Ojai Ready For Old-Fashioned Fourth

By Sondra Murphy
Bring family, friends, appetites and portable chairs. Ojai Independence Day 2007 offers something for everyone.
Beginning Tuesday, events start with the St. Thomas Aquinas Teens to World Youth Day barbecue at the Libbey Park fountain. It runs from 4 to 7 p.m. A patriotic show honoring Wendy Hilgers, parade grand marshal, starts at 7 p.m. The free concert features Joe Boccali and the Ojai Band, the Diz Mullen Swing Band, and singers Eileen Bertsch and Marcus Kettles. The Ojai Art Center is sponsoring the Best Decorated Chair contest and judging takes place along the parade route Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Teen Challenge is offering a pancake breakfast from 6 to 10 a.m. at Chaparral Auditorium. The Youth Freedom Run sponsored by the Ojai Rotary Club and Ojai Unified School District begins registration at 8:45 a.m. at Libbey Park. Participants receive flags and ribbons. An optional $1 donation is requested.
The Independence Day parade down Ojai Avenue begins at 10 a.m. This is the final year to see the award-winning kindergarten kazoo band. Meiners Oaks teacher Jim France retired this year after 27 years with the district and sending hundreds of kazoo players out into the world. The parade awards ceremony will be held at the Libbey Park gazebo at 1:30 p.m.
The Fourth of July concert and fireworks show will take place at Nordhoff High School stadium, presented by the Ojai Independence Day Committee. Gates open at 5 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 503’s flag ceremony is at 5:45 p.m. and the concert by Studebaker begins at 6 p.m. The fireworks start popping at 9:15 p.m. Presale admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children and family passes cost $15 for two adults and children under 18. Presale tickets may be purchased at the Ojai Recreation Department, Oak View Liquor, Attitude Adjustment at the “Y” or Tottenham Court in the Arcade. Adults pay $10 and children $5 at the gate. Family passes will not be sold at the gate. For more ticket information or phone orders, call 646-4295 or e-mail ojai4th@ojai.net. Please see inserted parade lineup and details on festivities.

Event Schedule
July 3
4 to 7 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas barbecue dinner at Libbey Park fountain
7 p.m., Concert and show honoring parade grand marshal Wendy Hilgers
8 p.m., Best Decorated Chair Contest judging sponsored by Ojai Art Center

July 4
6 to 10 a.m., Teen Challenge pancake breakfast at Chaparral Auditorium
8:45 a.m., Youth Freedom Run at Libbey Park
10 a.m., Independence Day parade follows Ojai Avenue from Country Club Drive to Park Road
1:30 p.m., Parade awards at Libbey Park gazebo
5:45 to 10 p.m., Fourth of July concert and fireworks show, Nordhoff High School stadium. Gates open at 5 p.m.; concert begins at 6 p.m.; fireworks start at 9:15 p.m.