Getting a Jump on 2013: The 75th Anniversary of Greendale

There are two ways to jump - three if you are Van Halen.

There is the Standing Broad Jump, which despite sounding like a Frank Sinatra hit from 1948, is dull and ineffective.  Step away from your computer for a moment and execute a Standing Broad Jump.  I’ll wait…

Goofy, right?  Your arms flail, that grunting noise was a little surprising and for what?  13.5 inches of unsatisfying flight that scared the dog.

This will not surprise you.  The Standing Broad Jump – even with the potential fun one could have with its name – ceased being an Olympic event in 1912. 

There are better ways to get a good jump.

Ask any 5 year old at Jaycee Park and they will show you.  The best way to jump is to do this: Get a good running start.  

Five-year olds have nothing on the Greendale 75th Anniversary Committee. This is a group that knows the importance of a good running start.  Some background:

In two years, Greendale celebrates the Big “7 – 5”.  That, my friends, is noteworthy.  It is, in fact, the Diamond Anniversary. 

(Now there are people who think every anniversary should be diamond –worthy. These people are called “women.”  I personally like the first anniversary, which is the ‘paper anniversary’.  “Here, honey – I got you the Journal Sentinel… Love you!”)

So, you are a Village and you are turning 75 in 2013. What do you do?  You start the party in 2011.

This Sunday – May 1, 2011 – the Gazebo on Broad Street will be the site of the 75th Anniversary Kick Off.  This miserable April finally coming to an end is, alone, reason to celebrate, but there is much more.

There will be a presentation of the “Preserve America” award to Greendale.  There will be fire trucks and police cars.  (As we say in Greendale, “It’s not a real party unless the police show up.”)  Winners of the “What Greendale Means to Me” contest will be announced. There will be custom and classic cars on display.

Most of all there will be this: Guaranteed sunshine – that good ‘sense of community’ type of neighborly warmth. Non-figurative warmth and sunshine is “TBD” - to be determined. 

Go to www.greendale.org/75 and get the full scoop. 

(While you are at the Greendale 75 web site, you can find out how to be part of the Countdown to 75 Calendar. This web site – new and growing – also contains some very cool pictures. And be sure to read the ITB-style ‘welcome’ that I personally give five stars.)

The ‘Greendale 75 Kick-off’ kicks off (see what I did there?) at 1 p.m. and runs until 3:00 on Sunday, May 1.

Let’s get the party started.