MICA: Celebrate your red, white and blue

Do you know one of the most asked questions received at the MICA office? Unbelievably, it is “when are you going to have the July Fourth Celebration this year?”

Submitted photo

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt Andy Lazo (holding MICA sign) with the VMU-2 Scan Eagle Detail in Iraq.

Are you ready for the answer? July Fourth! While it might be nice to tie an extra day off into a weekend, there is only one Independence Day when we celebrate the freedom we all cherish, and this year we will celebrate it next Wednesday.

As the saying goes, freedom is not free. This hits especially close to home at the Marco Island Civic Association. U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Andy Lazo is serving his third tour of duty as an Intel Analyst in Iraq. Andy is the son of Rina Lazo, a member specialist at the MICA office, and Alberto Lazo, employed at the Marco Island Charter Middle School. As will many other families on Marco Island and across our land, on this special day, we will be thinking of Andy and all the other servicemen and women who represent our country.

And as the Fourth of July is a celebration, MICA will celebrate at the Residents’ Beach and a wonderful day at the beach it will be! As the event is open to members, please be sure to bring your Residents’ Beach ID card.

Beginning at noon, a disc jockey, which is co-sponsored by the Marco Eagle, will play a terrific mix of music, including patriotic numbers all day long, up and through the fireworks display.

For the artistic and hard working beachgoers, bring your shovels and start digging early. The sandcastle contest judging will begin at 3 p.m. Don’t forget to register at the Kiwanis tent when you arrive at the beach.

Kids games will start at 2 p.m. and culminate with the patriotic swimsuit contest, so don your red, white, and blue!

Speaking of kids, the winner of the Fourth of July T-shirt contest will be revealed in the form of the sale of T-shirts bearing the winning entry!

A new addition to the festivities is the volleyball tournament. Look for details on the Fourth.

Of course, what would July Fourth be without grilled hot dogs and hamburgers? Paradise Grill will be offering these favorites on the beach, along with their full menu at the pavilion, including soft serve ice cream. Beer and wine will also be sold on the beach.

For many, one of the highlights of July Fourth is the fireworks and the City of Marco Island has made arrangements for a spectacular fireworks display, which will begin at 9 p.m.

The fireworks will be shot from a barge in the Gulf of Mexico and will be visible from anywhere along the beachfront and the South Collier Boulevard area. Bay Fireworks, based in Huntington Station, New York, has been chosen to present this year’s show and in addition to the numerous shells, ranging from three inches to 12 inches, there are various special effects that will be a major part of the program.

If you are not a Residents’ Beach member, there is still time to join. The MICA office is located at 1770 San Marco Road, on the second floor of the Marco Community Bank Building and is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call 642-7778 with membership questions.