TURNER – Residents celebrated Independence Day on July 4th with the rest of the nation, marking the day with a parade, fun and games on the Common for youngsters, the grand opening of a new library and historical museum, and consumption of strawberry shortcake.

The shortcake has become a most attractive tradition of Turner’s Fourth of July, proven again this year by the consumption of more than 200 pounds of strawberries, 60 pints of whipped cream and 500 homemade biscuits. All proceeds from the Strawberry Fest benefit the Turner Public Library.

Led by a color guard of men from the Buckfield American Legion Post 58, the more than 40-unit parade featured veterans; firefighters and rescuers and their equipment from Turner, Greene and Leeds; bicycles; classic cars; horses; dogs; Antique tractors; children, parents and grandparents decked out in red, white and blue; floats, including one depicting the Leavitt Institute Building and a reminder about the grand opening of the historical association museum; ending with a couple of grandfathers riding a bicycle built for two.

While some families and children played games on the common, others enjoyed shortcake under a large tent. Pam Weeks of Whippoorwill Music provided fiddle music.

Other treats available were hot dogs and cold drinks from the Turner Volunteer Fire Department and bottles of cold water from the LAHS Class of 08.

Hundreds of people toured the inviting new library, replete with history, in the Leavitt Institute building next to the elementary school and the Leavitt Area High School. The new library has a colorful children’s area, a quiet reference room and a bright inviting reading room.

Turner’s farming and dairy history is displayed in the museum, as are many other elements of the town’s past, including displays honoring men and women from the town who lost their lives in times of war.


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