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Reynoldsburg 4th of July activities
(by Tara Figurski, staff writer - June 25, 2012)
The city of Reynoldsburg will honor two long-standing community members during during the city’s annual Fourth of July celebration.
Chuck Cochrane, president of the Reynoldsburg Community Association, said the parade grand marshals for this year’s Fourth of July parade are Dick and Mary Hudson, long-time residents who have been very active in the community.
Mary Hudson currently serves as the president of the Reynoldsburg Chamber of Commerce and as director of the Reynoldsburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“She has given a lot back to the community, both her and Dick,” Cochrane said. “She is being recognized.”
Other organizations that have been honored are the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Reynoldsburg Historical Society.
“We like to recognize them for all of their efforts,” Cochrane said.
Hudson has been the executive director of the Reynoldsburg Chamber of Commerce for 22 years since the bed tax was enacted in 1989 and provided the funding to create a convention and visitors bureau. After successfully chairing a levy campaign for the Reynoldsburg City Schools, she applied for the job along with 14 other people.
“It has been more than a job, it has been a passion,” Hudson said. “The job is basically to put heads in beds and bring people in for our hotels.”
Hudson was named the 2012 chairman of the Reynoldsburg Chamber of Commerce. She has been a chamber member for 20 years and on the board for the last three years.
Dick Hudson has served on the city’s beautification commission, the civil Service Commission and currently serves on the Design Review Commission. The two serve as chairmen of the community clean up.
“We do a lot of stuff together,” she said. “He’s retired, so he’s my No. 1 volunteer. It has really been fun for both of us to be able to do that.”
Parks and Recreation Director Jason Shamblin said the annual Fourth of July parade is organized by the Reynoldsburg Community Association. The parade starts at 4 p.m. at Main Street and Rosehill Drive and runs to Davidson Drive.
Cochrane said the parade usually has between 55 and 60 participants, including service groups, the Reynoldsburg police department and fire departments, the Reynoldsburg High School Marching band and cheerleaders, and a number of businesses.
Residents enjoy seeing young people from the community in the parade, Cochrane said.
“Anytime you have an opportunity to see young people it excites people,” he said.
The parade also includes a bicycle decorating contest. Any youth interested in participating in the contest can meet in the parking lot of Cooper State Bank an hour before the parade kicks off. Usually about 20 to 30 kids participate in the contest, he said.
“They help lead the parade after the police officers and fire department get through,” Cochrane said. “There are medals and prizes for that.”
Shamblin said after the parade, there will be games and activities at Civic Park and concessions provided by the Reynoldsburg Lions and the Alliance Soccer program.
“We will have inflatables for the kids and other carnival type games,” he said.
The entrance to Civic Park will be closed between 9:30 to 9:45 p.m. with fireworks set off around 10 p.m.
The highlight of the Fourth of July festivities is the community spirit and pride, Shamblin said.
“The highlight I think is just the community spirit and pride,” he said. “It is great to see all the groups out for Fourth of July … the different entries for the youth sports organizations, the elected officials.”
Shamblin encourages Reynoldsburg residents to secure their animals before the fireworks begin. If animals are frightened of loud noises they should be kept inside.
“We always try to remind people to think about their animals as well,” he said.
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