Wow ... what a Fourth of July evening we saw this year! Downtown was just bustling with thousands who came to see the Sounds on Centre concert, the First Friday Art Walk, and, of course, the fireworks!

You could not have asked for better weather: The sky was clear, there was a gentle west-bound breeze, and it was not too muggy (just right for a fireworks display). The schedule for the evening was perfect. First, art enthusiasts gather downtown to visit the art shops and catch special offers and showings there; it's a nice evening stroll.

Then, hundreds gather to enjoy the rock concert with Face For Radio playing hits from today and yesterday. They are a big favorite with the Sounds on Centre crowd; very danceable music. Of course, the Pirates were present to muse and confuse; what a great bunch. The kids just love them!

Then, as the concert ended, our bluegrass band, Brothers, started playing on the outdoor patio at Canopy Moon Cafe. It's pretty cozy in there, and everyone had a great time singing along to the old banjo tunes.

And at 9:45 p.m., the fireworks show started right on time. It was so close to the cafe, that we just stopped playing and watched the show with everyone else, mesmerized. I thought this year's fireworks display was excellent.

Anyway, if you didn't get downtown for the Fourth, that's what you missed. It was one of the nicest I've seen in years.

Country Nights at the Palace

From 7 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, the Palace Saloon will host "Country Nights" featuring Sherri and Terry, line dancing, and lots of fun. Special guest this month is the duo Whitby Quinn (Robert Sanders and Michael Howerton). They will perform at 8:30 p.m.

This should prove to be an excellent night's entertainment!

Historic District picnic

This year, the fourth annual Historic District Picnic will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. For those of you who wish to visit with your neighbors in the Historic District, be sure to mark this date on your calendars.

We will have a barbecue, a bluegrass band, carriage rides, and more. As before, this year's picnic will be in my backyard.

This is always a great time, and a good way to connect with friends and neighbors you haven't seen in years. We ask that you bring a covered dish to share, and enough lawn chairs for your group.

If anyone has free access to a children's bounce-house, please let me know. There were lots of children last year, and it would be nice to give them something fun to do while the parents visit.

Last year, many neighbors came by, and everyone had lots of fun. I'm looking forward to some small changes this year, and I've been working on the lawn, too. Please contact me if you have any questions. RSVPs would be nice, too. I need to know how many to plan for.

Street musician ordinance

Whew! I have been working with the City Commission to create a comprehensive and fair city ordinance concerning street musicians downtown. As you know, each weekend I have helped place local musicians downtown to play for tips, and the results have been quite good! Locals and visitors alike have expressed their appreciation for the live music, and the merchants have enjoyed it, too.

The city attorney is now drafting an ordinance which will require a permit for a musician to play in the Historic District. When we first started this program, our goal was to provide free entertainment downtown, and to assure that it would be a quality program. With the help of the City Commission, we are moving toward that goal, and soon we expect this ordinance will solve some potential problems before they get started.