Family bingo and fireworks' blasts part of festivities

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BY HILARY KINDSCHUH / Lincoln Journal Star

Only two spaces stand between Collette Hamersky and victory.

She points to her card, showing her mother.

But when the next number is called, a boy at the table behind them shouts “Bingo!” — and 9-year-old Collette’s hopes fizzle like a dying sparkler.

They’re always so close.

“Look, I just needed one again,” Collette’s mother, Kathy Ponte-Hamersky, tells her daughter, pointing to one of her cards. “It’s going be our turn pretty soon.”

 

 

*** 

Kathy’s family comes out to Oak Lake Park every Fourth of July to take in a day of activities.

Later Tuesday afternoon, the family — Kathy, her husband, Charlie, their two sons, Antonio, 6, and Bryson, 4, and Collette — planned to go to a pool party at a friend’s home. They would stay there to watch the fireworks when it was dark.

Kathy said she kind of wished her family would be at the park for the fireworks display, because this year the Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra would be playing a live show timed with the fireworks.

Dave Norris, representative of the Lincoln Mayor’s Office and City Events Team, said with the new addition of the live symphony show, Lincoln was “taking this celebration to a new level.”

The symphony, which is kicking off its 80th season, planned to perform patriotic classics, such as “Fanfare for the Common Man,” “1812 Overture” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

“Oak Lake Park and the city’s Fourth of July celebration give the opportunity to bring the symphony to people who haven’t had the experience,” Norris said. “I’ve heard some people say it will be like Lincoln’s answer to the Boston Pops.”

As far as Norris knew, this was the first time the city would have live music with its fireworks display.

“It’s precedent-setting,” Norris said. “We have turned a city park into a rather prominent concert venue.”

This was the fourth year the city hosted its Fourth of July show at Oak Lake Park, Norris said. The city switched to the park when Holmes Lake Park started undergoing renovations.

 

 

*** 

A new game is starting.

Mother and daughter will keep their cards for a while — “especially since we’ve been so close,” Kathy says.

Bingo cards are a bargain — 50 cents each or three for $1 each game.

That’s why Kathy is playing two cards, and Collette one.

“Bingo!”

“That was quick,” Kathy says.

Someone else has won again.

Maybe it’s time for some new cards.

So when the man with the bingo cards comes to their table, Kathy and Collette trade two of their cards.

“Hope you have better luck with that one,” the man says before walking on.

Kathy points out to Collette that fewer people are playing now.

“Our odds are better,” she said.

But their luck doesn’t change. Another game comes and goes, and another winner reaches bingo before Kathy and Collette.

Collette is disappointed — and hungry. When her father, Charlie, comes to check on them, Collette decides to go with him and her two younger brothers to get some ice cream.

A new game starts, and Kathy is alone, watching all three cards.

She prefers celebrating the Fourth of July at Oak Lake — it feels more open, more family-oriented, and parking seems more accessible.

Plus, they never had bingo at Holmes Lake, she says.

“I-22,” the caller says.

The game only started a few minutes ago, but already there is a winner.

“Bingo!”

This time, however, the word is coming from Kathy’s mouth.

“Collette’s going to be bummed she wasn’t here,” Kathy says.

One of the bingo game volunteers comes up to Kathy to give her a prize for her win — she will split $8 with another winner.

“It pays for the games we’ve played today,” Kathy says. “We just about break even.”

Reach Hilary Kindschuh at 473-7120 or hkindschuh@journalstar.com.