July 4th 2010

Photos from within the 4th of July Parade and Celebration in Lakewood, Ohio. ©2010

(click photo to enlarge)

  • Dan Morgan joins in with LEAF, as we get ready to go.
  • Last...
  • Well at least we have back-up, and more along the way. Hopefully!
  • Even the spectators were light at the begining on Edgewater.
  • Being behind LEAF for the third straight year, gives us many great shots of people holding up some form of vegetable. It is really marvelous the fun we have at the back of the parade!
  • Turning onto Kenneth gives no hint of what is to follow on Lake Road.
  • LPL Board member Scott Kermode gets up to say, "My parade days are over, but you have fun!"
  • The Frantz family waves and wishes us luck.
  • Director of Community Relations Mellissa Garrett say "Good luck in this idea."
  • And then as you turn onto Lake Rd. ir gets crazy very quickly. In a funky fun Americana sort of way.
  • What is fun, as we are there for your enjoyment, the spectators always have fun showing off for us. It is this that gave us the idea for "Turn The Parade Inside Out!"
  • The Lojes join in.
  • Everyone loves a parade.
  • Some more than others.
  • People started moving under shade.
  • I mean come on. When was the last time you saw a kid this happy to get a vegetable instead of candy at a parade. Heck, anywhere! LEAF knows how to party and parade!
  • Jim Anderson and wife wave while the Blums watch on. Krista should have a new poetry book out soon.
  • Ivor!
  • The Crino clan, with Chris Trapp and Scott Hoesner in the back.
  • A solid crowd from one end to the other.
  • The Hilty clan!
  • Ryan Patrick Demro gets a hug from Rhonda Loje.
  • Council President Kevin Butler announces each group, while Mary Hagan is always there to help. Carol Rossen on the left and Councilwoman Mary Louise Madigan wave hello.
  • A quick look back shows the "Resident Parade" growing!
  • Ahhh people selling cold water, pop and Kiwanis hot dogs!
  • Near the end, people still hamming it up for the camera!
  • Bob and Gary Rice, play the LO Resident Parade home.
  • The Giorgis wave hello as we turn into Lakewood Park.
  • A look back shows a larger than expected crowd for the first "LO Turn The Parade Inside Out - Resident Parade!"
  • Ahhh in the park, kids love to sit and climb on the car.
  • LOCAL crew finds shade and collapses.
  • The Page clan, always nice to see, head for the shade and Observers.
  • Newlyweds Savannah and Paul Dugan. They got married on the 3rd!
  • Page and Kompier kids pose with the Isetta.
  • Jim takes one of me checking out John Viglianco
  • On the way home Kathy Frantz waves me down, and Vince jumps in and takes the kids for a ride.
  • After a pretty quick couple laps, Vince pulls in...
  • ...and lets the kids out. Proving as BMW advertised, "The 3 passenger car!"
  • Vince now being a pro at this stuff shows his friend. Well the shifter is on the left, and it is upside down and backwards, but the brake is near the same place. Ohhhh an do not forget to take it to 1,500 rpm before letting the clutch out. Oh, there is no tach, but you know what 1,500 rpm sounds like right?
  • While laps continue the Lojes come up on their scooters.
  • And yes, I now know what 1,500rpm sound like. Stupid fun and on a great day to celebrate friends, fun, being an American.
  • The Lakewood Project rocks the crowd.
  • Then the crowd really started to build.
  • This is at 9:15pm it doubled in the last hour!
  • And then the fireworks!
  • Leaving we saw this person with two burning torches at the entrantce of the park, kind of scary! Thank you City of Lakewood, especially Melissa Garrett and crew for their dedication. I would also like to thank LOCAL (Lakewood Observer Community Advisory League) for their help and dedication to this project. If this is any sign, your help and direction will change this project forever! Thank you all for putting th inhibitions away, and getting up and joining the parade, and thanks to LOBC, Nadhal Edeah, Gary and Bob Rice, and EVERYONE that turned out to celebrate the 4th!

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