Long ago … in Scripps Ranch
The publisher of Scripps Ranch News served as the editor of the old Scripps Ranch Sentinel newspaper in 1989. Here is what was happening this week 28 years ago.
The week of June 29, 1989, the Scripps Ranch Fourth of July Freedom Festival was nearing its final stages of preparation. Sunshine Bergen, one of the event’s directors, wanted to assure everyone that the celebration would be a family-oriented event. This was to be the 19th year such an event took place in Scripps Ranch.
The Scripps Ranch Fourth of July Freedom Festival parade had 50 registered entries, including the Mira Mesa High School Band and drill team, Hazard Construction’s steam calliope and a team of horses sponsored by Vons. The parade was considered “one of the best Fourth of July community parades in California” by the Los Angeles Times.
Following the parade, everyone was invited to the community’s traditional Fourth of July picnic in Hoyt Park. Residents can bring their own lunch or buy lunch items from one of the booths sponsored by local organizations including Job’s Daughters, United States International University students, Mira Mesa Band Boosters and the Save Miramar Lake Committee. Police form the local storefront were on hand to show off one of their squad cars. The Friends of Scripps Ranch Library provided an Astro Jump for kids. Awards for the parade were set to be given out at 12:30 p.m. An assortment of picnic games were conducted afterward, such as an egg toss and sack races.
The Scripps Ranch Old Pros put on the annual runs and bike rides much like today (in its 13th year at the time), but the 50-Mile Bike Ride began on Scripps Ranch Boulevard, “two blocks south of the K-Mart.”
1989 was the first year that Scripps Ranch co-sponsored the Fourth of July fireworks display with Mira Mesa, raising more than $1,000 from local businesses. The display was shot off from Mira Mesa High School, but because of the co-sponsorship with Scripps Ranch, the show was sure to be the biggest ever.