Brandon's Fourth Of July Parade Starts At Night, Ends In A Downpour(July 4, 2010) - # - MyPaperNow.com

Your Stories. Your Life.

"Local News With Heart" / Join Us In The Journey ©

Email: linda.MyPaperNow@yahoo.com

The Brandon Fourth of July Parade featured a new time and a new route in its 53rd year. The 2010 parade is run by the Community Roundtable, formerly known as the Presdient's Roundtable.

gallery pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 > >>

< 1 of 258 >

MORE TEXT TO COME! CHECK BACK AGAIN.

Brian Brothers of the Brandon Cowboys chills out before the start of the Brandon Fourth of July Parade. A tradition dating more than 50 years, the parade for the first time in recent memory was held at night and on a Sunday. (In years past, when the holiday fell on a Sunday, the parade would be held on the Saturday before the fourth.) The 2010 parade also featured a new route.

The parade each year is sponsored by the Community Roundtable, formerly known as the President's Roundtable and more officially known as the Roundtable Charities of Greater Brandon Inc.

The non-profit groups meets the second Wednesday of the month at the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association in Brandon. The group serves as an umbrella organization for charities and businesses. The Roundtable marked the July 4 event as the 53rd annual Fourth of July parade.

The parade each year features the newly named honorary mayor of Brandon. The race is won each year by the candidate who raises the most money for charity in the month of June and in the days and hours leading up to the parade.

The 2010 race drew three candidates -- Sherrie Ngo; Lisa Rodriguez, pictured; and Rob Silver -- who collectively raised more than $54,000. Rodriguez ran and won the race in support of the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association, which her husband, Sandy, helped found.

Center Place shares space with the Brandon Regional Library in the facility named posthumously in Rodriguez' husband's memory. The Sandy Rodriguez Center is at 619 Vonderburg Drive in Brandon.

Center Place officials were quick to spread the word of their winning candidate in the charity race for honorary mayor of Brandon. Here is the text of the group's press release:

"Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association, Inc. is proud to announce our candidate, Lisa Bullard Rodriguez, won the Honorary Mayor's Race for Brandon.

"The Community Roundtable of Brandon announced Lisa as the mayor just prior to the start of Brandon Fourth of July Parade, at the law offices of B. Lee Elam.

"Lisa and her committee raised more than $31,000 for the children's arts programs at Center Place. As honorary mayor, Lisa will serve as a good-will ambassador and promote our community throughout the coming year. She would like to thank everyone who helped her in this campaign."

The Community Roundtable each year at the parade showcases the newly named honorary mayor of Brandon along with the winner of that year's "Father of the Year" contest.

The winning father earns the title based on an essay written by his child. This year's winner, thanks to his daughter, Holly, is Mark Browder.

Holly Browder, an incoming fifth-grader at Boyette Springs Elementary School, says she wrote her winning essay as a school assignment.

"It's very exciting to be here," Mark Browder says. "I'm very proud of her."

What makes her father the best dad?

"A lot of things," Holly Browder says. "He's nice, he plays with me, and stuff like that."

Each year the newly named Alice B. Tompkins Community Servce award winner rides in the Brandon Fourth of July Parade. The recipient of the 2010 award is Susan Saunders.

Paul Tucker, as Uncle Sam, with "Ronald McDonald" and Don Johnson, with the Buffalo Soldiers. The tri0 share a moment during the lineup for the 2010 Brandon Fourth of July Parade.

From left, Rebecca Jordan, 4; Nolan Wittman, 5; Spencer Wittman, 8; and Andrew Jordan.

Parade participants, from left, Sarah Wilson, 10'; Rebecca Jordan, 4; Nolan Wittman, 5; Spencer Wittman, 8; Andrew Jordan, 8; Travis Jordan; and Logan Wilson, 11. Travis Jordan is an assistant scout master.

MORE TEXT TO COME! CHECK BACK AGAIN.

Brian Brothers of the Brandon Cowboys chills out before the start of the Brandon Fourth of July Parade. A tradition dating more than 50 years, the parade for the first time in recent memory was held at night and on a Sunday. (In years past, when the holiday fell on a Sunday, the parade would be held on the Saturday before the fourth.) The 2010 parade also featured a new route.

Nikon D40 |

More details: exif |

Original size: 2941x2000 |

Current: 800x544 |

Share photo: links, forums, blogs |

gallery pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 > >>

< 1 of 258 >

Comments