Independence Day | The Beauty Around Us

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Fourth of July Festivities

Our hometown of Warren, PA throws a big party for the 4th of July holiday. Festivities began this year on Saturday, July 2. We didn’t participate in all of the 4th of July festivities. I will share with you the events in which we did participate.

We rode to Betts Park on the afternoon of July 3. We arrived there close to 2:00 pm and stayed for about an hour. We saw the Budweiser Clydesdales and the Birds of Prey exhibit.

Budweiser Clydesdales

The Clydesdale horses pulled the Budweiser wagon through the parking lot a few times.

The Tamarack Wildlife Center Birds of Prey exhibit included three owls and two hawks.

This is Jasper, an Eastern Screech-Owl. Jasper was found injured in the middle of a country road near Albion, PA and brought to the Center for medical care. With damage to one eye and ear, he was not able to be released and required surgical removal of an eye.

This is Willow, an Eastern Screech-Owl. Willow and her family of three owlets were rescued from a city park in Erie, PA when the tree limb holding their nest was cut down. Her story received coverage in local newspapers and television. The owlets survived with no permanent damage and were released on Presque Isle once grown; their mother, however, suffered a wing fracture that would prevent her return to the wild.

This is “Spirit” the white Red-tailed Hawk.
Spirit is not releasable due to injuries he suffered when caught in a leg hold trap.

This is Sophia, a Barred Owl. After being hit by a car, Sophia was brought to Tamarack to be treated for a broken wing. She healed well enough to have limited flight. However, because the break occurred near Sophia’s elbow, she is now unable to fully extend her wing, and cannot fly well enough to survive in the wild.

This is Alice, a Cooper’s Hawk.
Alice was found on a farm in Cochranton,
unable to fly because her wrist bones had been severely damaged.

We saw the Betts Park fireworks display from the grounds of the Warren Manor Nursing Home, with friends visiting a family member who is a patient there. The nursing home provided hot dogs, chips and pop for patients and their guests at a reasonable cost of $2.00 for all. Three types of cookies were passed around to everyone as well. I thought it quite nice that the nursing home does this for its patients.

On Independence Day we watched a parade and attended a picnic.

The parade was in downtown Warren and marked its 69th year. We watched the parade on Pennsylvania Avenue, at the southwest corner of Hickory Street Bridge, across from Kwik Fill. We watched the parade with our friends Paul, Debbie, Scott and Donna. Our daughter and granddaughters were IN the parade. Harper and June rode their tricycles in the parade. The girls rode behind the Lather Salon van, until they couldn’t ride any longer.

Harper and June tuckered out just before reaching the Hickory Street Bridge. They rode their tricycles a long, long way.

Harper and June rode rest of the way in the parade in the back of the Lather Salon van.

The parade began at 11:00 am and ended around 1:45 pm. The following slideshow contains about half of the photographs that I took, while watching the parade. The slideshow is about 8 1/2 minutes long. I hope that you find it enjoyable!

At 3:30 pm we went to our friends’ house for a picnic, which was attended by ten additional friends as well as family and other friends of our hosts. We sat around a campfire, enjoying each others’ company, as well as hot dogs and a variety of dishes brought to share. It was a comfortable and relaxing couple of hours and a great end to a wonderful 4th of July holiday.

Independence Day at Home

Our July 4th activities began shortly before 11:00 am, when we met my stepdaughter Stacey, our twin granddaughters, and Chris (Stacey’s mother) to watch Warren’s 4th of July parade. We met at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and North Carver Street, at the start of the parade.

Harper and June did not stay in those chairs for very long.

The parade lasted 2 hours, and I spent most of that time sitting on the ground, cross legged, with Harper on one knee and June on the other. Stacey, Chris and Bob stood for the duration of the parade.

See the man and boy who are wearing patriotic hats?

That man, his wife and son were already at this parade location, when we arrived. They moved their chairs over to allow room for Harper and June’s chairs. Harper and June pushed their chairs back because they didn’t want to sit at the front, alone, beside strangers. I sat down where the chairs had been. Harper and June liked that seating arrangement.

Brett Fallon

A highlight of Warren’s 4th of July parade is the candy that is tossed (and handed) to the children. The older children in this picture went out of their way to make sure Harper and June got candy.

Neither Harper nor June like loud noises. June is even more sensitive to loud noise. The fire trucks hit their sirens in the parade. You could count on June holding her hands to her ears, whenever that happened.

Harper and June liked the Zem Zem Hornets and their Go-Karts.

This was the first year Bob and I saw the parade with Harper and June. The girls liked the parade, and I am so happy that we were able to share the experience with them.

A Day of Riding

Our hometown held its Independence Day parade on Saturday, July 3. We didn’t attend this year’s parade, opting instead to go for a motorcycle ride. It was such a gorgeous day, too beautiful not to ride! I hoped to see a parade in one of the towns that we drove through, but we did not see one.

We left Warren at 9:00 AM. We rode to Erie, PA by way of Findley Lake, NY.

First Glimpse of Findley Lake from Shadyside Rd. (southern terminus)

Findley Lake
It was a picture-perfect day.

Bicycle with Baskets of Flowers

a Bottle Tree

Findley Lake Anchor at Northern End of Lake

According to a plaque found near the anchor, the schooner “Mauntenee” was shipwrecked in Lake Erie near Ripley, NY during a gale storm on October 20, 1905. In 1906 George Fox transported the one-ton anchor using horses and a log cart to his Findley Lake home on North Road. He hung the anchor from the schooner’s life boat davit in his front yard. The Dunlap family later purchased the home and anchor. The anchor and davit were moved to this site in 1993.

