4. Fourth of July
Mountain Lakes Celebrates the 4th of July in style!
With a lot to celebrate in the Borough’s 100th year, the fireworks on the 4th of July seemed to sum up the excitement and sparkle. In the spirit of including the whole town, Recreation Director Celia Flynn explained, ‘to increase the spectacle and provide more viewing for Lakers, DPW built a barge so we could launch the fireworks in the middle of Mountain Lake.’ With music from the Golden Gup drifting out across the lake, people gathered at Island Beach, the Cove and Midvale Docks, at tiki torch-lit parties around the lake and in canoes, kayaks and paddle boards in the lake! Mayor Charles Gormally took credit for the beautiful weather, and noted, ‘It’s a great July 4th in this wonderful place we enjoy year round!’ Just after dark, the crowd was treated to a spectacular show of color and light that filled the sky.
The Recreation Commission organized a full day of fun events for the 4th of July. The day got off to a silly start with games at the Mountain Lakes Club for the 10 and under crowd – ping pong balls, noodles, big red balls – leaving many Dad’s with tired shoulders and smiling children! One parent noted appreciatively, ‘It takes a lot of work to be that silly – thank you, Celia!’
The Centennial Neighborhood Challenge continued with the annual canoe race; which required one passenger to be age 12 or under. Ellie and Charlie Halpin came in first place, giving the Cove neighborhood their first challenge win. The Gellert family from the Fanny Pack came in second, and Katie Kiely (The Falls) and Olivia Sentowshi (the Woodlanders) came in third. Brandon Smith and Peter Holmberg MC’d the event at the club, as well as announcing and participating in the canoe and kayak races, and ultimately cajoling enough participants to reach 100 swimmers goal for the swim.
Another highlight of the day in our 100th year was the Centennial Swim from the Mountain Lakes Club to Island Beach, with all 103 swimmers of all ages participating. One leading Laker (who shall remain nameless!) jumped in at the last minute and swam to the finish in her street clothes! All 103 swimmers will have their name remembered on a plaque in Borough Hall, memorialized for posterity.Centennial Chair Stephanie Hoopes Halpin summed up the day, “the spectacular Centennial fireworks enjoyed by so many were a fitting end to an activity-filled day. Celia Flynn and the Recreation Commission rose to the occasion and pulled off an Independence Day that was one in a hundred.”
Centennial Swimmers – please let us know if we have mis spelled your name, we’d like to get it right on the plaque in Boro Hall! ml100@mtnlakes.org
Zach Adamczyk
Allison Adamczyk
Parker Auld
Luc Bay
Julia Bay
Jackie Bay
Katie Boyle
Steve Boyle
Chelsea Bozzo
Brienne Brown
Amanda Cali
Todd Ceru
Mirot Chiaese
Teresa Cinnamond
Tom Cutbill
Alexander Dewing
Bob Dewing
Debra Dewing
Dylan Ferdico
Dean Ferdico
Pat Fisher
Isabella Fragomeni
Jason Fragomeni
Jill Fusch
Keavy Gill
Barb Girz
Maggie Gleason
Emma Gleason
Michelle Gleason
Barbara Gniewck
Chuck Graf
Stephen Graf
Jamie Gregorek
Alle Gregorek
Morten Grunnet
Charlie Halpin
Jake Halpin
Stephanie Hoopes Halpin
Zoe Harris-Hohne
Emily Holmberg
Peter Holmberg
Martin Huber
Brian Hunn
Katie Kiely
Erin Kiely
Meghan Kiely
Anais Kruchten
Ronnie Kushkuley
Abby Leuchten
Tess Leuchten
Bill Leuchten
Beth Leuchten
Joyce Leuchten
Alan Lin
Michael Lopez
Marvin Lopez
Jeff Lorber
Sierra Lore
Sophia Lore
Matt Luciano
Chris Luciano
Rich Mancuso
Bruce Mintz
Mellissa Moser
Tima Nachshen
Joan Nix
John O’Shaunnessey
Larry Page
Ashley Page
Lorelai Page
Faith Reilly
Jonathan Richards
Mark Richards
Chuck Sabino
John Scelsa
Sarah Scelsa
Jake Schuckman
Molly Sentowski
Liv Sentowshi
Peter Sentowski
Ryan Sheppard
Richard Sheppard
Daves Shertzer
Veyd Shringarpure
Maggie Smith
Eve Sorrentino
Rich Squeglia
Grace Tarantola
Mia Tarantola
Kristen Tarantola
Emma Terhune
Kate Terhune
Kim Terhune
Bob Trachtenberg
Emily Tsang
Catherine Tsand
Elizabeth Tsang
Victoria White
Georgia White
Charlotte White
Jonathan White
Suzanne Wilmot
Paul Wolkenstein
BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES
JULY 4TH CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
9:30-11:30am – Start your day with the “Donut Dash”! Annual Family Fun Races held at the Mountain Lakes Club for children 10 and under with parents. All are welcome!
11:30am – How fast can YOU paddle? Come down to Island Beach for the Annual Canoe Race and Neighborhood Challenge. Race your canoe from Island Beach to the Mountain Lakes Club. To participate in this challenge your boat must include a child 12 years old or younger.
11:45am – No canoe? Race your kayak from Island Beach to the Club, both singles and double kayaks welcome.
12 noon – Show your Centennial Mettle! Join us for the annual swim from the Mountain Lakes Club to Island Beach. Open to all swimmers 12 and up (if younger must have a swim badge) – in honor of the Centennial all swimmers will have their name added to a plaque at Borough Hall. Click here for more swim information.
10 am– 6pm – Swim at Island Beach! Both Island Beach and Birchwood Lake will be open with lifeguards present. Island Beach will be closed for swimming and parking after 6 pm; All cars must be moved and alternate parking is available at the Wilson School and Laurel Hill Rd.
6-9pm – Picnic at Island Beach and enjoy the music of the Golden Gup. Bring your dancing feet!
9:15 pm – Centennial Fireworks! Launching for the first time from a barge in the middle of Mountain Lake, this will be a show like none other! Donations are needed, click here. (attach donations flyer).
Enjoy the view from Island Beach and Midvale Docks. In addition, watch from the Cove (Morris Avenue will be closed to traffic from 7-10 pm) – bring your beach chairs. Please note that access to the Midvale Docks will be limited from 10 am to 3 pm on July 4th. Boats are welcome on the lake: however, due to the placement of the barge, crossing the middle of Mountain Lake will be prohibited after 2pm
Note – raindate for fireworks is Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Themocracy
Can’t wait to attend the birthday party on the 4th of July. Lived in ML from 1946 to 1965.
Lived @ 21 Hanover Rd. from 1948 to 1968. Watched the fireworks from the ML Club. Loved the lighting of the flares around the lake.
Do you still move the raft from Island Beach to the Club for the swimming races?? Those were fun days, red, white & blue crape paper on the spokes of my bike & streamers from the handlebars. Sparklers, 1 1/2 inchers, blowing up juice cans, sending them up 75-100ft. Picnics at the house & at friends houses, corn-on-the-cob, hamburgers, mom’s baked beans……