Fireworks Dazzle Ramona Sky on Fourth of July

By Ruth Lepper

The sky over Ramona was bright with color — reds,blues, greens, purples and yellows — every color of the spectrum that burst out of fireworks being shot into the air on Fourth of July.

An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 people turned out to watch the display this year and enjoy the many games and food vendors set up on the ballfields at Olive Peirce Middle School. The free event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ramona.

“People just want to come out and celebrate the Fourth,” said Julie Walker, treasurer of the club's Fourth of July committee. “We started small and the first year we had a good turnout of people, probably a couple of thousand, but from then on, it’s been in the neighborhood of 4,000 and up.”

It was 13 years ago that the Rotary Club started the Fourth of July festivities. At that time, the display of fireworks cost $5,000. Now it's up to $13,500 for Ramona's share in a network of displays shown simultaneously around the county in conjunction with San Diego Fireworks and KYXY radio station. The radio station compiled 20 minutes of uninterrupted patriotic music to accompany the fireworks bursting into the sky. KYXY also contributes $3,500 to each of the sites, Walker said.

“Our show actually costs more than $13,500,” she said.

“We get an ‘A’ show for the price of a ‘B’ show by being in the network.”

The Rotary Club starts working on the annual event in March. The club depends on donations as well as its own sources to meet its budget of about $17,000. Additional expenses are needed for renting equipment,such as sound and lighting, generators and portable toilets, among others. Local contributions come in with the

“I Sponsored a Spark” program, where people could have their name posted on a colorful paper “spark” for donations of$1, $5 or $10. The sparks could been seen around town at business locations. Walker said the biggest site for gathering donations for the sparks was the Village Country Store in Country Estates, which brought in more than $500. In all, the sparks program raised nearly $2,000.

There also were major sponsors that contributed $500 or more. They include: Hawthorne Rent-It Services; Ransom Pump & Supply; Patriotic Propane; Daniels Liquor; BJ's Rentals; One-Stop Equipment Rental; Ramona Disposal; European Portable Sanitation; R.A.Burch Construction Company; Southwest Landscape; and Ramona Home Journal. One donor, in particular — Charles “Bud” Walters — has never failed to come through with a donation since the event began in 1992.

“Each year this man gives us $1,000,” Walker said. “He just really supports patriotic events.”

A variety of food was sold by nonprofit groups. Walker said the most popular booth was the one offering authentic Mexican food, sponsored by the local Rotary Club and its sister club, Tijuana Oeste Rotary Club.Other foods tempting taste buds were funnel cakes, ice cream, root beer floats, snow cones, barbecued beef sandwiches and hamburgers, among others.

Boy Scout Troop No. 768 set up games for younger children. The game area was under the direction of Rotary member Tandie Mitchell. Jenni Groff, co-chairman of the event with David Baker, was impressed with Mitchell's “Great Race.” It started off with sack races, then went into three-legged races, followed by carrying an egg on a spoon. Groff's son, Wesley, 7, participated in the race and ended in sixth place. Her younger son, Wade, 2, was more interested in watching the fireworks that concluded the day's events.

“The biggest change I've seen over the years is the fireworks themselves,” Groff said. “The children loved it.”Other events keeping the children busy until the fireworks kicked off at 9 p.m. were a rock-climbing wall, watermelon-eating contest and a tug-of-war. There also was face painting and sand art. Entertainment was provided by Ramona-Julian Academy of Dance and another dance group called “Off the Hook.” Dave Casper sang the National Anthem when the event began at 5 p.m. and the presenting of colors was by the NJROTC from Ramona High School.