The Spirit of the Fourth Committee is off to an early and exciting start, looking forward to an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration for Rancho Bernardo, including a pancake breakfast, a Festival in the Park, a veterans memorial service, the parade and, to top things off, an evening of entertainment and fireworks.

Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher of the 75th Assembly District will be the parade grand marshal this year, the 40th for the Spirit of the Fourth celebration.

Problems with the economy have reduced the amount of donations usually received from service groups and government agencies so the Spirit of the Fourth Committee is asking for donations of any size to assist their efforts this year. If you can donate $125 or more, you’ll become a member of the Freedom Club, which will grant you: VIP parking and seating before the parade and the evening entertainment and fireworks, an invitation to the VIP reception at 1 p.m. on the Fourth and more. Please make your check payable to “Spirit of the Fourth, Inc.”, which is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, making your contribution tax-deductible.

Getting into the Spirit will make you feel good and help one of Rancho Bernardo’s hardest-working committees.

Courtesy of the Rancho Bernardo News Journal and Pomerado Publishing

July 4th Parade in Rancho Bernardo

Spirit of the Fourth volunteers will start soliciting donations this month for the 40th annual Independence Day celebration in Rancho Bernardo.

Some of the money will be raised through event sponsorships, a tactic being employed for the first time, said Kimberly Bianco, Spirit of the Fourth spokeswoman.

Sponsors of the daytime activities in Webb Park, the parade or the evening fireworks show will receive several benefits, including a banner in the parade, invitations to VIP activities and name exposure before, during and after the celebration.

Sponsorship prices have yet to be announced — Bianco said they might start at $1,000. Benefits are valued at $2,500, $3,500 and $5,000.

A less pricey donation opportunity — one sure to get Old Glory waved along the parade route — is the new “Five for the Fourth” campaign.

Starting in March and continuing through July 4, locals will be able to receive a small American flag for donating $5 toward the festivities. They will be encouraged to wave their flags during events.

In addition to these new fundraising tactics, money will be raised through the Freedom Club (which offers special perks for those who donate at least $100), a solicitation letter that will be sent to residents this spring and through program advertisement sales.

Ad sales are designed to cover the costs of producing the program, which is distributed to about 20,000 Rancho Bernardo and Poway homes to promote the event, according to Marty Judge, who is in charge of the program.

Bianco said the 29-member committee is also considering ways to increase interest in the event — and to mark its 40th anniversary — perhaps through a 5K run or by having local restaurants sell food from booths in Webb Park.

“We’re trying to keep people in the park,” she said.

A budget for this year’s festivities is not yet available, but last year the event cost about $71,000. A third of that was funded through the Freedom Club ($23,000), with grants accounting for another $27,500 of the budget.

Grant contributors were County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price (her district contributed $15,000), City Councilman Brian Maienschein ($5,000 of city funds), the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club and foundation ($5,000) and Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation ($2,500).

Seating is on the grass and it is suggested that those attending bring blankets or lawn chairs. There is reserved seating for Freedom Club members. Parking is free in the student parking
lot off Avenida Venusto.

Nathan Fletcher is the State Assemblyman representing California’s 75th District. He is the first combat veteran of the Global War on Terror to serve in the California State Legislature. Assemblyman Fletcher serves as the Vice Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, the Select Committee on Biotechnology, and the Select Committee on Rail Transportation. He is a member of the Accountability & Administrative Review, Water, Parks, & Wildlife, and Housing & Community Development Committees. Additionally, he sits on the Select Committees on Foster Care, Child/Adolescent Health and Safety, Healthcare Workforce Access, and Safety and Protection of At-Risk California Communities.

In each of these legislative facets, the Assemblyman is committed to demanding transparency and accountability from government, creating new jobs in California, expanding the access and affordability of health care and working to solve the water crisis affecting the Golden State.

In his first few months in office Assemblyman Fletcher was instrumental in passing a major tax code revision that will help create jobs and was a joint author of Assembly Bill 23 which will help employees laid off from small businesses retain their private health insurance.

Fletcher was elected in 2008 and represents the city of San Diego communities of La Jolla, University City, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, and Fairbanks Ranch, along with the City of Poway, portions of the City of Escondido, the community of Fairbanks Ranch and portions of Rancho Santa Fe.

Driven to serve, Nathan’s passion has always been public service. Before being elected to the legislature he served in the military, in the community, and in the political arena.

In 2007, Assemblyman Fletcher completed his service in the United States Marine Corps Reserves where he served as a Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Specialist. On his last deployment, Nathan worked in the Horn of Africa region traveling throughout Eastern Africa and the Near East. For his service he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

In 2004, Nathan served eight months in the Sunni Triangle region of Iraq. Among the awards he received from this tour of duty are the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V” for valor, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Iraqi Campaign Medal. Fletcher is a recipient of additional military awards including the Benton R. Montgomery Award for Excellence and the Walter Morris Honor Graduate Award. Nathan is a graduate of many military training schools including the US Army Airborne Course and Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center.

