It
’s a pleasure to live in a town small enough to keep an eye on
things. At the moment we are keeping our eye on Independence Day,
Inc., the hard-working group of folks who produce two days of
patriotic Fourth of July events for Morgan Hill.
It’s a pleasure to live in a town small enough to keep an eye on things. At the moment we are keeping our eye on Independence Day, Inc., the hard-working group of folks who produce two days of patriotic Fourth of July events for Morgan Hill.
Make no mistake – this is a 100 percent volunteer effort that takes seven or eight months to plan and an Olympic effort by four dozen committee members.
The City of Morgan Hill helps out by co-sponsoring the event, providing some funds, policing and a bit of grease to the wheels of permit securing.
And, of course, numbers of city employees have found their way into the ranks of IDI workers. But, primarily, without IDI, July 4 as we know it, would not happen.
Starting right off, the first rate parade is 109 years old this year – as far as anybody knows – and parade organizers Bob and Maureen Hunt have ridden herd over the thing for quite a while now. Every year it gets bigger and better with more inventive floats, cuter kids, goats and dogs and more bands. Bands are critical for a good parade. Highlights this year are Grand Marshal George Lewis, 104, and Pietro Roselli, mayor of San Casciano, Morgan Hill’s Italian sister city. (10 a.m. July 4, downtown on Monterey, West Main, Peak and West Dunne avenues).
July Fourth around here actually begins on July Third, when Karen Crane’s well-rehearsed gaggle of schoolchildren burst into patriotic song at the Britton gym (6-7 p.m., July 3).
The Patriotic Sing is followed by an Old-Fashioned Street Dance downtown that is not to be missed, especially for the newly arrived. Everybody else already knows what a special event it is where families, people on dates, singles and groups all gather to dine al fresco, dance and hang out.
The street dance is a bit like Piccadilly Circus in London: stay long enough and you’ll meet everybody you ever knew. The Dadz will entertain on stage near Second Street at Monterey Road. (7-10:30 p.m. Monterey Road between Main and Dunne avenues). Dennis DalPoggetto is to blame for all this well-organized fun.
At 8 a.m. the morning of July 4, the gun goes off so runners and walkers can take off to follow the 5k course. Starting in front of P.A. Walsh School, 350 West Main Ave., the pack jostles, hops and sprints to earn prizes and the honor of being first, though the first July 4th foot race was run in 1886. Costumes are encouraged for the amusement of the crowd. (Day registration packets at 6:30 a.m.). A pancake breakfast is served from 6:30-10 a.m at the school. Charles Weston is the 2003 race/walk honcho.
Dawn Marie Breyer has taken over running the Family Festival in the Park, a daylong loll at Community Park where live bands perform all day, kids of all ages can enjoy a variety of rides and activities and everybody can eat, drink and be merry until the fireworks begin. (11a.m.-7 p.m. Community Park).
Fireworks can’t begin until it’s dark enough to dazzle so the crowd will be entertained by The Usual Suspects (that’s a live band), the Patriotic Singers will return and, at 9:15 or so, the show begins. Tim Gall has organized the $10,000 worth of pyrotechnic display.
Shouldn’t forget Richard Peterson, either. He puts on the golf tournament – a much needed fund raiser – the Friday before the Fourth. Besides IDI President Bruce Tichinin and Vice-President Rich Gamboa, there are several dozen other IDI committee members unnamed but not unthanked.
It takes a lot of work to present these events to the lucky people of Morgan Hill. When you see somebody on the Third or Fourth wearing the special stripy IDI Committee member polo shirt, be sure to thank them. They are doing this for you.
Official IDI T-shirts are available at all events, at BookSmart and around town. Be sure to pick up a free IDI program booklet with stories and pictures from past events – some way past. And money is still needed to help defray some of the $120,000 it takes to produce these events. Send some. And call 779-3387 to volunteer to help. It’s not too late.
Details are on the website: mhidi.com
