Café America Delivers Food, Drink to Parade Early Birds

Tired of lugging coolers and oversized iced coffees to the parade at the crack of dawn to get a spot? Well this year, thanks to a creative new Fourth of July fundraiser, there's no need to over pack for the parade. 

The Fourth of July Committee and members of the Downtown Bristol Merchant's Association (DBMA) have created new pre-parade program called, "Café America," the early morning canteen service fundraiser, for parade early birds. Café America not only has your coffee, water and pastries waiting for you starting at 5 a.m., but volunteers will bring your order to you so you don't even have to get out of your lawn chair.

According to Bob Squatrito, Fourth of July Committee member, and co-chairman of Café America, the idea came from the DBMA last year as a way to not only please the parade goers, but also to raise money for the Fourth of July festivities.

"We felt if we could go around and bring people coffee and soda, and use the money raised for the next Fourth of July parade, it would be a win-win for all," Squatrito said. 

To get to everyone on the parade route, Café America will utilize two antique vehicles, a 1949 Seagrave fire truck and a 1950 Chevy pickup truck, donated for the day by Peter Reed, a member of the RI Antique Fire Apparatus Society from Portsmouth. One vehicle will start at the beginning of the parade route and the other will start at the end, passing each other in the middle. Each truck will cover the route twice while student volunteers from Mt. Hope High School will be dressed in bright yellow shirts and will walk near the trucks with shopping carts of food and beverages to deliver to people who are waiting on the parade. 

"The trucks are perfect because we needed something flamboyant," Squatrito said. "We want people to say, 'Hey, what is this coming down the street?'"

While Squatrito and co-chairman Steve Ricci don't expect the fundraiser to bring in millions for next year's Fourth of July parade, they do hope that it will become a tradition that brings supplemental funds to the patriotic festivities. 

"Nothing we have will be more than two dollars, so it's affordable," Squatrito said. "We're hoping to make three to five thousand dollars to put toward next year's parade."

According to Squatrito, with the help of the Lobster Pot and Leo's Ristorante , which will be used as two pick up points for more supplies, they expect to brew 90 gallons of coffee, have 1,200 pieces of pastry and more than 1,000 cans of soda, iced tea and water.

Antique Pickup Trucks Are A Big Hit With Classic Car Collectors ...

It is not uncommon to see fleets of classic cars being driven to classic auto shows on any given day in the US. From restoration to auctions, classic cars are a big business. Collectors have always held well maintained classic cars in high esteem, but they usually purchased only the most popular standard sized vehicles. Today, classic and antique pickup trucks are gaining a lot of popularity. Unlike many of the new super-sized pickup trucks you will find on the market now, antique pickup trucks were a lot smaller, almost to the point of being dainty. Most of the pickup truck bed covers you will find on these antique vehicles are just a little different from the variety you will find on today’s pickup trucks, too.

While collectors are rediscovering their love for classic pickup trucks, mechanics and sellers are finding that these vehicles can be very lucrative. When compared to the costs associated with fixing up a standard sized classic vehicle, pickup trucks are a far better buy. The parts are cheaper and the mechanical aspects of restoring antique pickup trucks make it easier for beginners to get involved in the industry. At a recent auction, a classic 1955 Chevrolet 3100 pickup truck went for an astounding $157,000. Years ago, classic pickup trucks were much more valuable to their owners than they were on the open market. The fact is that all older model cars have been increasing in value lately. Even cars that are just 10 years old have a value that is approximately $3,000 more than they were less than five years ago. With more classic car enthusiasts looking to purchase antique pickup trucks there will likely be an influx of new mechanics fresh out of auto school scouring their local junkyards in search of the perfect older model pickup truck to fix up for a handsome profit.

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