A FUN 4TH OF JULY IN STOUGHTON - BUT NO KIDS DAY: The schedule for all of Stoughton's July 4th festivities has been released. You'll notice there is no Kids Day, but all of the other usual activities, like the carnival, concert, fireworks and parade will still be held.

TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

• 4th Annual Carnival, from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the O’Donnell Middle School Parking Lot

• The Ronnie Lewis Expedition Concert, hosted by About Town's Mark Snyder, runs from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Stoughton High School Football Field

• The Concession Stand, run by the local AMVETS, will be open and serving delicious food from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the SHS football field.

• The FIREWORKS will launch at 9:30 p.m. SHARP from the  West Elementary School field. View the fireworks from the SHS football field. 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

Annual Independence Day Parade

Starts at 2:30 p.m. on Park St. at Prospect St., and ends at the DPW on Central St. 

The parade passes the Review Stand, in front of the former Pacheco Hardware (and directly across the street from Honey Dew Donuts), where About Town's Mark Snyder will emcee the parade again this year. 

If you want to enter a float in the parade, call Joe Mokrisky at 781-344-8887.

IKEA donated $15,000 to the Stoughton Community Events Committee to help fund the town's July 4th festivities.

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WHY NO KIDS DAY? Kevin Stetson of the Stoughton Community Events Committee explained why Kids Day was canceled this year.

He said, "There are only a handful of people on the Committee that are still active, and that event takes more 'manpower' than any other event. I would rather see it canceled than not do it right and have it be a failure."

He continued, "If more people don't step up and volunteer, the future of all our events will be in jeopardy. People don't realize it, but it takes a lot of work to prepare for these events, and most people just see the finished product and think it is easy."

The Events Committee hosts events like the Easter Egg Hunt, 4th of July Fireworks, 4th of July Parade, Touch-A-Truck, Haunted Hayride and the Christmas Parade.

For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Chairman Joe Mokrisky at 781-344-8887 or Vice Chairman Bob Desmond at 781-344-8835.

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TRASH TALK:  On Wednesday, July 4, there will be no curbside trash collection in observance of Independence Day. 

Trash collection for Independence Day will be scheduled for Thursday, July 5, in addition to the regular Thursday collection.

This is standard procedure for any holiday. 

Recyclables must be separated (newspaper and flattened cardboard in one container and bottles, cans, and plastics in another container).  Please place recyclables apart from rubbish (stickers facing street).

All rubbish and recyclables must be curbside by 7 a.m. on your collection day. No barrel over 30-gallon size will be emptied. Large household appliances (metal items) must be called into the Public Works for appointment for pickup.

TVs and computer monitors cannot be picked up curbside. They must be brought to the Transfer Station (open Saturdays 8-5). 

Questions? Call the Public Works Department at 781-344-2112.

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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: To Leo Fay of the Board of Assessors and his wife, Sandra, who celebrated 29 years of wedded bliss on Sunday, June 24.

They are planning on opening a restaurant together - The Stoughton House of Brews Coffee Shop and Tapas Bar would be located in the former Porter Street Pub, at 26 Porter Street, adjacent to Town Hall and across the street from the Stoughton Post Office.

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