Tulsa World Article

Here is a copy of the article in today's Tulsa World, page 3!

Kids Fourth parade not washed out
Usually, the parade is held on the holiday, but it was moved up a day this year.
Rain didn't dampen the enthusiasm of 3-year-old twins Abigail (left) and Emily Baker as they ride their tricycles in the Independence Day parade at New Haven United Methodist Church on Saturday. RIP STELL / for the Tulsa World
By DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer Published: 7/4/2010 2:26 AM Last Modified: 7/4/2010 5:54 AM
It rained on their parade, but those who gathered Saturday at New Haven United Methodist Church didn't let that spoil their Fourth of July weekend fun.The sixth annual Independence Day parade wound its soggy way through the neighborhood around the church at 5603 S. New Haven Ave. It featured bicycles, wagons and dozens of people who were not going to allow a few raindrops to douse their holiday spirit. "It's like something out of the Saturday Evening Post," said 34-year-old Josh Baker, who was on hand with his family, which includes twin 3-year-olds. No argument there. The scene Saturday morning was like one of those tableaus of Americana that artist Norman Rockwell made synonymous with Saturday evenings. Usually, the parade is held on the Fourth of July, but it was moved up a day this year because the holiday falls on a Sunday. Stacey Schifferdecker, children's ministry director at the church, said the idea behind beginning the parade was to create a fun event for families that would also involve the surrounding neighborhood, which is just to the east of 55th Street and South Harvard Avenue. The Rev. Cindy Havlik, senior pastor at the church, said that besides being a chance for the church to reach out to the community it has called home for more than 50 years, the parade is just plain fun. "The kids have a great time," she said. So did the adults. Julie Williams, who lives about two miles away from the church, has attended
the event for the past few years. This was the first time, though, that she was on hand with her 7-month-old grandson. "It's a good way to get the weekend started and to get into the spirit," Williams said. Williams said morning is the perfect time for such a parade, with cookouts in the afternoon and fireworks at night. Of course, those usual holiday weekend plans got scrambled for a lot of people by Saturday's rain. Thanks to New Haven United Methodist Church, at least some Fourth of July tradition was preserved on Saturday. Original Print Headline: Fourth joy not washed out for tykes on bikes
David Harper 581-8359 david.harper@tulsaworld.com
By DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer