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RFH 2010, News

July Fourth Weekend Shaping Up

Tue, Jun 22, 2010

July Fourth Weekend Shaping Up

For many folks in the Greater Hamilton Metroplex and beyond, the July Fourth weekend finds the village at its finest.

There is music, food, a great parade, fireworks and even a busy schedule of events on July 3.

For the second year, HCS will bring home some folks who made the school a richer, more exciting place. This year they range from an NBA star to a federal judge, two great coaches and great softball star. The Hall of Honor induction will again be held in the school auditorium.

Saturday, July 3

HCS holds its second annual induction ceremony for the latest class being installed in its Hall of Honor. There ceremony, with begins at 1:30 p.m., will including adding six people to the hall. They are:

  • Adonal Foyle, who lead Hamilton and Colgate to basketball greatness before heading to the NBA;
  • Tom Blackford, who coached basketball for 20 years and softball for 15;
  • Gary Rider, former HCS teacher who coached the golf team for 32 years;
  • Nicki Swan Dolin, a softball star in high school, college and as a professional, she now is a real estate agent in Cazenovia;
  • Lisa Margaret Smith, an all around student at HCS, she is now a federal judge and law school professor;
  • Mason Jones, who went on to be a long term French horn player with the Philadelphia Orchestra;

The celebration actually begins with a chicken BBQ at the school at noon.

Family fun starts at 3 p.m. and goes until 8 p.m. on the village green. Amusements include children games, bouncy houses, and prizes.  Hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy, snow cones and popcorn will be available.

After that, there is fun for bigger kids with the Colgate Inn's annual block party, which gets under way at 5 p.m. As always, there will be live music, dancing and summer foods like great food including hot dogs, hamburgers, speidies, clams and salt potatoes.

Bands performing this year are: On the Sly, Same Blood Folk and for the sixth year New Day from 8:15- p.m. to 11:30 p.m.. 

Block Party attendance after 8 p.m. is limited to those 21 and over with a valid ID.

Sunday, July 4

Not surprisingly, the Fourth is a busy day in the village. The schedule includes:

8 a.m. - Vendor and Crafters registration begins

9 a.m. - Vendors and Crafters open on the village green

10 a.m. to noon – Parade Registration at the Mid-York Airpark, Rte. 12B

11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – Pre-Parade Entertainment “Rags to Riches” at the Pavilion on the Village Green

12:30a.m. – Parade Step-Off

12:45a.m. – Pre-Parade Show at the Judges’ Stand with K.C. Stewart and Robin Schade. Miriam Stewart will be singing the National Anthem.

1 p.m. – Parade arrives in heart of the village

Noon to 4 p.m. – Games for kids, including an inflatable slide, bounce house, obstacle course and more, First Baptist Church lawn

2 to 4 p.m. – Entertainment featuring Putter Cox and the Sunday Tunes at the Pavilion on the Village Green

3 p.m. – Concert at the First Baptist Church

3 p.m. - Town Ball Game at the Colgate Rugby Field

Nightfall -- Fireworks by Colgate University above Taylor Lake

After the parade, there will be a musical birthday celebration for America at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church.

The program will feature American songs, both popular and patriotic. Sarah Hasegawa of Hamilton and her father, opera singer John Davies of DeWitt, will lead the singing. Church organist Christopher Warren will accompany, along with percussionist Alan Schult.

The event is free and open to the public.

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