OWASCO - The mood was mellow at this year's Independence Day celebration at Emerson Park. Even the weather was laid back as showers dissolved into a grey sky with a gentle breeze. People trickled in at their own pace as they sized up the skies and parked themselves in their favorite spot.

“Everything was filled up by this time last year,” Cam Stuart, Emerson Park security guard and retired art teacher, who was busy directing traffic. “We've had a ton of calls about whether or not we'd have the show. If it's misty, Syracuse Symphony will still go on. If the wind is 20 mph and higher, they won't fire off the fireworks.”

Stuart was enjoying his role as he knew many of the drivers pulling up as his former students.

People approaching the park could neither miss the American flags flying from every telephone pole on the east side of Owasco Road nor the safety crews of fire departments, sheriff's office, Rural Metro, EMTs, Auburn Police and others parked strategically to move at a moment's notice.

Their command center, in the park's ticket booth, held Chris Morabito, Owasco Fire Department chief; Brian Dahl, EMT; Mike Wellauer, county sheriff's deputy; Cayuga County Fire coordinators Larry Dygert, Pat Donono and Jim Perkins; Niel Rivenburgh, EMS Department Director; and Aileen Sherman state police director. A total of 92 emergency personnel in addition to Auburn Police, fire department, and DPW standing by.

Steve Wellauer, of Throop, a retired corrections officer, head of park security for four years, said he's been serving at this event for 10 years.

“It's a very close-knit group,” he said of the emergency team, “a good example of multiple agencies working together for a common cause.”

“This year it's very slow,” he said. “Usually we're getting ready to find slots to put cars in by this time (about 6:30 p.m.). This is one of our busier events. It's very family friendly.”

Wellauer said that for the past four years no alcohol or glass was allowed in the park, which was a definite improvement.

Patty and Dave Derrin, of Auburn, had already staked out their spot close to the parking lot in front of their silver Coors NASCAR bus. The tailgate was open, and their boombox playing, as they chilled out, waiting for their daughter, boyfriend and granddaughter to come.

“We've been coming here for seven or eight years,” Patty said. Their chips and drinks were stashed on a nearby table and they had all the fixings for a picnic.

“We bring meat for sandwiches, ” she said. “We even bring our own ashtrays and chairs.” Patty said they picked this spot after she got scared away from a lakeside spot that they had during a bad storm and now return to it every year. She likes the fireworks and being with her family.

Wellauer recalled that storm as a time when they had to evacuate the park because there was a lot of lightning.

People continued to arrive by car, on foot, motorcycles and bicycles. The Syracuse Symphony arrived by bus. Driver Dennis Foster, of Herkimer, said he often gets out of the tour bus to listen to the music.

Children played on the slides, monkey bars, and other apparatus in the playground. Marianne Ridley, of King Ferry, was with her son Tyler, 6, and friends Sydney and Lauren Reeves, 8 and 6, from Groton.

“We brought a little grill and had hot dogs,” she said. They arrived when the rain had just stopped. “We've been coming for the past three years.

“I like playing in the playground and watching the fireworks best,” Sydney said.

Charlie Sandborn and Billy Roberts, 13, of Syracuse, played lacrosse in a field near the theater.

“We come here every other year,” Roberts said, adding that they had already had a picnic.

Remarks about Emerson Park floated among the hundreds of people seated before the orchestra in chairs way out to the channel included, “This place was all abandoned about 17 years ago,” and “A lot of people have their weddings here.”

The Symphony Orchestra table was manned by people from its marketing and development departments.

Ellen Schwarty and Carolyn Chestey, of Liverpool, came to buy 3-D glasses.

Lindsay Groves, a cellist in the orchestra, was also at the table and offered to talk about the music being played at this performance.

A medley of music from the various service branches was played, and any members in the audience from that branch stood during the performance.

Such favorites a the “1812 Overture” and “Stars and Stripes Forever” were also included. A special arrangement of the Goldilocks Overture was included as the widow of composer LeRoy Anderson called and offered the orchestra missing parts of the arrangement.

Bill Baker of WCNY was the narrator during “Gardens of Stone” by Joe Galoust. Sousa's “Presidential Polonnaise” was also performed.

The “Poppy's Treat” ice cream truck playing “Little Brown Jug” marched to its own drummer as owner Holly Skrobinsky of Auburn sold flurries and a chocolate cone to Don and Laurie Fisher from southern Onondaga.

Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or at kathleen.barran@lee.net