Hot dogs, watermelon, potato salad and fireworks, oh my! Believe it or not this weekend marks the 4th of July. The United States celebrates Independence Day to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th from Great Britain. Commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, baseball and speeches, the 4th also marks the unofficial halfway point of the summer season.
The national holiday is marked by decorating with the patriotic flag colors of red, white and blue with most observances or ceremonies taking place outdoors. Families often celebrated the 4th of July by picnicking or camping or visiting relatives.
Although the country's major displays are held in New York on the East River, in Chicago on Lake Michigan, in San Diego over Mission Bay, in Boston over the Charles River, in St. Louis on the Mississippi River, on the National Mall in Washington, DC, and at the Disney World theme park in Orlando, FL, the city of Crossville does a pretty magical display itself. Those fireworks are set for Saturday night, around 9-ish, at Centennial Park. Make sure you get there early so you can find a good parking spot for the annual display.
Crossville's Main Street will also be the site for another Independence Day celebration... the annual Daughters of the American Revolution Parade. It is set for 10 a.m. Children and those visiting in the area are asked to celebrate the 4th of July by participating in the parade. Billed as the "Children's Independence Day Parade," the annual event is sponsored by the Crab Orchard Chapter of the DAR. It is designed to promote patriotism and the love of country in the children.
Kids up to 12 are encouraged to wear red, white and blue clothing or other patriotic attire and to wave American flags during the parade. The parade will start at the Palace Theatre and proceed to the Depot. Lineup begins at 9:30. The children may either ride a bike, walk or ride their patriotically decorated non-motorized vehicles. They may also be pulled in wagons by parents or grandparents.
Already committed to participate are the Young Marines of Crossville. If you need additional information, call DAR Children's Parade chairman Sharon Howe at 459-2320 or Chapter Regent Martha Ballard at 707-0638.
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If you haven't purchased tickets to the musical comedy Hairspray at the Cumberland County Playhouse, I recommend you do so. I, along with some family and friends, went opening night to the blockbuster and enjoyed every single bit of it... as did the rest of the crowd. Centering around the 1960s Civil Rights movement, the show features several locals, resident actors, a few former Playhouse actors like Britt Hancock and some new faces as well.
I always love Britt Hancock (Corny Collins), Daniel Black (Wilbur Turnblad), Jason Ross (Edna Turnblad) and Weslie Webster (Velma Von Tussle) in any role they play. These actors are truly "triple threats" — they act, they sing and they dance all the way into the audience's hearts.
The role of Tracy Turnblad is played by a North Carolina resident. Sara Scronce is a graduate of Catawba College with a BA in theater arts and a minor in dance. She is delightful as the vivacious Baltimorian who pushes the envelope to change the way her weight and her black friends are perceived.
I also enjoyed Leila Nelson, who really busts her acting chops in this show. Her role calls for her to act like she can't dance, when she is, in fact, a very accomplished dancer. Leila, as Penny Pingleton, possesses a strong voice and delights the audience with her vocal prowess.
And speaking of vocal abilities... Lar'Juanette Williams raised the vocal bar with her renditions of "Big, Blonde and Beautiful" and "I Know Where I've Been." The audience was applauding before she ever sang the last verse.
Trust me, readers, her vocals alone are worth the ticket price. If you don't want to take my word for it, then consider this: she played the role of Effie White in the Broadway tour of Dreamgirls. Her third CD is due out soon.
And of course, the ensemble cast, as always, is amazing. I am almost hesitant to mention the names of my former student, as I always hate to leave someone out, but kudos to Jensen Crain, Kristin Galloway, Colt Irvin, Sara Nelson, Austin Price and Chaz Sanders who, along with the rest of the ensemble, were energetic, talented and fun!
Take a break from the heat and book some tickets to Hairspray. You may end up dancing in the aisles like lots of the audience did on opening night!
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If you are traveling over the 4th of July, please remember to exercise caution on the roadways, don't drink and drive and observe the speed limits. Tennessee Highway Patrol Officers will be out in full force as this is a very heavily traveled holiday. Also, if you are on the waterways, stay tuned to the weather, make sure you have enough life vests and again, please do not drink and drive!
Lifestyles
AROUND THE TOWN: Enjoy a safe Fourth of July
- Lifestyles
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Widows Sons support TAD
The Widows Sons Masonic Riding Association, Dry Bones Chapter, held a benefit motorcycle ride May 19 to benefit the Teens Against Drugs (TAD) Center in Crossville.
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New Corvette Club shares love for flair, design
If you were reaching maturity during the 1950s through '60s, you were probably either a Chevy guy or a Ford guy. While Chevy guys had reason to admire Ford Thunderbirds and Mustangs, the Chevy sports car enthusiasts have had an ace-in-the hole with the advent of the first production Corvette in 1953 — only six months after it debuted as a GM prototype.
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Arts festival coming in September
Mark on your calendar the dates of September 14-15 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for the Plateau Arts Festival at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, 451 Lakeview Drive (off Peavine) in Fairfield Glade.
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PLEASANT HILL RAMBLINGS: Award-winning artist shares talent with community
Not everyone has the pleasure of living next door to a “real live artist” – not just a Sunday painter as many of us are, but an award-winning career artist who has had 20 solo exhibitions, been accepted into various juried shows and garnered numerous awards.
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2012 Tennessee Senior Chess Tournament winners honored
The chess tournament was a great success, with a total of 18 players representing Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky. They took home many prizes, plaques and cash playing open section.
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PLATEAU GARDENING: Photographing plants and blossoms
I keep a monthly photographic plant journal. With a digital camera, photography enthusiasts like myself can take lots of pictures at little cost. Not surprised plants are my favorite photo subjects, are you?
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Celebrating Tennessee state parks
Come celebrate National Trails Day and the 75th anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, Saturday, June 2.
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GIVING BACK: Take a look at state of our waste
The county recently submitted its solid waste report to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. In the past year, the county collected and landfilled 52,462 tons of waste. Another 6,067 tons of materials were collected and recycled. A total of 58,829 tons of waste were collected by the county.
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The River WILD!
The Big South Fork of the Cumberland River winds its way through the 125,000 acres of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area before flowing into the Cumberland River and Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. It’s a free-flowing river, with no dams to control release of the water, but the scenery and the magnificent rock formations make it a favorite of paddling enthusiasts who watch the weather to see if they can get out and explore areas that are hard to reach by foot.
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Farmer's Market opens for business June 2
The Cumberland County Farmer’s Market will officially open the growing season as it has every year since 1978. This year’s “opening” will be Saturday, June 2, at the traditional location on Livingston Rd., next to the fairgrounds. Selling will begin early (6:30 a.m. or so), although some vendors may set up a few hours later in order to provide the freshest vegetables picked just that morning. There is usually a good selection until well after noon.
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