WEST WINDSOR—Even without public gatherings, there will be an Independence Day celebration in West Windsor (Brownsville) this Covid year… with the participation of the whole town. The Brownsville Independence Day committee has some updates on this 3-day holiday weekend coming up.
To date the plan is to celebrate the full weekend, from Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5. The Independence Day committee said, “It truly is a holiday weekend and as good a time as any to celebrate all home town heroes (first responders, front line workers and many, many more!)”
The Brownsville Independence Day celebrations volunteers and the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Dept. will decorate the center of town. It is hoped that the red, white and blue will be celebrated on every road in West Windsor, from the shortest dirt road to the length of Route 44 and the Brownsville-Hartland Road. Suggestions include posters, banners and streamers of all kinds and, of course, American flags. There will be decorations on mailboxes, barns, fences, homes and businesses. The show of American pride will get everyone in the spirit of the holiday as they go by. All members of the community are invited to participate.
Prizes will be awarded to the folks who discover the greatest number of locations that are decorated. There will be maps of West Windsor available to download on their Facebook page or pick-up at Brownsville Butcher & Pantry. Everyone is invited to take the weekend to explore the roads and byways of Brownsville/West Windsor in cars, on bikes or horses, or on foot and to mark the locations on the maps of all the places they’ve found decorated. Five $25 gift card prizes will go to the families or individuals who’ve found and marked the highest number of locations on their maps. Participants are encouraged to put a star by their favorite location and the location with the most stars will get their own gift card and bragging rights.
Maps can be dropped off by 6 p.m. on Monday, July 6 in collection boxes located at the Mary Blood Library, the Brownsville Butcher & Pantry or at the front door of the West Windsor Town Hall. They can also email a photo of their map to BrownsvilleIDC@gmail.com or message the photo to Karen Diop at 802-595-9573.
So that folks can dress the part, the Brownsville Independence Day committee is offering for sale (at cost) long and short sleeve tee shirts sporting the logo that salutes local volunteers. This year there are red, white and blue shirts in sizes small to extra-large priced at $10 (white short sleeve), $15 (red or blue short sleeve) & $20 (white long sleeve). Quantities are limited. Visit the Brownsville IDC Facebook page for details and photos at facebook.com/IndependenceDayBrownsville.
Shirts will be available for purchase in front of the Fire Department on the following days or until they are all sold: Wed. June 24 (4 – 6 p.m.), Sat. June 27 (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.), Sun. June 28 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), Wed. July 1 (4 – 7 p.m.) and Fri. July 3 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 5 – 7 p.m.) People who cannot make it to one of the shirt sales can order them at BrownsvilleIDC@gmail.com.
Because people will be out and about traveling the roads of West Windsor, the Independence Day committee suggests that this might make a great weekend for yard sales around town. For those who wish, locations of self-organized yard sales will be included on a list on the IDC Facebook page if IDC is notified at BrownsvilleIDC@gmail.com.
And, for folks picking up tee shirts on Friday, July 3 in front of the firehouse, the Brownsville Butcher & Pantry will be holding its Friday Night Curbside Cookout from 4-8 p.m. next door with live music. Note that BB&P will be closed on July 4.
So, the Independence Day Celebration committee said, “Visit the IDC FB page often so you won’t miss the latest posts about the weekend and think ‘Red, White and Blue’ for a town-wide, non-gathering party for all to enjoy!”