Several celebrations have been planned in the Whitney area to mark the Independence Day holiday.
The City of Whitney has scheduled a “Stars and Stripes Jamboree” picnic Saturday, July 6, from noon to 2 p.m.
The city will have a combination water slide/bounce house on site at the City Park, and there will be tents, tables and chairs set up.
Watermelon will be provided, and families are invited to bring their own picnic lunch and beverages.
The Place at Lake Whitney has planned an Independence Day celebration complete with fireworks, live music, barbecue and a full bar Wednesday, July 3.
The Ghosts of Hill County and B-Ray and the Humans will perform, with music starting at 6 p.m. General admission tickets are $10, and children under 12 are admitted free. Attendees should bring their own lawn chairs. Table service with seating and a server is available for $20, and VIP tickets with full-service shaded lawn seating and VIP parking are available for $50.
There will be a free shuttle service for off-site parking.
The Place at Lake Whitney is located at 670 Fort Graham Road.
The Lodge at Serenity Cove will hold a fireworks show at dark Thursday, July 4. Music will be provided by a DJ, and there will be swimming. The lodge is located at 100 Tejas Trail. Call 254-694-7839 for more information.
Whitney Ridge Resort has scheduled live music by Matt Smith & Jonna Mae at the Pavilion Saturday, July 6, at 5:30 p.m. Call 254-804-3189 for information.
Tower Pizza on Lake Whitney will hold a fireworks show Thursday, July 4, and is booking tables for pizza, drinks and the show. Call 254-622-2041 for information.
White Bluff Resort will hold its annual fireworks show for residents Saturday, July 6, beginning at dark.
The West Shore Civic Association will hold its annual Independence Day parade Saturday, July 6. Residents of the Laguna Park area will decorate ATVs, golf carts and classic cars. Line up is at the West Shore Civic Center, 560 FM 3118 in Laguna Park, at 5 p.m., with the parade starting at 5:30 p.m.
The National Safety Council (NSC) advises everyone to enjoy fireworks at public displays conducted by professionals. For those choosing to celebrate with fireworks at home, it is important to keep safety and fire prevention in mind.
According to the NSC, thousands of people are injured badly enough every year to require medical treatment after fireworks-related incidents, with many of the injuries to children and young adults. While the majority of these incidents are due to amateurs attempting to use professional-grade, homemade or other illegal fireworks or explosives, less powerful devices like small firecrackers and sparklers can also cause significant injuries. Fireworks also start an average of 19,000 fires each year.
If consumer fireworks are legal where you live (outside city limits) and you choose to use them, NSC offers the following safety tips:
• Never allow young children to handle fireworks
• Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
• Never light them indoors
• Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person
• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
• Never ignite devices in a container
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire
• Never use illegal fireworks
• Note that sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. They can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. Sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries. Safer alternatives for young children include glow sticks, confetti poppers or colored streamers.
The Lakelander 