Freeport marks 175 years
FREEPORT — Kevin Holbein brought more than community spirit to the borough's 175th anniversary celebration. He was an inspiration at Thursday's Rollin' by the River parade.
Holbein, a paraplegic, participated in the event by riding a hand cycle.
He's been using hand cycles to get around since 1993.
"I've been on a lot of trails," he said before Thursday's parade. "It's a good activity."
Holbein, a borough resident, hasn't seen hand cycles in use in his travels, so he hoped his participation in Thursday's parade shows other paraplegics what they are capable of doing.
Preparing for the parade, which traveled down Riverside Drive, Holbein tested the grips to his hand cycle. A boy and girl checked the tires for him.
Tyler Yuric, 15, of Buffalo Township was impressed with Holbein's ride.
"It's the most sweet bike," Tyler said.
True to its second billing, Anything on Wheels, the parade had dozens of people on bikes, scooters, skateboards, wagons and strollers.
<table width="300" height="275" border="0" align="right" valign="top" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><embed src="/assets/mov/BE5195881.MOV " width="320" height="250" autostart="true" loop="false" ></embed></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/" target="_blank"><span class="style11">Requires Quicktime Media Player </a><br><font size="1" face="Tahoma, Times New Roman">Video by Brandon Gerthoffer</font></span><td></tr></table>With a few adults and plenty of children, the parade included a small black and white dog riding in a stroller. One wagon had a pint-sized sheriff sitting in a fabric old west jail.Residents and visitors enjoyed the show.Beverly Sarver, who lives in Freeport Towers, was glad to see the children lining up."It's cute," she said. "Anything on wheels."Sarver also enjoyed the performances held earlier in the week at Riverside Park's gazebo.Younger spectators had a good time, too. Ten-month-old Kayden was all smiles. She and her mother, Kristen Chodkowski, came from South Buffalo Township, Armstrong County, to have some fun."She's lived near Freeport all her life," Kristen Chodkowski said about her little girl. "Maybe she's a future Miss Freeport."Kayden's infectious smile seemed to back up the prediction.Kathy Braden, another Freeport Towers resident, waited for the riders to pass."I'm waiting for the excitement," she said.Braden, a retired Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center worker, said she is happy living in the borough."It's nice here," she said looking at the nearby river.Braden had one complaint, though."There's a lot of bugs," she said, swatting a pesky insect.
Fellow Towers resident Marilyn Deahus also had a minor gripe — there were no bingo games set up with the food and crafts tables.The smell of grilled chicken permeated the air. About 200 people also sampled pretzels, funnel cakes and freshly squeezed lemonade, among other fare.The anniversary celebration continues tonight with a Lighted Boat Parade at Riverside Park at dusk. The food and crafts booths are open from 4 to 10 p.m.Saturday is highlighted by a parade weaving through the borough along Buffalo, Fifth and Market streets at 2 p.m.Ventriloquist Helen Hammett performs in the park at 5 p.m. The country music group Cranky Yankee performs from 8 to 10 p.m. The booths will be open from noon to 10 p.m.
