The parade was still mustering on the shore side of Day Island on Saturday morning, but already residents on the Narrows side were in their folding chairs, waiting. They had decorated their homes with bunting, balloons, and historic photos and artifacts for Day Island’s Centennial celebration.

It had been 100 years since Eugene Church incorporated the Day Island Co. It had been decades since islanders organized a parade. This one had been months in the making,

This, said Marcia Tucker, was a chance to spark the island spirit that longtime residents said had faded a bit. Tucker and her lifelong friends, including Barrie Smith, wore paper badges with childhood photos and the motto “Born. Raised. Residing.”

Time was, they said, everyone knew everyone. No one minded if you cut through a yard to walk on the beach.

Time was, said Dr. David Shalin, two kids could decide to run away and their mother would help them pack a wagon with breakfast cereal and blankets. They would set out for the beach, collecting friends, unaware that everyone on the island would be keeping track of them all night.

The island has not drifted far, but Tucker, Smith and Dave Burroughs, who manages the community club, wanted to nudge it back.

So they turned a truck into a Willits canoe float, invited a color guard, a University Place firetruck, the Olympia Highlanders Pipe and Drum band, the Cascade Community Band, Sharon Kennedy and her ponies and cart, and everyone on the island with a cool car, baby stroller, bike or the stamina for a round-the-island procession.

While the color guard and firefighters stood ready, islanders sorted out who should ride in convertibles and who’d get a seat in Ben and Nurhan Barcus’ midnight-blue 1950 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith. Tucker, invited into the front seat, was delighted. Two residents had decided on the red Mustang behind the Rolls, though it had only one passenger seat.

The parade took off, but the Mustang did not move. Barcus returned, in reverse, to see if the woman perched on the Mustang’s tiny rear seat wished a jaunt in the Rolls.

No offense, but no way.

The Rolls rolled off. The Mustang caught up and left the pipers and the rest of the parade blocks behind.

It was perfect.

Ponies and pipers and kids proceeded at a comfortable pace, accepting the waves of everyone who was not in the parade. By the time the rear contingent rounded the last curve, all the people from the front of the parade were waiting to wave to them.

You could see the neighborhood spark in their eyes, ignited by rediscovered island fun.

Meanwhile, on Tacoma’s East Side, two cooperating groups ran two coordinated events to build a better community than had ever existed there.

At Portland Avenue Community Center, Laura Rodriguez had gathered donations from the individuals, businesses, Tacoma schools and World Vision to fill 1,200 back-to-school backpacks. This was no mere giveaway. This was a free Health and Safety Carnival, with a free shuttle bus to the McKinley Street Fair.

There, in the afternoon, people could listen to Norma Owens and Her Larger Than Life Band rock the Safeway stage. They could chat with roving clowns, buy Hawaiian shave ice, stop in at the zoo and Health Department and animal welfare displays or browse craft booths.

The high point, the Animalocity Pet Parade, drew cats in strollers, dogs in costumes and Debra Christy’s bearded dragon lizard, Shilo, in a dress.

In this neighborhood, ruled by gangs not long ago, bunches of pals roamed the fair. Parents chatted with police. Animal Control officers tried to find the owner of an errant Jack Russell terrier.

Together, they were building a community stronger and fresher than it had ever been.

It was perfect.

How to help kids

There’s still plenty of time to donate school supplies to the World Vision project at Portland Avenue Community Center. Call Laura Rodriguez at 253-383-1528.