From Findley Lake we rode to Presque Isle Downs & Casino. Earlier in the week Bob received a brochure from the casino, which stated that he had earned $35.00 in free slot play. Bob could use $7.00 free slot play each week for the next 5 weeks. Sunday, July 4th, was the end of the first week. Bob played the $7 in free slot play and lost. At one point he ran his winnings up to $14. Bob used only the free slot play; he didn’t spend any of his own money. We were at the casino for less than 30 minutes.

From the casino we continued on into Erie. We ate lunch at Steak ‘n Shake. Bob ordered a Frisco Melt with fries and a chocolate shake. I ordered a cheeseburger with fries and a chocolate shake.

After lunch we rode through Erie to Route 5, which we followed alongside Lake Erie to Rt. 394. By the time we reached Westfield, NY we were ready for for a break. We sat in Moore Park on a bench under a shade tree. The farmers market had ended shortly before we arrived. We watched as vendors took down canopies and loaded them and unsold merchandise into their vehicles. A short while later we walked across street to another park — The Lincoln-Bedell Statue Park. I have photographed this park in the past; however, I was always in a moving vehicle when I did so. This was the first time I was able to photograph the park standing still.

The Lincoln-Bedell Statue Park in Westfield, NY

This statue depicts a meeting between President Lincoln and Grace Bedell. In October 1860, eleven-year-old Grace sent Abraham Lincoln a letter urging him to grow a beard to improve his appearance. President Lincoln later met Grace.

Westfield Clock

We’re supposed to be at a friend’s house for a picnic by 4:00 PM; it’s time to leave Westfield!

We arrived at our friend Don’s house in Kennedy, NY around 4:15 PM. The turnout was smaller than expected. Ten of us enjoyed a picnic dinner of deviled eggs, marinated chicken, pasta salad, potato salad, and various desserts. I took a few photographs, but only Jank was in the mood for having his photograph taken. Because the others didn’t care to have their pictures taken, I will share only Jank’s picture with you.

Dog with Firewood

This is Jank. Isn’t he a beautiful dog? Jank belongs to Don, who hosted the picnic.

We returned home from the picnic a little after 8:00 PM. By 8:30 PM we were back on the motorcycle, en route Saybrook, PA. Saybrook is a small community located a short distance east of Warren. The reason we went to Saybrook was to see fireworks.

Please click on image to enlarge

This fireworks display was put on for a neighborhood block party. It was an excellent show, and we enjoyed sharing the event with Bob’s daughter, Stacey, and her boyfriend Mike.

Mike and Stacey, after the fireworks display

All total, we rode approximately 175 miles.

Independence Day Fireworks

Bob and I attended our hometown’s Independence Day fireworks. We watched the display from a different spot than we have in the past. Usually we watch from the park where the fireworks are set off. We are closer to the fireworks when we watch them from the park. We watched the fireworks this year alongside the Allegheny River. We were farther away from the fireworks; however, the reflections of the fireworks on the water added to the pleasure of watching the display.

Fireworks

Fireworks

Fireworks

I guess the grand finale wasn’t excitement enough for Bob and me. The most exciting thing happened as we walked back to the motorcycle, which was parked near a bar. We found the motorcycle surrounded by five police vehicles. I’m not sure what the commotion was all about. Our motorcycle, though, was safe and sound!

Our Fourth of July

We spent our Fourth of July holiday pretty much the same as most other Americans — we watched a parade, shared a picnic with family and friends and watched a fireworks display.

Bob and I watched Warren’s annual Fourth of July parade. We arrived in downtown Warren around 10:15 AM and found a good spot to sit at the intersection of Hickory Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue. The parade started at 11:00 AM and was still going on at 1:40 PM, when we left for home.

The smell was divine when this BBQ float passed by!

Fireman

My first thought was how tiring it must be for this man to walk 2 miles. Then I realized it was a costume of a man made to look like he was carrying someone. What a GREAT costume!

The intersection of Hickory Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
provided a great vantage point for watching the parade.

Preston Scout House Alumni Band

I have a few Canadian friends who read my blog. I photographed the Preston Scout House Alumni Band for my Canadian friends. The band was EXCELLENT!
**Heather and Tom – I believe Cambridge is located very near to where you live.**
**Peggy – You were so correct when you wrote in your blog “we help the US celebrate the 4th of July!”**

The ever popular Zem Zem Hornets

“Bonehead”

A parade wouldn’t be complete without a clown. There were several clowns in this year’s parade.

The morning started out cloudy, breezy and cool. The clouds gave way to blue sky and bright, hot sunshine. We were in downtown Warren almost 4 hours, one hour before the parade and about 3 hours watching the parade. I put suntan lotion on my arms but didn’t think to put it on my face. OH Boy! Is my face (and lips!) ever sunburned and painful!

We spent a couple hours, after coming home from the parade, making final preparations for our Fourth of July picnic. We had a good turnout — 18 in all, counting Bob and me. Everyone seemed to have a good time. I know Bob and I enjoyed having everyone over to our house for a picnic.

Bob, grilling burgers

the food line

Later in the evening, after everyone had gone home, Bob went for a motorcycle ride. I was tired and felt a bit ill (too much sun?), so I stayed home. Bob ended up in Saybrook, near Sheffield, where he watched a fireworks display with his daughter, Stacey, and her boyfriend, Mike. Bob said the fireworks display, which was privately funded, was very good.

I hope that your Fourth of July was every bit as pleasant as ours.

It Happens Every Year

I took this photograph on July 3d in 2003. It happens every year, though. Chairs line the street days before the start of Warren’s annual 4th of July parade. I started noticing chairs lined up along Pennsylvania Avenue last week.