FOURTH OF JULY EVENTS

TUBAC Presidio State Historic Park

Join the fun in Tubac for old-fashioned family fun on July 4. The Tubac Presidio State Historic Park will be the site of free games for the kids from 10 a.m. to noon. Children will enjoy a variety of old-fashioned games such as cakewalks, sack races, rubber duck ring toss, hula hoops, face painting and more. Children’s games are being organized by the Tubac Chamber of Commerce with help from a variety of local non-profit organizations. Games and prizes will be provided free of charge to the children. Park admission will be free during game hours. Many of Tubac’s fine art galleries, artist studios and shops will be open all day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Village restaurants will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner.

AMADO Territory Inn Old Fashioned Fourth of July

Come celebrate a good old-fashioned July 4th with the folks at Amado Territory Ranch. The staff will host the patriotic celebration at the outdoor stage and picnic area known as the Oasis. Entertainment includes live music with patriotic favorites, a little country, a few Western numbers, American standards and some Broadway tunes. The singers include Joey Lessa and Regina Ford, Dana Willens, Tamara Kahrimanis, also on piano; Claudia Andrews and Anthony “Dr. A” Enos on sax.The event promises to be fun for the whole family with food at good old-fashioned prices. Hamburgers, hot dogs, homemade ice cream, soft drinks and more—all value priced when a dollar actually bought you something to eat and you got change. Bring your own bottle if you wish to imbibe. The cost is $10 per person for admission and the show. The picnic goodies will be sold so cheaply you’ll want seconds and still have extra cash to take home.

Doors open at 5 p.m. to get an early start on the grub. Entertainment begins at 6 p.m. and continues until 8 p.m. Food will be available until 9 p.m. so you won’t leave hungry. For reservations or info, call (520) 398-8684. Admission at the door, too. The Amado Territory Inn and Oasis is at 3001 E. Frontage Road, Amado at Arivaca Exit No. 48. Visit www.amado-territory-inn.com for more information.

TUBAC GOLF RESORT Fireworks

The Tubac Golf Resort will host a fireworks display in the evening. Gates open at 4 p.m. and fireworks begin at 8:45 p.m. Parking is $7 per car. Food vendors, kids’ face painting, DJ music and a huge desert sky fireworks display are all part of the event. Bring a blanket or chair. No coolers please. The resort is offering a VIP package: $35 adults/$15 kids to include a ranch style barbecue buffet, special seating to view fireworks and parking. For VIP reservations, call 520-398-3545. The Tubac Golf Resort is on the East Frontage Road between Exits 40 and 34.

RANCHO SAHUARITA and KGVY radio present a July Fourth extravaganza on Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. at Rancho Sahuarita Clubhouse. This patriotic fun-filled evening will feature a variety of activities including a flag-raising ceremony, car show, kid’s zone with a jumping castle and carnival games, music from KGVY 1080 AM, a live performance by The Collectors, and more. The free event will culminate with a fireworks display on the huge outdoor movie screen. Food vendors will be available for dining and refreshments. For more info, call (520) 207-7730.

AVALON Organic Gardens, Farm & Ranch, 2074 Pendleton Drive, Tumac‘cori, will celebrate Global Interdependence Day Sunday from 5 p.m. until dark. This event includes live music by Van’sGuard, Israfel Awakened, and other Global Change Music artists, as well as fun children’s activities and a performance by Global Change Theater Company. This family event will feature refreshments and entertainment for all ages to enjoy. Adults $5; $2.50 for kids 6-11; 5 & under free. Proceeds to benefit teen and young adult rehabilitation programs and Avalon Gardens internships of Global Community Communications Alliance. For more information and directions call (520) 398-2542 or visit www.GlobalChangeMusic.org.

DESERT DIAMOND CASINO On Friday, July 3, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Desert Diamond Casino will hold an Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration in its main courtyard. Enjoy live music for listening and dancing, plus hot dogs, burgers, and beverages (including bar beverages) available for sale. Small prizes and giveaways will be distributed to some lucky attendees.

Best of all, just after the sun sets, there will be a fabulous display of live fireworks.

Children are welcome, but anyone under the age of 21 must be accompanied by an adult on the Desert Diamond Casino premises at Interstate 19 and Pima Mine Road. For more information, go online to www.desertdiamondcasino.com or call (520) 294-7777.

TRIVIA

Truth is often stranger than fiction. One of the most interesting bits of trivia about July 4th surrounds John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Both signers of the Declaration of Independence, Adams and Jefferson both died July 4, 1826, on the 50th anniversary of the historic signing.

According to the Massachusetts Historical Society, after an early friendship which influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence, Adams and Jefferson became political rivals. Following the contentious presidential election of 1800, they kept their interactions to a minimum for more than a decade. In January 1812, however, they resumed their relationship.

Between then and April 1826, less than three months before their deaths, they engaged in one of the most distinguished correspondences in American history or letters. Introspective, reflective, and remarkably informed, these men tested each other’s understanding of the previous half century of the nation’s political, economic, and social development at the same time they shared credit as Founding Fathers for much of what America had become.

Adams’ final words were (supposedly), “Thomas Jefferson survives.”

He was wrong. Jefferson had died just hours earlier at his home, Monticello.

On July 4, 1831, five years to the day after Adams and Jefferson died, James Monroe, the fifth U.S. president, passed away. So, three presidents have died on July 4th.

One more presidential fact about the Fourth of July. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, was born in Vermont on July 4, 1872.

Some July 4th statistics, thanks to the U.S. Census Bureau:

Fourth of July cookouts:

More than 1 in 4

The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home to 17.6 million market hogs and pigs on March 1, 2008. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

6.8 billion pounds

Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2007. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for about one-sixth of the nation’s total production. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

6

Number of states in which the revenue from broiler chickens was $1 billion or greater between December 2006 and November 2007. There is a good chance that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

About 4 in 10

The odds that your side dish of baked beans originated from North Dakota, which produced 42 percent of the nation’s dry, edible beans in 2007. Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California, Georgia and New York together accounted for 60 percent of the sweet corn produced nationally in 2007.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Please pass the potato salad

Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at July 4th barbecues. More than half (52 percent) of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington state in 2007. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Fireworks

$207 million

The value of fireworks imported from China in 2007, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($217 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $14.9 million in 2007, with Japan purchasing more than any other country ($3.8 million). Source: Foreign Trade Statistics

We have patriots living among us, so let’s remember them, too, on July 4th. Green Valley’s U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Joseph Edward Strifler (Ret) recently received a long-overdue medal in recognition of his bravery and selfless sacrifice to the State of Missouri and the USA for his service during the Korean War. Strifler is a member of the “Chosin Few,” an elite band of the survivors. On his left hand, he wears a stainless steel ring with a light blue stone that only the “Chosin Few” are eligible to wear.

Strifler, 78, not only received his medal, he also was presented with a medallion and certificate for his service in Korea (1950-53). He has numerous medals to his credit, including the Presidential Unit Citation with three stars and the Nobel Peace Prize he and other members of the U.N. Peacekeeping Forces received in 1988.

Jeremiah W. Nixon, governor of Missouri, personally wrote to thank Strifler on behalf of the people of Missouri.

“You have the gratitude of your fellow Missourians and an entire nation for what you did, and you can rightly take pride in your service,” Nixon said.

Stephen L. Damer, brigadier general Missouri National Guard, also wrote to thank Strifler, stating,” The heroic sacrifices made by you and other veterans have left an indelible imprint on the history of the world that will forever remain a proud legacy for all those who will serve this nation in future years.”

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740