A great day for a celebration

Article Photos

It looks like Alpena had yet another successful Fourth of July celebration on Friday.

Thousands of people turned out to watch the annual Alpena Fourth of July parade, some arriving as early as 8 a.m. to reserve their prime viewing spots along Chisholm Street and Second Avenue.

Alpena native Jessica Kaiser said after a three-year hiatus from town she's glad to be back watching the parade.

"It's fun to come home and relive some nostalgia and share it with family and friends," she said.

First-year parade participant Clairise Grzenkowicz, owner of the Maple Wood Tavern for 67 years, was excited to part of the action instead of standing on the sidelines.

"It's just wonderful. I think it's the greatest year yet for the parade," she said. "It's (Maple Wood Tavern's) first year in the parade. We've had a great time."

The parade, which began at the Alpena County Fairgrounds, proceeded down Chisholm, to Second Avenue and ended at the Maritime Festival on Fletcher Street near the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Once the parade came to a close its patrons and participants alike ventured to the Maritime Festival. This year the free festival boasted live entertainment, boat tours, games and activities, food and face painting.

"We've had an excellent turn out this year; every year it continues to grow," said Mary Beth Stuzman, development manager of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. "We are fortunate to be a part of Alpena's Fourth of July activities. They truly do complement each other."

Meanwhile, on the other side of town people were sitting knee deep in sand attempting to earn a blue ribbon at the annual Starlite Beach Sandcastle Competition.

Carole Amlotte and her group had been trudging away since early in the morning on their "hot dog" dachshund sculpture.

"We've been here since 9 a.m.," she said. "We picked this design cause everyone loves hot dogs in general and of course my dog Shaq, who is a dachshund inspired us as well."

Although junior competitor Riley Grant took second place to Max Gruber's colorful Pac-man sand illustration, he stood proud next to his towering mound.

"This is my third time in the sandcastle competition," Grant said. "I just like to make huge mounds cause you can't do it anywhere else. Plus a lot of people watch you, which is pretty cool."

The structures ranged from traditional castles with moats to a replica of the Mormon Tabernacle.

In the end the first place adult prize went to a patriotic design inspired by the upcoming Summer Olympics. Arianna Shupert, Mike Townshed, Alex Scull, Kyle Bordeau, Sean McLain, Andy Lamp, Trey Garant and Brett Waligora created the winning masterpiece, which included three lanes of swimmers doing the breath-stroke.

"It feels good to win. We've been trying for a couple of years now," Shupert said. "We knew people would be excited about the Olympics so we did the swim scene."

Ashley Teffer can be reached via e-mail at ateffer@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689.