The Last Fireworks?

Posted on July 4, 2023 by vanbraman

Last night I looked to see where the fireworks display would be this year. Last year they changed the location because of safety concerns.

Fire Works - 4th of July - Most Liked Posts - Holiday FireworksThe fireworks, while I have lived here, have always been at the same location near a large park and a high school. Last year it was moved to another of the high schools in town. This year they cited safety concerns at the new location and decided to have a Drone show instead.

Fireworks - Apricot Fiesta - Patterson, California - Celebration - BlogiversaryLast year you had to pay an entry fee to park in the school parking lot, and there was no other parking close by.

Fireworks, four shells, purple, orange, Best Fireworks, Tracy, California The Drone show will be at the old location with seating in the football stadium at a charge. However, the show will be visible from the park.

Tracy, California, Fireworks, Fourth of July, Independence DayLast year I did walk to where I could see the fireworks and had planned on doing the same this year.

This year I have decided to watch a fireworks show on TV and then go out for a walk and enjoy the illegal fireworks in the neighborhood.

I may have seen the last fireworks show last year, as the article in the paper seemed to suggest that a drone show is the way of the future.

Steven

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Reading Trophy

Posted on July 3, 2023 by vanbraman

Have you ever won a trophy for reading?

I have had one setting on my desk since I was in Grade School.

Back in 1978 we had a reading program in Ottumwa, Iowa.

Orville J. Amosson, Reading award, Ottumwa Iowa, reading, trophyWe would read books and write a report about them and then win awards for different levels of books read.

Orville J. Amosson, Reading award, Ottumwa Iowa, reading, trophyYou can see that I have ribbons for 50 books and there is a 25 book one underneath it.

Orville J. Amosson, Reading award, Ottumwa Iowa, reading, trophyThe award was the Orville J. Amosson Reading Award. The award was signed by one of my favorite grade school teachers.

Orville J. Amosson, Reading award, Ottumwa Iowa, reading, trophyI have had this trophy sitting on my desk for so many years, and did not know who the award was named after. Perhaps I knew at the time, but I have never researched who Amosson was. Tonight I did some research and found out the Orville J. Amosson had spent 35 years as a teacher and administrator in Ottumwa and had just retired in 1977. This program must have been set up to celebrate his retirement. I received the trophy for being one of the top readers in my grade. I remember the ceremony as it was held in the recently redeveloped downtown.

Orville J. Amosson, Reading award, Ottumwa Iowa, reading, trophyI also found out that after his retirement Amosson moved to Minnesota and lived there until his passing in 2004 at the age of 92. I am glad to know more about one of the programs that spurred my love of reading when I was young.

I don’t know if the program continued as we moved away from Ottumwa in the summer of 1978. However, seeing the trophy every day brings back memories of how important reading is to young kids.

Steven

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