REVERING REVOLUTION WITH REVELRY- INDEPENDENCE DAY IN SEA CLIFF 2017
RED, WHITE AND BLUE BIRTHDAY BASH STARS A BOISTEROUS BEVY OF BURGHERS BELLOWING AND BIKES BEDECKED IN A BACCHANALIA OF BEADS AND BANGLESJuly 5, 2017 -- As had been done at village greens, town squares and in public halls 241 years ago, residents of Sea Cliff and surrounding communities reveled in revolution this past Tuesday morning assembling at the John Burns Village Green for a public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Sponsored by the Sea Cliff Civic Association, and presided over by its President Ann DiPietro, the celebration of the nation's birthday was truly a community affair with villagers of all ages, some in Revolutionary War era garb and almost all in red white or blue, getting into the act. Mayor Ed Lieberman rang in Tuesday's proceedings with thirteen tolls of Sea Cliff's Liberty Bell harking back to Philadelphians being summoned by the ringing of their own bell of the same name to the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Then in a solemn procession led by 4th of July Committee member Carol Vogt and fifer Charlotte Marchioli and drummer Ruben Shonick, Sea Cliff Boy Scout Troop #43 presented the Colors, and the assemblage recited the pledge of allegiance before Cathy Virgilio's powerful and moving rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. With Dan DiPietro narrating, residents Fiona Hughes, Felicia Lebow, Eli Lebow, Ariella Votz, Aralina Voltz, and Julian Zuzzolo then performed the playlet "They Ventured Much," which told the stories of several of the courageous patriots who had risked life and treasure by having the courage to sign the Declaration of Independence. The celebration continued with a reading of Jefferson's epochal words pronouncing government's duty to protect the natural rights of its citizens and justifying the American exit from the British Union. John Canning delivered the preamble, while a cast of Sea Cliff villagers interspersed among the crowd, each with a healthy dose of indignation, recited assigned sections from the document's list of grievances, and the more than 400 patriots present proclaimed collectively the concluding paragraph asserting American Independence. And as the throng huzzah'd and blew noise makers with flag-waving fervor, Ms. DiPietro and Mr. Canning descended the library steps jigging with uninhibited independence and jubilation. Then, with the young Mr. Soshnick maintaining a steady beat on his snare in the lead, the revelers, some as pedestrians and others as pedalers, their bikes bedecked in a bacchanalia of beads and bangles, advanced in a pageant of patriotism up Sea Cliff Avenue to the plaza dedicated to our 16th President whose solemn address seven score and fourteen years ago proclaimed that this nation would have a new birth of freedom. There, the paraders enjoyed delicious baked goods generously donated by Rob Mansfield of Grassroots in Glen Head and refreshments by the Civic Association. Sea Cliffians have been observing the Fourth of July with a public reading of the Declaration of Independence for two decades - with the first held at Geohegan Park in 1996. Since 2002, the Sea Cliff Civic Association has organized the event, hosting it at the Village Green. This year's Civic Association Fourth of July Committee was made up of Christine Abbenda, Charlene Anci, Diane Biolsi, Rebecca Goodman, Karen Kessler, Jen O'Hare, and Carol Vogt. Photos by Joe Stroppel and Northwordnews Headline by the Great Alliteration Guru Dan DiPietro and Northwordnews BACK TO HOME PAGE |
CHILDREN'S LIBRARY HOSTS ANNUAL HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA AND BIKE DECORATING PARTIES
July 2, 2017 -- In celebration of the 241st anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Sea Cliff Children's Library hosted a Happy Birthday USA bash this past Monday, July 3. The annual event, held for more than 20 years and organized by Ann and Dan DiPietro, attracted scores of children, their parents, and other residents, who, led by Sea Cliff's Celtic Crooner Joe Hughes, along with his brother-in-law David Abbenda and Sea Cliff musician Roger Street Friedman, sang and clapped to nationalistic numbers and American standards including You're a Grand Ol' Flag, Yankee Doodle, and This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land. Joining the three strummers for the Star Spangled Banner were five more youthful Sea Cliff horn players -Thomas Reynolds, Patrick Reynolds, Seamus Hughes, Owen Jensen and Naveen Neveroski. The birthday party concluded in traditional American fashion with the presentation of candlelit cup cakes and an enthusiastic singing of "Happy Birthday."
.... And two days earlier on Saturday July 1, well over 100 children and parents turned out at the Children's Library to decorate bikes, scooters, strollers, and even a pooch in preparation for the parade that took place three days later.
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