PLAINVILLE — Complaints about candy tossing at last year's Memorial Day Parade has organizers asking participants for a gentler distribution this time around.

"We had more than a dozen complaints last year from people hit in the head by candy," parade committee Chair Scott Saunders said. "Nobody was badly hurt. We decided to tell people only to throw nicely underhand this year. We'll see how things go.

"We may end up banning candy tossing," he said. "We don't want anyone getting hit in the eye with a lollipop stick. Or a child running out and getting hit by a float."

Little Leaguers are being asked by league officials to skip the practice altogether to avoid anyone getting hit in the noggin by an errant fast-ball candy.

"Parade officials asked that candies only be tossed gently underhand. But it's very difficult to get the youngest ones, the 3- and 4-year-olds, to do that," Plainville Little League Player Agent Holli Southall said. "So we decided not to allow any candy tossing. It's just easier."

Several Plainville other parade groups plan to distribute candy along the route Monday, Saunders said, but they have been asked to aim for the curb, not the people.

Candy tossing at parades has been an issue in communities nationwide. In Connecticut, Durham, Old Saybrook, Torrington and West Hartford are some of the municipalities that have prohibited throwing candies and anything else by parade participants to the crowds.

"Because of safety concerns, those marching or riding in the Memorial Day Parade are reminded to not throw candies or novelties to anyone on either side of the parade route," according to Old Saybrook parade regulations.

Some communities nationwide allow distribution but only if it is handed directly to onlookers.

Essex Junction in northern Vermont posted rules that "candy distribution of candy is allowed, but must be HANDED to people on the curbside. There will be no throwing of candy. Division Marshalls and Parade Staff will be monitoring, if you are seen throwing candy, you will be asked to stop dispensing."

In Plainville, Southall emailed Plainville Little League parents a note Wednesday informing them of the decision to end the long-standing practice of candy distribution in the parade. The group usually has 60 to 80 children in the parade and many in the group bring candies bought by their families to toss to the bystanders along the parade route.

"The kids are upset about it," Southall said."But it's the smart thing to do. We tell them not to whip candy at people but it's really hard to get the youngest ones not to throw overhand."

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