, have agreed to participate in
the parade. Zippo employees alone are making nine separate floats
with different themes for the parade.

Musical performers and dancers have also been slated to
participate with the parade, Snyder said, adding the staff there is
currently trying to sign a fire performance group, too. They are
looking for more performers for the parade, members said Tuesday,
adding they specifically are seeking anyone who can play the
bagpipes.

Organizers are also asking that any Zippo employee currently
active in the armed forces or National Guard interested in marching
contact Kelly Pearce.

Snyder mentioned the children of some employees will be part of
something special in the parade, although she was reluctant to
disclose much more.

The parade will start at 8:45 p.m., and go from “Zippo to
Zippo,” said committee member Jerry Johnson Jr. The parade route
will take participants from Barbour Street to Mechanic Street,
Mechanic to Main, Main to Davis, Davis to Elm to Chestnut Street
Extension and out to the area of the Zippo/Case Visitors Center,
where the participants can disband.

The finale for the evening will be a fireworks display sent off
from Mount Raab.

Visitor Center manager Josh Gleason will be on hand at the
center selling items that light up or glow for parade-goers who
wish to share in the light-hearted event.

Core committee members include Snyder, Johnson, Pearce, Tina
Vinelli, Carol Bradish, Donna Bly, Amber Bacha and Tish Howard.
Other employees who have volunteered with the parade are Laura
Wilton, Lyn Carlson, Toni Gleason, Amy Stoltz, Arlene Shick, Carol
Bobenreith, Kim Sweely, LareeSue Moonan, Sue Deprins, Bev Hull,
Christine Coast, Lisa Robinson, Mary Sue Yablonski, Brenda
Schiappa, Kim Holleran and Audrey Dillon.