Picnic, entertainment set for July 4 Picnic, entertainment set for July 4 (June 17, 2005)

Seventh annual Freedom celebration planned for downtown park

The seventh annual Fourth of July public celebration will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at Lions' Wayside Park on Monday, July 4. Called "Celebrating Freedom and its Evolution since the Revolution," the hometown event is the creation of volunteer producer W. Ron Sutton.

"Once the county fair stopped its Fourth of July fireworks show, I realized that we did not have a local celebration of our nation's beginning," Sutton said. "We think this holiday should be about more than fireworks and barbecues, and we plan it for midday so that people can celebrate patriotism and still have time for other events in the evening."

The program will feature the Pleasanton Community Concert Band, under the direction of Bob Williams, with a tribute narrated by Ward Belding, dressed as Uncle Sam. There will also be a patriotic sing-along.

Pleasanton's retiring Poet Laureate, Kirk Ridgeway, has created an original recitation for the event, with bagpiper Lance Ohnmeiss also playing. American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6298, with assistance from Boy Scout Troop #908, will provide a color guard.

Blankets or lawn chairs are encouraged. The Pleasanton Lions Club will give away hand-held American flags to the first 288 to arrive, and also will be selling a hot dog and a drink for $1. -Jeb Bing

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