July 4th in Valley Village means being endowed by your Creator with the inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of . members fortified their neighbors for the day’s community with fluffy flapjacks, sizzling crispy bacon and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Shari Bates, hostess with the mostest, coordinated the breakfast and as the church’s director of Christian education, she was out front and center promoting Faith Presbyterian’s summer programs and vacation bible school.
New to the party this year was Turning Pages, a foundation that gives local students the opportunity to improve their academics and pursue leadership roles in community service. The foundation, whose volunteers were giving out donated books, plans to add Faith Presbyterian Church as a community partner.
After breakfast, residents took off for Colfax Elementary to join the annual Independence Day , sponsored by the Valley Village Homeowners Association. Parade organizer Jerry Fagan told me they never know who’s going to show up and there are always surprises.
I was surprised that Los Angeles City Council member called me by my name, California assembly member was giving out red, white and blue bead necklaces and gravel-voiced TV star Jeremy Ratchford (Cold Case) was a devoted daddy driving his wife and babies in a vintage automobile.
Patch columnist rode in the back of a convertible with Ms. Senior Georgia/Carolina. My long-time-no-see friends Stacey and , along with their daughter Zoe and her friend, rolled out in their family motorcycle and sidecar.
The float full of mermaids and the Apollo 11 homage were both impressive homemade expressions crafted by local residents. So was an ecology float with an octopus on the grille and a hay-filled flatbed entreating us to save the wild mustangs. This celebration sure was of the neighbors, by the neighbors and for the neighbors (when is Gettysburg Address Day?)
