Thank goodness for the Shriners. They took over to run the Potato Bowl Parade Saturday when it became clear there is no longer a Junior Chamber of Commerce group around to handle parade duties.
And things are looking good. There are several area bands coming in. The UND Boosters will be there. KEM Shriners will have 10 units buzzing along the way. The Winnipeg Shriners motor corps will show up. So will the little train from Northern Air Family Fun Center.
Late this week there were more than 90 entries, and Shriner Bill Steckler said the parade entries keep growing.
The parade begins later than usual - at 10:30 a.m. It runs along DeMers from the area of the Y Family Center. And it will disband in East Grand Forks just after crossing the Sorlie Bridge. That's because of street repairs under way on the "east side."
Meanwhile, the downtown Farmer Market will be running Saturday morning with more produce than ever from area gardens. There you find honey and wild rice from the area, jewelry and art work and lefse - but no lutefisk. The juneberry pie queen will be in from Cavalier. And the hula hoop I am looking at is still around.
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The Norwegians among us are everlastingly at it. They will be serving a pancake breakfast before the parade at the Sons of Norway Lodge. And the Grand Forks Rotary Club will be serving breakfast at Central High School downtown.
Nobody seems to know where to find Potato Bowl Pete, but he will be around. The parade grand marshal is Tim O'Keefe. And the 2013 Potato Bowl ambassadors are Cole Rehovsky of Park River, N.D., and Jens Johnson of Northwood, N.D.
Jolt the Jacks
In many ways, this might be THE weekend of the year in Grand Forks. The Jackrabbits from South Dakota State were arch enemies when I was cheering for the Coyotes as a student at the University of South Dakota. And I hope the UND team will come out like a blaze of fire against them Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, North Dakota fans can get the inside scoop from coaches at a luncheon today at the Alerus.
Children's chess
The first weekend in September arrives with the Children's Chess Club meeting at the Grand Forks Public Library after school today ... And the Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre presents "Radio Daze" Saturday afternoon in Fire Hall Theatre ... The John Seitz Memorial Late Model Invitational is running tonight and Saturday night at River Cities Speedway ... Tour de Forks Louise Eberwein Bike Ride and Sharon Lambeth Memorial Walk are set for Sunday at Lincoln Drive Park.
Ask Marilyn
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Q. What kind of vanity license plates have been spotted around here lately?
A. A friend saw a cute red car with a license that read CYIMPOR. Also seen were FIT4LIF and NORSKE. And I am still puzzling over the plate I saw recently here in Grand Forks. It was simply 9.
Doug and DeAnna
Cheerful persons of the week: Doug Hamilton and DeAnna Carlson Zink.
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or (701) 772-1055.
