Downtown Lake City came alive with fun, food and patriotism with the biggest Fourth of July celebration ever.
One highlight was the debut of the city’s new interactive fountain in Olustee Park.
Emily Bickel, 11, and friend Maggie Hughes, 12, jumped around the fountain and giggled as the cool waters splashed up from the motion sensors.
“I moved to Orlando, but I love Lake City and I love coming back,” Hughes said. “I wish I didn’t have to move.”
Nearby, Daniel Dorosheff watched his 1 1/2-year-old son Spencer play in the fountain’s streams.
“I love the new fountain, I have been here for about four years, but this is my first time out to the Fourth of July festivities,” he said. “I like the engineering of the fountain; it’s like a little oasis in the park.”
The Independence Day festivities officially started around 5:30 p.m. with the kickoff of the annual Block Party, sponsored by First Baptist Church, at Millennium Park.
Several local churches gave away or sold refreshments – including summer must-haves hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and soda.
Lake Citian Mary Sheldon stretched out on a patch of grass by Lake DeSoto with her pet, P.D. (Puppy Dog).
“I enjoy it all, watching the people, hearing the music and watching the fireworks when the sun goes down,” she said.
First Baptist Church volunteer Denise Jordan gave arm bands to visitors so that they could get free popcorn, cotton candy and play on the children’s attractions.
“We are proud to serve as sponsor of the Block Party,” she said. “To me, today represents freedom.”
The church hosted an inflatable slide for the kids and gave tickets for a raffle and door prizes.
Karissa Varnum, 12, and Mary Beth Norris, 12, chased each other on one inflatable playground.
Ronald Jones, 6, squealed with delight as he slid down an inflatable slide and did a mini-flip before flopping off and getting back in line for another turn.
John Davis Sr., a First Baptist Church volunteer, smiled at the children as he scooped up fresh popcorn and gave it to visitors passing by.
“I enjoy seeing people so happy,” he said. “I am happy to share my love for Jesus with others.”
Around another part of the lake, Cindy Adams, a New Life Christian Fellowship of Lake City, Inc., volunteer, passed out ice-cold bottled water and hot dogs to children and adults alike.
The church’s band played several lively tunes – including some in Spanish – from a balcony at Mercy Medical Urgent Care.
Crowds gathered beneath the balcony to catch T-shirts, hats and other prizes thrown down from band members.
A few yards away, Elizabeth Mills and her son, Ben, surveyed their selection of free goodies, including balloons, a hat and necklace.
“I was born in Lake City, and it is always home to me,” Mills said. “My father was in the Army and two uncles as well, so I am extremely patriotic and try to instill that patriotism in my son.”
http://www.lakecityreporter.com/articles/2005/07/05/news/top_story/news01.prt
–Ashley Cisneros
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Ashley Cisneros is a co-founder of Chatter Buzz Media, an Orlando Internet marketing firm that helps companies and organizations engage with their target markets through inbound marketing via the Internet. Chatter Buzz Media, which won the Social Madness competition for the Orlando small business market, is a full-service digital marketing firm specializing in website design, search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing and content creation. Prior to founding Chatter Buzz, Ashley worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, technical writer, marketing manager, public relations practitioner and freelance journalist. To see Ashley’s content writing, visit www.ashleycisneros.com. You can also reach Ashley on her Google profile.
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