The west Columbia community of Longfellow will remember one of its longtime neighborhood volunteers this year in its 38th annual Fourth of July parade.

Parade organizers decided to give their annual Good Neighbor Award to the late Juanita Robinson, who died April 12 of complications from cancer at the age of 68. The posthumous award recognizes Robinson's years of community volunteerism and activism, parade planner Robert Russell said.

The recipient of the good neighbor award usually rides in a float toward the front of the parade. However, this year to honor Robinson the organizers decided to drive a float without any passengers followed by a car carrying members of Robinson's family, Russell said.

Russell described Robinson as an active part of the community who participated in the parade each year as a member of the Harper's Choice Village Board.

"Juanita always attended past parades as a village board activist," he said.

The Longfellow parade is one of three parades in Howard County Friday, July 4, including the annual parades in the village of River Hill and the Allview community.

The River Hill parade begins at 9:30 a.m. and travels along Great Star Drive from Guilford Road to Signal Bell Lane. The Allview parade starts at noon at Atholton Park and travels along Donleigh, Westleigh and Greenleigh drives before returning to the park.

The Longfellow parade, which will begin at 10 a.m., will begin at a park situated between Longfellow Elementary School and the Longfellow pool. It will travel along the loop that connects Hesperus Drive and Eliots Oak Road.

Russell added that visitors should avoid parking on Hesperus Drive and Eliots Oak and place their vehicles on side streets.

Following the parade, the Longfellow community will hold its 38th annual softball game at about 12:15 p.m. on a ball field off of Rivendell Lane behind Harper's Choice Middle School, Russell said.

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