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| Aroostook Republican photo/ With temperatures around 85 degrees, 11-year-old Shawn Libby, of Presque Isle, shed his shirt to stay cool while watching the Fourth of July parade. |
By Natalie De La Garza
Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — Deviating from the normal Trafton Lake venue, officials with the Limestone Chamber of Commerce not only consolidated a couple Fourth of July festivities, everything from food to funnel cakes was kept downtown — and the community response has been thumb’s up.
“It’s all been positive,” said Chamber President Michelle Albert when asked what she’s heard from the community.
From what she’s heard, the community was very receptive to the convenience of holding festivities downtown.
“They loved the fact that music was playing through, from 4-6 p.m. and from 7-11 p.m., they enjoyed being able to sit and chat with the food vendors all in one location, and they liked the convenience of the beer garden within all that,” Albert explained.
Attending the downtown festivities at the Albert Michaud Park following the parade, Limestone resident Becky West said that she thought the new venue was pretty cool.
“I’m excited to see how it works,” she said, adding that the new location offered more entertainment options for the kids.
While there were new activities to keep the kids entertained, Amy MacAlister of Holden, Mass. was among over a dozen folks who took a seat at the Rotary Park after the parade to sit and listen to the Southern Victoria Pipe and Drum Band of New Brunswick.
“I love it here,” she said. “I think it’s a beautiful town, the people are nice and I love coming up here.”
This was MacAlister’s second or third time attending Limestone’s Fourth of July celebration, and she said that she was enjoying the new all-downtown Fourth of July.
With steady pedestrian traffic on Main Street and plenty happy attendees vocalizing their approval, the new all-downtown Fourth of July venue is well on its way to becoming a tradition, and Albert couldn’t have been more pleased with the participation.
“I’m very thankful for the people who came forth to organize and put all of this together, because it can not get done with only one or two people,” she said. “I’ve talked to department heads, business owners — they all loved it,” Albert added, mentioning that it’s one of the best experiences she’s dealt with regarding Fourth of July planning.
With an officially successful Fourth of July behind them, chamber members and volunteers will meet on Tuesday, July 16 to talk about what worked, what didn’t, and what can be done better in the future — because planning for next year’s Fourth starts next month.
“We pretty much start planning in August because of the fact that we have to fundraise,” Albert explained.
Anyone with constructive criticism and everyone who wants to lend a hand with next year’s event is encouraged to attend the July 16 meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Office.
Suggestions and comments can also be made by sending a personal message to the Chamber’s Facebook page, and written correspondence can be sent to their mailing address at 93 Main Street in Limestone, ME 04750.
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| Aroostook Republican photo/ Natalie De La Garza Nick Whitehead is shown here taking a spin on the G-Force Gyro, one of many new features this year at Limestone’s all-downtown Fourth of July celebration. |
Aroostook Republican photo/ Natalie De La Garza Little Elena Colsden, 2 and a half, took a minute after the parade to sort through her new cards given to her by the clowns passing through. Elena was visiting her grandparents, who live in Limestone. |
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| Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie De La Garza With Limestone’s new downtown park came a new Fourth of July attraction — shown here are members of the Southern Victoria Pipe and Drum Band performing after the parade; among the small crowd watching was, at left center, Amy MacAlister of Holden, Mass. |
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| Contributed photo by Danielle Michaud Limestone’s queens rode through the annual Fourth of July Parade on the traditional float of the Limestone Rotary Club. They are, from left, front row: Little Miss Limestone 2013 Aimee Eivers and Pre-Teen Miss Limestone 2013 Kennedy Bencivenga. Second row, Teen Miss Limestone Sirrea Deschenes and Junior Miss Limestone 2013 Emily Michaud. In back is Miss Limestone 2013 Jordan Hopkins. |
