Lifestyle Update

Independence Day

When I was growing up in Alaska, the sun did not set until very late, so my parents would pile us kids in the back of the station wagon, and we would go to watch the fireworks at midnight. It was a very pretty show; they shot the fireworks off a barge in the middle of the channel over the water. We always had a pretty good firework show in Alaska. There were many cruise ships in the harbor that the city wanted to impress. One of my other favorite places to watch the fireworks show is in Ouray, Colorado. It is such a cute, little town, and my cousin, who is the fire chief, would let us come up the mountain and watch up close. I have also watched the fireworks many times from the middle of the outfield after a Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field in downtown Denver, Colorado. I hope you have fond memories of some of your family’s firework experiences, and there is always room to make new memories this year!

Fireworks are part of the American culture, and the 4th of July celebrations would not feel right without them. The first fireworks were used as early as 200 BC. The tradition of setting off fireworks on the 4th of July began in Philadelphia, on July 4th, 1777, during the first organized celebration of Independence Day. Ship cannons fired a 13-gun salute in honor of the 13 colonies. The Pennsylvania Evening Post reported, “At night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.” That same night, the Sons of Liberty set off fireworks over Boston Common. The tradition of a patriotic celebration became even more widespread after the War of 1812, in which the United States once again faced Great Britain.

In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday; in 1941, the provision was expanded to grant a paid holiday to all federal employees. Over the years, the political importance of the holiday would decline, but Independence Day remained an important national holiday and a symbol of patriotism. This year’s City fireworks show will be launched from Dixie Tech University at 10pm. Tune into 99.9 KONY Country for a patriotic tribute to America with music and narration synchronized to the fireworks. Locations to watch the fireworks will be updated on the city website. Type the following link to find the most updated information about the city’s 4th of July firework presentation, and for firework restrictions at https://www.sgcity.org/4th/4thofjulyfireworks.

This year’s SunRiver Patriotic Celebration Breakfast will be held on July 3rd, 2023, starting at 9am. A big thank you to the American Legion Post 142 for presenting the colors and doing so much for our SunRiver St George Community. Chef Ryan is preparing a traditional breakfast to start your day off right! Enjoy a filling meal of pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, and a delightful patriotic parfait. After your tummies are full and your taste buds are satisfied, enjoy a patriotic presentation by the Theater Club. This year’s Theater Club presentation will also include a special-guest appearance of our Event Coordinator’s wife, Raina Thorne, who is a professional opera singer. We are honored that she is willing to give her time to us on this special day, to entertain and lift us up with her patriotic music. You will leave this event feeling ready to celebrate Independence Day!

Thank you to all the Veterans who have sacrificed so much for all of us to enjoy our many freedoms. We hope to see everyone at this special event, either for breakfast and the show or just the show. If you are wanting a ticket just for the show, those tickets are also available on the website; we want as many people as possible to support the Theater Club and all their efforts to make this event so special. From all of us at PMP, we wish you and your family a happy Independence Day and safe travels, if you are heading out of town to celebrate with family or friends.

As a reminder, the Community Center will have limited staffing on Tuesday, July 4th, from 9am-5pm. All guests must be checked in during staffed hours to enjoy the facilities, including the sports courts. For those who have company coming to visit, children’s swim is daily from 2-3:30pm, but please note that there are no holiday-extended swim times while the outdoor pool is under construction. Guest cards are required, or a payment of $5 per guest, per day. Also, please note that a current guest waiver must be on file for each guest using the facilities. Guest waivers expire on January 1st of each year, so if your guests have not visited since last year, a new guest waiver is required. I recommend picking up the guest waivers prior to the arrival of your visitors and filling it out prior to arriving at the Community Center as this will expedite your check in process. A wristband will be assigned to each guest upon their arrival and must be worn at all times while using the facilities. We hope you will enjoy the facilities with your family, it’s a terrific way to burn off some of that energy while avoiding overheating outside.

Special Events Not to Miss This Month:

National French Fry Month

FREE French Fries with any entrée lunch order for the month of July!

National Ice Cream Day

Enjoy a Decadent Banana Splits with Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry Ice Cream, Chopped Nuts, Cherries, Caramel Sauce, and House-Made Whipped Cream on Monday, July 17th from 2-3pm at the Poolside Cafe.

National Mac and Cheese Day

Enjoy this delicious lunch special of Breaded Cod served with Steakhouse Gouda Mac & Cheese and Brocolinii. Now that will tantalize those taste buds! Pickup from the Poolside Cafe on Tuesday, July 18th from 11:30am-2pm!

Ask the Staff - We are excited to hold our Ask the Staff again this month on Friday, July 21st, at 1pm in the Ballroom. This month we will be highlighting Landscaping, ARC, Maintenance, Communication, and Technology. If you have any specific questions in these areas, we encourage you to attend. Each department will cover one specific topic, which will be emailed out the week prior to the event, but there is plenty of time for questions and answers with the audience. We can’t wait to see you there!