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Their view: The biggest Women’s World Cup lesson: Teach girls to be competitive

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Flash-flooding causes headaches around Wilkes-Barre

<p>As we celebrated our nation&#8217;s birthday on Thursday, it was a great day to not only have time off from work, but to look at the fantastic events happening locally.</p><p>America is a beautiful land, and we should all be so grateful for the opportunity to live and grow here.</p><p>Besides the expected cookouts and firework displays, which are a huge part of the celebration and traditions for many, several other observances and festivities occurred.</p><p>There was the Hourigan, Kluger &amp; Quinn helmet giveaway, sponsored by their children&#8217;s advocacy group, HKQ Kids, in Kirby Park. Children 12 and under were fitted for and received free bike helmets &#8211; an effort by the law firm to promote bike-riding safety. It&#8217;s one of many ways the law firm gives back to the community, and this initiative has become an annual occurrence.</p><p>As I wandered through Kirby Park midday on Thursday sampling foods from vendors and checking out the ice cream selection, I noticed the longest line was in front of the HKQ tent, at least at that time of day. I was glad to see such a good cause in motion.</p><p>And there was &#8220;Bernie&#8217;s Memorial&#8221; Run in support of the YMCA that took place in downtown Wilkes-Barre, as well as a party for veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township where veterans were treated to a game of bingo and patriotic sing-a-longs.</p><p>These were just some of the many happenings in the Wyoming Valley.</p><p>The point is you don&#8217;t need to necessarily attend a huge cookout or set off M-80s to enjoy the Fourth.</p><p>Living in a country that has afforded us so much is reason enough to celebrate.</p><p>These other activities &#8211; the helmet giveaway, the run, the veterans party &#8211; were all ample ways to ring in Independence Day.</p><p>This year, I didn&#8217;t attend a huge soiree. I was content spending the day with family and some family friends in a backyard with my feet in some water, even if just for a short time.</p><p>On Thursday, I thought about growing up spending the evening with childhood friends, watching the beautiful fireworks display at Kirby Park. Every year was more fun the last, and each time the displays seemed to get bigger and better. It&#8217;s thrilling that the city puts it on year after year.</p><p>I thought about the leaders involved in the adopting of the Declaration of Independence and the separation of the colonies from Great Britain.</p><p>And I thought about why this holiday is so important.</p><p>If you read this column regularly you know I&#8217;m a fan of birthdays &#8211; my own and other people&#8217;s.</p><p>I believe in celebrating and making time to commemorate such special days.</p><p>Perhaps there is no better birthday to celebrate than that of America, though &#8211; however you choose to do so.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Mike McGinley</p><p>Around Town</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Mike McGinley is the Times Leader Media Group&#8217;s major accounts executive. Reach him at mmcginley@www.timesleader.com or 570-704-3945.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Around Town: Plenty of ways to celebrate Fourth of July