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SUNNY Temp: 86 °F Wind: WNW at 9 mph Thursday, July 24, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 5, 2003 Francie Ghidinelli sambas her way down Siskiyou Boulevard in Ashland Friday with other members of Samba Like It Hot. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Ashland’s annual Fourth of July parade brings out celebrants of all stripes By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune ASHLAND — For David Hoefer, the Ashland Fourth of July parade epitomizes a democratic society. "It’s everything in America you could hope for, or wish for, all thrown together," said the 59-year-old Hoefer, who has been driving from his home in Sacramento, Calif., for the parade for about 10 years. "It’s why we want other people to have workable democracies," he said. "This is what you get with democracy. Everybody gets a chance to be who they are." Sunscreen-slathered spectators lined both sides of downtown in lawn chairs two, three and four rows deep for Ashland’s notorious Fourth of July parade Friday. Advertisement From "blondes" in fuchsia hoop dresses on in-line skates and quarreling Dachshunds on leashes to Auntie Malia’s Hula Class and "B and B’s celebrating INN- dependence," the procession marched, cartwheeled and boogied from Triangle Park to the Plaza. Participants young and old filled the air with bagpipe music, bubbles and buckets of water. But the crowd pleasers, hands down, were the ice cream sandwiches tossed from ice cream carts. Chris Cotton, sporting pants with stars on one leg and stripes on the other, rode his bike along the street waving at familiar faces. "They don’t get any more patriotic than I am," said Cotton. He said the day for him is not just about a celebration of America but also about a celebration of Ashland. "It’s all about friends and visiting friends," said the Ashland native, who said he’s attended the parade nearly each of his 53 years. The parade was preceded by a flyover by an Oregon Air Guard jet fighter, which was met with mixed reactions. "My first impression is that I hate war planes and I’m sorry the war plane is here," said LlyssaDeveney, 64, of Ashland. She said she lives nearby and decided to walk down to the parade anyway, and she’s glad she did. "It’s a good day and it’s a high energy," she said. Jason Farrell had a different reaction. "I like the jets," said Jason, 3. For his parents, John and Alla Farrell, and their three children, the day is about family, friends and fun. The Farrells, all decked out in stars-and-stripes baseball caps, said that after the parade they would take part in a neighborhood cookout. In a town where patriotism is red, white, blue, chartreuse and purple, the Fourth of July parade ends with the crowd dancing along with the last entry, a flamboyant, rhythmic samba group. "There’s so much to be thankful for," said Hoefer. "Thank God for independence." Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times