TV stars to shine in Naperville parade

Without an election coming up to stock Monday's Last Fling parade with campaigning politicians, organizers of Naperville's Labor Day festival turned to Hollywood.

One of television's most beloved sitcom mothers will perform the national anthem at the start of the parade, and a native daughter who made a name for herself on a reality TV series also will appear.

Florence Henderson, who portrayed Carol Brady on "The Brady Bunch," will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the parade Steps off at 10 a.m. Monday. She'll ride on the RainSoft vehicle during the parade.

Nicole D'Ambrosio, a final four contestant on Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" last year, will ride in the parade with the crew from Re/Max Realty, where her mother works.

Henderson will perform the national anthem at the reviewing stand at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Webster Street, said Trudi Remer, the Naperville Jaycees parade chairman.

"From what I'm aware of, this is the first time we've had a celebrity perform the national anthem," she said. "It came about because we knew she was going to be there and we were thinking if there was anything a little extra she could do."

Henderson is the national spokeswoman for Elk Grove Village-based RainSoft, a company that mass produces water treatment systems. Remer said the company's marketing director is a Naperville native and thought the parade would provide a "great promotional opportunity" for the company.

"I think having both of them in the parade will draw a little more people because I think everyone will be a little excited to see them," Remer said.

With the weather expected to cooperate, attendance at the parade will likely be heavy, organizers said.

Naperville has few laws regarding set-up along parade routes other than nothing can be left in streets or on someone's property, said Jennifer Runestad, a city spokeswoman.

"We've never had a problem with people setting up chairs or blankets in the past," she said. "People usually just bring chairs and blankets in the morning and camp out waiting for the parade to start."

The parade steps off from Naperville North High School and snakes through downtown, ending at Naperville Central High School.