Beacon Aug 2023

Page 2A THE BEACON August 2023
By
Tamara
Taylor
Happiness is the Key
I recently attended a horse
show. Not just a horse show,
but the most prestigious
equestrian event in the world.
Horses from all over the globe
are flown into Lexington, KY
to compete in this three-day
event. One part of the competition
involves a cross-country
course. Horses and their riders
take the course at breakneck
speed (literally) and sail over
almost impossible jumps and
water obstacles. What a rush!
While I was anxiously
awaiting the passing of the first
rider at one of the jumps, a battered
pickup truck pulled up.
An older woman was driving.
As she got out of the vehicle,
one could tell that she had
lost the spryness of youth. Of
course, I struck up a conversation
with her and learned that
she was the master designer
for the 6,520-meter crosscountry
course that included
twenty-eight fences and fortynine
jumping efforts. She has
been designing and overseeing
the course for thirty-five years.
The woman was 85 years old.
The next time I see something
that needs to be done,
I will remember that woman
and realize that we are never
too old to make a difference in
someone else’s life.
This leads me to the upcoming
Bright Parade. It all
started with the vision of four
residents who wanted to bring
a little happiness to their community.
The following story
was written by Karen Blasdel,
a leader in our community.
Everyone Loves
a Parade! As the
story goes, that
thought is the
basis for the Bright
Parade which has
been held annually
since it began
in 1991. With one
exception- 2020-
the year that Bright
and the World shut
down.
The communities
of Bright
and Logan were
ravaged by an
F4 tornado on June 2, 1991.
Destruction ranged from a
few loose shingles to homes
completely blown away.
People were feeling the pain
of their friends and neighbors,
even if their properties were
left unscathed. Community
members came together and
helped each other through this
tragedy.
Four members of the Community
decided that a parade
was just what was needed
to lift everyone’s spirits and
spread good cheer. The bonus
of the parade was bringing a
crowd to the Bright Fire Department
Festival to help thank
the many volunteer firefighters
and EMS for all the help they
had provided when they were
needed most. The committee
of the late Gary Morris, Art
Little, Dale Lutz, and Jody
Blasdel, and their families
brought the parade to life.
The first parade route began
on JEB Dr., continued up
Stateline Rd. to the reviewing
stand in the Presbyterian
Church lot, made a left onto
Salt Fork Rd., and ended at the
Brightwoods Firehouse. The
route was later changed to start
at the Bright Christian Church
and again end at the Brightwoods
Firehouse. They say
history repeats itself… again
Publisher/Editor
Tamara M. Taylor
Founding Publisher
Elizabeth Morris
Sales Manager - New Accounts
Gene Belew
Editorial Assistants
Connie Webb, Cherie Maddin
Columnists & Contributors
Debbie Acasio, Melanie Alexander,
Susan Carson, Linda Cromer,
Larry Eaton, PG Gentrup,
Cheryl Damon-Greiner,
Jeff Hermesch, Mary-Alice Helms,
Merrill and Linda Hutchinson,
Amanda Kirchner, Vivian Kist,
Laura Keller, Chris Nobbe,
Marie Segale, Sue Siefert,
Maureen Stenger, Cheryl Taylor,
Rhonda Trabel, Randy Turner,
Bob Waples, Lorene Westmeier,
Lisa West, Debbie Zimmer
One of the jumps designed at the most
prestigous equestrian event in the world.
and again. This year the parade
will follow that same route on
Saturday, July 29th starting at
11:00 A.M. Line-up begins at
9:00 A.M. No preregistration
is needed. Simply show up,
register, and the magic begins!
Throughout the years, the
parade has been filled with all
sorts of parade participants.
Lee Hamilton, a longtime US
representative from the 9th
Congressional District was at
the 1991 parade, and every
politician imaginable from
State offices to our local officials
has been marching year
after year. For every parade,
Grand Marshals have been
selected because of their dedication
to the community. The
distinguished list of honorees
can be found on a plaque in
the foyer of the North Dearborn
Library.
The Bright Parade has
always been a great place
to show the area what our
community is all about. It has
been filled with Kings and
Queens, Princes and Princesses,
Scout troops, ball teams,
bands, business floats, antique
cars and tractors, church
groups, fire trucks from all
over the area, Shrine motorcycles
and cars, dance groups,
great philanthropic groups
like the Lions, and even some
TV stars from shows like the
Over 22,000 distribution & growing! To advertise, call 812-637-0660
THE
BEACON
For advertising rate inquiries
and to submit news and photos:
editor@goBEACONnews.com
Phone: 812-637-0660
website:
goBEACONnews.com
The Beacon is an independent
monthly publication with
distribution in Dearborn, Ripley,
Franklin and Ohio Counties in
Indiana and Harrison, Ohio.
Published since 1994.
Beacon News, Inc.
PO Box 4022
Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025.
Member:
Dearborn County
Chamber of Commerce,
Ripley County
Chamber of Commerce,
Bright Area Business Association,
Batesville Chamber
Production
FX-Design, Inc.
of Commerce 6-23
Copyright © 2023 by Beacon News, Inc.
Mike and Diane Bender
Beverly Hillbillies and the
Andy Griffith Show! The entries
are filled with great ideas
and have no limits.
The parade is called the
Bright Community Parade,
and it’s easy to see that the
Community is the star of the
show. With all of the entries
involved and the hundreds of
people either walking or riding
in the parade, one would
think that no one would be left
to come and watch the parade.
But the parade route is always
lined with hundreds of people
who love to see what the community
has to offer. It is often
the catalyst for reunions and
gatherings as well. If you’ve
never been involved in the parade,
this is your year to come
out and join in the fun.
This year will be the 32nd
year of the Bright Community
Parade. It is hosted by the
Bright Area Business Association
as well as some of the
founding members of the Parade
Committee. While some
things have changed, some
will stay the same. The Parade
was started and continues to
bring the community together.
This year’s Grand Marshals
will be Mike and Diane Bender
from the Logan Supermart.
The long list of community
service that this couple does
is never-ending. Being Grand
Marshals is a great tribute to
a hard-working couple whose
names will be added to the
plaque on the library wall.
The Community will
continue to be the star of the
Parade, participants will come
from near and far to show
off their latest and greatest,
and people will come out in
droves to enjoy a good oldfashioned
parade. Although
Bright Fire and EMS have
decided that they will no longer
have a festival, we should
all show our support for this
mostly volunteer group who
put their lives on the line for
the Community in our times
of need. The idea that came
to life 33 years ago in 1991
will continue to be the parade
motto in 2023. Let’s help our
neighbors, lift some spirits
and showcase our beautiful
Community to all because as
the saying goes - everyone
loves a parade!
The BEACON - Great News for Great People.