The 2024 Recap!
Independence Day in Greentree was again a festive occasion. Early morning volunteers set out the course for the annual Greentree Gallop that wound through the neighborhood. About 60 runners participated by running or strolling along the route. While not overly warm, the humidity provided a challenge for runners and volunteers alike. Thanks to Kathe Powers and Mayo Ewanowski who coordinated the event. Other volunteers included Virginia Evans, Terrah Clark, Ruth Paulson, Molly VanderWielen, Gary and Sharon Hartung, Russ and Sandy Jensen, Helen and Pat Sheahan, and Jim Powers.
Next on the agenda was the Parade. Following an MFD Fire Truck, kids, parents, friends and family started the procession at Anana Elementary School. Red, white, and blue decorations were plentiful. Riding on the variety of bikes, scooters, wagons and other diminutive vehicles, the participants followed the Greentree banner carried by volunteers Mary Jane Conner and Corey Uselman on their way to Norman Clayton Park. In addition to the sign carriers, Parade Coordinator Ruth Paulson assembled a team of helpers including Sandy and Russ Jensen, Terrah Clark, Terry Gulesserian, Helen and Pat Sheahan to make this event great fun for the participants and watchers along the route.
The Parade ended at Norman Clayton Park which became a teeming collection of kids, families, friends and neighbors. Ponky the Clown made balloon figures for the kids. Camille Krueger and Dana Russell applied tattoos to hands, arms, and faces of all who lined up. Food order forms devised by Dave Ewanowski and managed by Gary and Sharon Hartung; the Zelle payment option managed by Trevor Olson and Alex Kocher; and new tools to efficiently dispense food tickets allowed veteran ticket sellers, Jack and Bonnie Mitchell and Mary Lou and Ed Reisch to get hungry people their tickets quickly.
Grillers Rich Welsch, Frederick Clark, Mike Place, Aedan Gardill, Jeffrey Glazer, Stephen Block, and Jon Wong cooked the brats and hot dogs. Food tent volunteers Kathy and Joel Batha, Karl, Marie, and Ellie Lettner, Jon and Tammy Greco, Mary Beth Griepp, Bonnie Henningfield, Debbie and Jack Spear, Mark and Dena Miller, Terrah Clark, and Robin Kite efficiently distributed the food and drink to the hungry masses. Lynn Caravello, Jay and Dana Russell, Katie Place, and Gary Kobs helped set up the Park. Many of those volunteers along with Bob Lohr and Jennifer Vaughn helped put the park back into pre-picnic shape.
Unintimidated by cloudy skies and occasional spritzes of rain, over 250 people attended this signature event. Neighborhood veterans marveled at the number of young families and kids in attendance remembering their own special times of celebrating the 4th over the years. GTNA President, Jay Russell, made his way around the event and was delighted by the turnout and the happy people he encountered. Even more fun is that we almost sold out of the annual Gallop t-shirts, a tradition we brought back this year!
He also wants to offer special thanks to:
- The Madison Fire Department for their participation
- Jane Sarafiny who coordinated the volunteers.
- Dave and Mayo Ewanowski who manned the membership table.
- Kathe Powers who coordinated the resurgence of the Gallop T-shirts. They were a hit!
- Sheray Wallace for arranging for Ponky the Clown to appear.
Extra special thanks to Katie Place who puts amazing effort into the picnic setup and food. She is truly the Picnic Star! See you all July 4, 2025!
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About the Annual July 4th Celebration: It's the biggest event in the Greentree year!
We pull out all the stops for July 4 and all the neighbors are invited to come on out and enjoy the fun! Hosted annually at Norman Clayton Park, it includes a fun run/walk, parade, and picnic. Annual schedule is as follows:
The Greentree Gallop
8:00 a.m. Registration / 8:30 a.m. Race
- The July 4th Greentree Gallop is a two-mile fun run/walk. The course winds through the Greentree Neighborhood and is well-marked and safe. Come out to run or walk, or just step outside your door in the morning to cheer on the runners and show your support. The event is fun for everyone from the serious runner to the fifth grader running into middle school to the walker with a baby stroller. Fast or slow, young or old, come out for the fun!
4th of July Parade
Line-up at 10:45 a.m. / Parade begins 11:00 a.m.
- Bring your families, wagons, bikes, strollers, anything on wheels! All decorated to celebrate the spirit of July Fourth! Participants assemble at Anana Elementary and go to Normal Clayton Park with a fire truck escort!
4th of July Picnic
10:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
- The Fourth of July Picnic will start right after the parade. Buy food tickets for the hot dogs and brats along with chips, soda and ice cream sandwiches! Relax and enjoy catching up with your neighbors. Game for the kids as well. It's a great time!
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The 2023 Recap
It was a great 4th of July in Greentree—big crowds had big fun!
It was a fabulous 4th where friends and families gathered to celebrate our nation’s founding 247 years ago. It started at 8:30 with the Greentree Gallop “Fun Run” where participants followed the neighborhood course which started and ended at Norman Clayton Park.
Thanks to Mayo Ewanowski who coordinated the event with help from neighborhood volunteers: Virginia Evans, Dave Ewanowski, Jeff Frye, Michelle Frye, Gary Hartung, Sharon Hartung, Jeanne McLellan, Cari McLellan, Ruth Paulson and Pat Sheahan.
The next event was the Parade from Milele Chikasa Anana School to Norman Clayton Park. Prior to the 11am start, Greentree neighbor Peter Liu sang the National Anthem with many of the parade participants singing along with him. The number of kids dressed in their finest red, white and blue, riding holiday decorated bikes, wagons, strollers, scooters was astounding. Parents, grandparents and friends joined in the parade to Norman Clayton Park led by the Madison Fire Department Ladder 7 truck and accompanying fire fighters. A Madison Police squad car, provided a safe tail end of the colorful procession.
Thanks to Ruth Paulson who organized the event along with Danielle Gale. They had assistance from volunteers: Mary Jane Connor, Brian Gale, Terry Gulesserian, Steve Moore, Helen Sheahan, Pat Sheahan, and Kelsey Vandenbrook.
The Picnic at Norman Clayton Park was amazingly well attended. Over 300 people gathered (mostly in the shade of the Ash trees 😊 ) to eat and drink and chat with friends and neighbors. Parents watched their kids have fun with their choice of: Ponky the Clown tying a variety of balloon creations; the tattoo table with bugs, butterflies, dinosaurs and fairies (which ran out first!); some youngsters used the sidewalk chalk and the playground got a good workout too!
Special thanks to Katie Place for organizing the picnic, including the park permits food and drink. Jay Russell coordinated the volunteers and there were a lot of them that helped set up the park, cook and serve food, man tables, and put everything away at the end.
Thanks to the following folks who made the event work: Serene Arena, Joel Batha, Kathy Batha, Stephen Block, Lynn Caravello, Mayo Ewanowski, Dave Ewanowski, Erin Fischer, Tammy Greco, Jon Greco, Bonnie Henningfield, Steve Henningfield, Melissa Hinz, Greg Hinz, Russ Jensen, Sandy Jensen, Gary Kobs, Bob Lohr, J. McLellan, Dena Miller, Mark Miller, Bonnie Mitchell, Jack Mitchell, Jeremy Orr, Mike Place, Jim Powers, Kathe Powers, Ed Reisch, Mary Lou Reisch, Dana Russell, Helen Sheahan, Pat Sheahan, and Charlie Vaughn.