Published: July 06, 2008 12:53 am            

All-Americana: Outwater Independence celebration is a picnic for all ages

By Bill Wolcott

wolcottb@gnnewspaper.com

The city celebrated an All-Americana Day to remember Saturday at Outwater Park.

Fathers and mothers wheeled toddlers to the fireworks stage, children made up their own games to play around the baseball diamond, seniors situated themselves on lawn chairs, Youth Department quartets sold Fourth of July glowing things, an anonymous gentleman was prepared to hand out thousands of glowing necklaces and the American Legion Band of the Tonawandas played on.

Across the way, cars filled up the North Park Middle School parking lot to “oooh and aaaah” at the fireworks that commemorate America’s Independence Day. Neighborhood families didn’t have to move from their yards to celebrate the nation’s birthday in their own way.

Tradition brought four-generations of connected families together again at the South Pavilion. Alan Riddick reserved the spot and more that 50 friends and family came to enjoy spare ribs, baby back ribs, rice and beans, broiled fish, crab legs, beef kabobs and chicken.

“It’s tradition. They come from all points,” said Curtis Snowden, who works for the Department of Corrections. “My family is grown up, but tradition-wise my family is all here.”

Mother Lucille Schyler attended, as did brother Walter Snowden. Vincent Smith served as the chief cook.

Lewie Cunningham, a coach of the Pirates football team, walked by, pulling a red wagon with four kids comfortably squeezed side-by-side. “We come every year, right in left field,” Cunningham said.

Son Dylan, 9, doesn’t ooh and ahh for the fireworks, but yells, “Pirates rule!”

Floyd and Comfort Caldwell of Cambia, who celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary Thursday, had some ice cream and enjoyed listening to the Legion Band music facing the stage.

Conductor William Weigert led the band in a variety of tunes and tenor Henry Pendleton sang a stirring medley of George M. Cohan songs.

Alyssa Arnow, Kelsi Kane, Olivia Ottaviano and Andy Szatkowski sold glow-in-the-dark stuff for the Lockport Department of Youth and Recreation. Prices ranged from $2 to $10. Their were swords that glow, necklaces and roses, glitter gold sticks, sunning glasses.

Girls tossed a football around, couples played Kan-Jam, boys and girls played kickball.

Trish and Rocky Boci come every year. This year, her brother Charles Herbert visited from Pennsylvania. “It’s a beautiful fireworks display and we’ve got the band to boot,” Trish said.

“It’s good time,” Jamie Kleindfelder, who was there at 10 a.m. “You come with friends, hang out and meet interesting people.”

WLVL was the sponsor for the fireworks and Heinrich Chevrolet raffled a 42-inch TV.

The band played “Happy Days Are Here Again.

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott

at 439-9222, ext. 6246.

        

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