In addition to his military service, Nathan has been a tireless advocate for America’s veterans and is a life member of both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War. Before being elected to the state legislature Nathan served as an appointed member of the San Diego County Veterans Advisory Council, where he provided a strong voice for veterans of the Global War on Terror. Assemblyman Fletcher also served on the Board of Directors for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Historical Society.

Beyond his commitment to Veterans’ causes, Nathan is active in the community. He currently serves on the board of directors for Her Heart’s Wish, a nonprofit that helps match terminally ill women with their final wishes. He is also a member of the Nice Guys, a San Diego charitable organization that has provided millions of dollars to worthy causes, and the Lincoln Club of San Diego County. He previously served on the boards of directors of the YMCA Summer Camp.

In addition to being politically active in California and nationally, Nathan is a champion for the democratic process and has spent time abroad working with philanthropic non-governmental organizations to build and improve democracies in East Timor, Cambodia and Serbia.

Nathan is an Ironman Triathlete, marathon runner, and avid outdoorsman who enjoys surfing, alpine mountaineering, and mountain biking. He is a graduate of California Baptist University, where he was a Presidential Merit Scholar and member of the CBU baseball team.

Fletcher lives in San Diego with his wife, Mindy, who recently served as Deputy Campaign Manager and Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Nathan and Mindy are members of Community Bible Church and proud parents of their son Zach.

Join us for a Happy Hour Kickoff as we announce the 2009 festivities

MEDIA ALERT – Save the Date!

January 13, 2009–San Diego, CA

Who: 2009 Spirit of the Fourth Committee

What: “Kick-off Happy Hour Celebration,” to introduce the 2009 Spirit of the Fourth Committee, and announce this year’s exciting additions and festivities

When: Monday, January 26^th, 2009

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (hors d’oeurves and cocktails)

Where: The Elephant Bar, Rancho Bernardo

17051 West Bernardo Drive, (858) 487-7181

Why: Plans for the 40^th Anniversary of the Spirit of the Fourth are underway, and we’ve added lots of exciting things to this year’s festivities! Celebrating forty years as Rancho Bernardo’s premier Independence Day family event, the Spirit of the Fourth commemorates the declaration of our nation’s independence, fostering true patriotism and appreciation of our American heritage.

This year’s theme, “Celebrating the American Spirit” will embrace all that embodies our American Spirit - solidarity, perseverance, independence, and a commitment to preserving our freedom and prosperity. Voted San Diego Family Magazine’s “2008 Best Bet Independence Day Celebration,” this year’s Spirit of the Fourth will provide even more family entertainment in 2009. Festivities this year begin first thing in the morning with the Annual Pancake Breakfast sponsored by the Poway Kiwanis Club, the Wheels of Freedom Motor Show sponsored by the Rancho Bernardo Elephant Bar, a Memorial Service at the RB Veteran’s Memorial in Webb Park, Independence Day Parade, and so much more! And of course, no 4^th of July would be complete without a spectacular fireworks display!

The Spirit of the Fourth Committee is inviting media representatives to the “2009 Happy Hour Kickoff” so you can be the first to hear about all the exciting festivities planned for this years’ event. For more information or to confirm your attendance, please contact Kimberly Bianco, Public Relations Chair, at 619-838-7267 or email kimberly_bianco@sbcglobal.net.

Spirit of the Fourth, Inc. is strictly a volunteer, non-profit 501 (C) (3) corporation, which plans and conducts the Independence Day celebration in Rancho Bernardo. Many of the Spirit of the Fourth committee members work year-round to produce this popular, all-day celebration.

Spirit of the Fourth is proud to be celebrating its 40^th year serving Rancho Bernardo and surrounding communities with a great, old-fashioned Independence Day celebration!

With a troop of Boy Scouts leading the way, backed up by four high school bands, beauty
queens, clowns, jugglers, and a swirl of dignitaries, RB’s 38th Spirit of the Fourth parade will
step off smartly at 3:30 p.m. on July 4th. Unicyclist, drum majorettes, flag twirlers, military marching bands, and kids on wheels offer fun for the entire family.

The parade begins at the RB Post Office in the Plaza, proceeds north on Acena Road, turns left onto Ranch Bernardo Road, turns left onto Bernardo Center Drive, turns left onto Lomica Drive and ends at the Post Office.

C o n g r e s s m e n Duncan Hunter, Brian Bilbray, and Darryl Issa will be among the elected
officials riding in the parade along with State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth and A s s e m b l yman George Plescia.

County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, and City Councilman Brian Maienschein will lead the local contingent of officials.