Georgettes key to George's old fashioned Independence Day
From left, the Georgettes in a recent photo were Rita Keene, Nancy Olson, Linda Ferguson, Glenys Stadleman, Marylou Krautscheid, Debby Kooy and DeAnna LaVoie.
GEORGE - The Georgettes invite you to their old fashioned Independence Day celebration in George, Washington on the Fourth of July.
They are the backbone of the day-long celebration that includes races, music, food and fireworks. And the world's largest cherry pie, which the Georgettes make themselves.
The Georgettes is a women's service group whose civic contribution is centered at the George Community Hall (GCH). The Georgettes support the many activities and events sponsored by the GCH.
The Georgettes was started by Edith Brown, wife of George founder Charlie Brown. After Debby Kooy moved here in 1980, Edith and her daughter Virginia Sheldon invited Kooy to join until she did so in 1987.
Marsha Streich became a Georgette because her mother was one. Yvonne Boon joined because of the group's sense of community. Jeannie Bushman was looking for a way to serve.
Each spring and summer, the Georgettes carry out the George Beautification Project. They plant and maintain flowers along the walking path on Washington Way.
At the GCH, the Georgettes help provide refreshments for the monthly CoffeeHouse concerts. Every President's Day in February finds them serving up a beautiful, giant presidential birthday cake, baked and decorated by them in an original design.
And, of course, the Fourth of July is the Georgettes' day to shine. They start preparing the pie at 6:30 a.m. at Quincy High School. They stay at the celebration until sometime after 10 p.m., when the fireworks are finished.
The celebration this year will get under way at 7 a.m. with a breakfast in the GCH kitchen. It will be served until 11 a.m.
For those who wish to burn off the breakfast calories, the Cherry Bomb Run will start at 8 a.m. The final event of the day will be the ever popular fireworks.
"It's the only day of the year you have a traffic jam in George," Kooy said.
The pie is more like a cobbler. There is no bottom crust, and the top crust is made in pieces that spell out a message. After Joe Schons and Hector Saldana prepare the giant pie pan, the Georgettes pour in the filling and affix the top crust.
The message this year will be "Stars and Stripes Forever," and "Long May It Wave."
If you are a woman who lives in the area of George and would like to be a part of this energetic group of women, the Georgettes will greet you with open arms. You'll find them at the Fourth of July celebration.