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2010 Friend of the Festival

Cary Singer

Sycamore Police Department’s Lt. Cary Singer has been chosen to be the recipient of this year’s Friend of the Festival.  Having worked for the City of Sycamore in the Police Department, he has a strong interest in making sure city-wide events such as the Pumpkin Festival are well-organized and run smoothly.  Cary became the police department’s first liaison with the Pumpkin Festival committee nearly 10 years ago and has continued to voluntarily serve on the committee, holding many positions.

 Some of his notable accomplishments have been lengthening the parade route to include the entire downtown area, using the Kishwaukee Amateur Radio group to manage the parade, utilizing local Marines to assist in parking and staging the nearly 100 buses that bring participants, establishing parade marshals to professionalize the parade, and perhaps most importantly, establishing a written protocol for the many volunteers to follow.

 One of Cary’s most challenging and satisfying accomplishments as a Pumpkin Fest Committee volunteer was to split the staging areas into two separate locations, with bands staging east of Somonauk Road while the rest of the parade participants staging west of Somonauk.  The idea was to keep band members close to their buses for loading and unloading purposes, which in turn lessened some of the congestion as participants came to the end of the parade route.  Cary remembered playing the tuba and marching in several parades himself when he was a young boy, and as he saw the Pumpkin Fest parade growing, he saw young band members walking miles before even beginning the parade, then walking several more miles in order to return to their buses.  Cary knew there had to be a way to lessen their fatigue.  Thus began his volunteering to serve on the committee.

 Cary has been a resident of Sycamore for the past 27 years and has been married to his lovely wife, Kay, for 28 years.  He is very proud of his three grown children and one granddaughter, all living in Sycamore as well.  Cary and his family love Sycamore and its community spirit.  Pumpkin Fest is a very special time for Sycamore, bringing in thousands of visitors.  Cary believes that it is our job as a community to welcome our visitors, ensuring they have a great time so that they will come again.

Send mail to   Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Committee                       or email sycamorejerry@comcast.net with questions or comments about this web site.

                            P.O. Box 262, Sycamore, IL 60178

Last modified: 05/23/10