By Wendy Sigmund
Boulder Creek’s 4th of July festivities were awesome as usual this year. The day kicked off with the 7:00 am wake-up call from the fearsome firehouse siren
luring everyone within earshot into town for delicious pancakes and all the fixin’s at the Boulder Creek Volunteer Fire Department. The lines were long but
moved fast as hungry townspeople eagerly awaited a top-drawer breakfast and a chance to meet friends old and new at the firehouse.
At 10:00 am sharp hundreds of families and bystanders lining the street in chairs, on blankets, or standing on tiptoes were greeted by flashing lights and
wailing sirens as the parade Grand Marshall, BCFD Commissioner, Chris Currier,shuttled Mable Baker in his 1924 model T fire engine to start
the parade. Mable and her husband, Jay, moved to Boulder Creek in 1957. In 1963 they started the Boulder Creek Hardware Store. Mable was joined on the
engine by her great granddaughter, Sophie Bauer.
Chris and Mable were followed by Boulder Creek Volunteer Fire Department Engines 211, 2110, 2136, Rescue 2166, and Water Tender 2152
BC Fire was formed in 1892. The District covers 21 square miles of mountainous terrain and serves 15,000 residents of Boulder Creek and Brookdale. The
department has 35 volunteer firemen and women and their fearless leader is Chief Kevin McClish. The crowd went wild cheering to thank our
courageous and dedicated firefighters. For more information: bcfd.com
Next up was Joe Beasley who drove a 1968 4-wheel drive Type 3 wildland fire engine. Town favorites, KBCZ Boulder Creek Community
Radio Station followed on foot, their call letters held proudly by a team of local on-air talent including Randy and Mardeen GordonThe radio station 90.1
(and streaming worldwide on kbcz.org) features 100% local programming including the live broadcast of the parade. The radio station is run by Tina Davey and
a host of volunteers including Leslie and Matt Buchanan, and Sam and Kelli Peacock, and is part of the Boulder Creek Department of
Parks and Recreation Department. High five to the hard work from the folks at KBCZ!
So many new entries to this year’s parade and so many traditional favorites like San Lorenzo Valley Museum (slvmuseum.com) with period costumes on a float
depicting farm work, then and now. And the folks at Camp Joy Gardens (campjoygardens.org), who rode in a beautifully decorated vintage
flatbed pickup playing “This Land is Your Land” and singing the praises of this sustainable earth. Another favorite was Garrahan Off-Road Training featuring
students showing their stuff on their dirt bikes. And the parade would not be the same without Andy Kinder and his Broomhilda van spraying the crowd with
a playful splash of water! Kids and adults alike were squealing with delight!
Let’s not forget the Valley Women’s Club, who run the Recycling center under Matt Harris’s direction The club also organizes the super fun Redwood Mountain
Faire every year as a fundraiser to support local community groups. For more information: Valleywomensclub.org
Saluting the armed forces, parade-goers cheered for Cole Lazzarini’s 1973 Dodge Power Wagon truck proudly flying the armed forces flag. Helping him out were
Ballard Greedy, Jack Chatoff, and Samuel Lust. Great job boys. And everyone loves the Camp Krem representing with a marching group of obviously delighted
campers and two vans filled with smiling faces. Camp Krem has provided camping and recreation to children and adults with disabilities for over 60 years. This
special camp is so important, creating a lifetime of memories. Camp Krem also hosts the annual Do-It-Ourselves music festival every April in support of music
programs at the camp. Visit them online to learn more: campingunlimited.org
No parade would be complete without the animals of the community.Quail Creek 4-H brought out farm animals including the beautiful painted sheep raised
by the Hamilton family. And of course town darling, Diane Hamilton,bringing up the rear and cleaning the way. Thanks for that, Diane! And another town
darling, Tianna Bumbaca-Kuehl riding her horse Melorema. A great big thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s parade.it certainly could not
happen without the careful organization by the Boulder Creek Business Association and their fearless leader, Justin Action. Thanks also to Janet, Chris, Karen,
Tamara, Nancy, and the entire BCBA team!! Together with the SLV Rotary Club, the parade was organized, safe, and fun for all. BCBA also puts on the
annual Halloween Trick or Treat Street and Santa Comes to Town and Tree Lighting. Visit bcba.net
After the parade, those who didn’t head to Joe’s Bar for the traditional4th of July Bloody Mary, gathered at the local swimming hole at Junction Park for a
wonderful BBQ, libations, and music organized by another beautiful and talented town darling, Hallie Greene, director of the Boulder Creek Parks and
Recreation Department. When you see Hallie out and about be sure to give her a big thank you for all she does for this town. Check out all the wonderful
activities: bcrpd.org
It takes a village. You are all amazing-and the Santa Cruz Mountain Bulletin wishes there was room to thank you all by name. Visit our website to see the full
list of participants and some amazing pictures by our town’s official photographer, Steve Kuehl. Thank you for supporting this independent small
town newspaper – enjoy the summer! santacruzmountainbulletin.net
