|
150th Birthday Notes:
First came 'boom,' then 'beep beep'
The 12 minutes of fireworks Saturday night were followed by an hour of
crawling or stopped downtown traffic.
Heartland of America Park took about a half-hour after the fireworks to
clear out. Tenth Street for perhaps a mile both north and south was a
slow train of cars.
The biggest jam was at the corner of 11th and Harney Streets. Police
blocked off Harney from 11th to 10th. Every few minutes, gridlocked
cars broke into a cacophony of horns.
Tasty pastries
It was no substitute for the big birthday cake, which will be cut and
served today, but Tyrell Deloach, 15, and more than 600 people at
Heartland of America Park waited in line for a strawberry puff during
the evening's events.
The pastries - with custard, strawberry sauce and whipped cream - sold
for $5. People walking away from the stand with handfuls of forks tried
to balance the 8-inch-high concoction on the way back to their seats,
trying to avoid getting jostled and dropping the towering treat.
Many people waited for the dessert for 15 minutes or more.
"I had a bite," Tyrell said, "and I wanted a whole one."
Placid picnic
For Omaha's 150th birthday, Saturday afternoon's family reunion picnic
at Fort Omaha was like the calm between storms.
Although the crowd of about 2,000 who drifted in and out of the picnic
seemed modest in comparison to the crowds for Friday night's 311
concert and Saturday night's fireworks, the laid-back pace seemed
perfect for local history buffs and historic Omaha families to enjoy a
more reflective side of the sesquicentennial.
Families and history buffs gathered under tents to dine on grilled meat
as an accordion played in the background. Civil War re-enactors,
American Indian dancers and history exhibits also were featured there.
At lunchtime, there was an acknowledgment of a handful of historic
Omaha families, many of whom are descendants of the city's founders and
other key historical figures.
Logan Lucien Fontenelle, whose family name is stamped on buildings and
parks all over town, said he is happy that Omaha gives so much respect
to its past. In a bigger city, he said, that reverence might get lost.
"It's events like this," he said, "that really make me proud of my
family's heritage."
Coveted coins
Only the first 50 coin buyers at today's official birthday party at
Qwest Center Omaha will get to take their coins home.
Event organizers say order forms will be available at the arena and the
Rose Theater. A shipment of 200 coins will arrive next week, and more
could be ordered if the demand is there.
Compiled by Kevin Cole, Chase Davis and Michaela Saunders.
Copyright ©2004 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or
distributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha
World-Herald. |
