BUDDIES ON FOURTH NEIGHBORS BECOME FRIENDS.Byline: Amy Raisin raisin, in botany and cooking raisin, dried fruit of certain varieties of grapevines bearing grapes with a high content of sugar and solid flesh. Although the fruit is sometimes artificially dehydrated, it is usually sun-dried. Staff Writer VALENCIA - On the first Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. since the Sept. 11 attacks, Cher Lane decided to bring some of the parade-style patriotism she cherished as a Midwestern girl to her 4-year-old Valencia neighborhood. ``I'm from Omaha, Nebraska “Omaha” redirects here. For other uses, see Omaha (disambiguation). Omaha is the largest city in the State of Nebraska, United States. It is the county seat of Douglas County.GR6 As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 390,007. . I wanted to get that spirit here,'' said the songwriter and mother. ``We have people from all different backgrounds here and many, because of work and busy lives, don't even know each other.'' That changed Thursday, as strollers, scooters, tricycles and bikes adorned with red, white and blue ribbons formed a parade through the well- manicured neighborhood of Mayfair in Valencia. While Lane swathed herself in a Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty great symbolic structure in New York harbor. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : America Statue of Liberty perhaps the most famous monument to independence. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : Freedom costume, an estimated 70 residents clutched tambourines, horns and maracas for the morning festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. , followed by sloppy joe sloppy joe or sloppy Joe n. A bun filled or covered with ground beef cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. Noun 1. Sloppy Joe - ground beef (not a patty) cooked in a spicy sauce and served on a bun sandwiches, potato salad and plenty of cold drinks. Long Beach resident Ana Gonzalez, 19, spent Wednesday night at Lane's home and basked in the small-town atmosphere. ``The difference here is that I can go outside and feel safe,'' Gonzalez said. ``It's really cute. They're all meeting each other, shaking hands. In general, people want to know their neighbors more now.'' Yinka Oshodi, 16, born in London to Nigerian parents, has lived in the Mayfair development for nearly three years and said she feels grateful for the life she lives in America. ``After the events of Sept. 11, it's a great time for people to celebrate (independence) even more,'' she said. ``And it's not just about American independence, but about other immigrants who found independence here as well.'' As the day wore on, neighbors participated in contests like a tug-of-war, a water balloon A water balloon, or water bomb is a simple small latex rubber balloon filled with water. The user may then throw the water filled balloon at a desired target. They are commonly used by children in carrying out practical jokes or water balloon fights. toss and a three-legged race three-leg·ged race n. A race in which contestants run in pairs with their near legs tied together. three-legged race Noun a race in which pairs of competitors run with their adjacent legs tied together . Prizes for the winners included beach pails and shovels adorned with the American flag and plastic piccolos. ``I did this all the time on the Fourth of July growing up,'' Lane said. ``We have all kinds of people here - artists, musicians, bankers. The parade is nice, but it's about getting to know the neighbors. That's absolutely what's important - family, neighbors and acceptance.'' CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Cher Lane, in a Statue of Liberty costume, leads member of the Mayfair Homeowners Association in a July 4 parade. (2) Neighbors meet for the first time Thursday at a parade and picnic in Valencia's Mayfair area. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
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