July 4th Flower Show Beats the Heat

The coolest thing about may have been the annual flower show while the hottest item on the agenda could have been the Rotary 10K race and 5K walk. They were both competitive. 

With temperatures in excess of 100 degrees much of the day, the flower show gave all participants a respite in the air conditioned . 

It was a different story for the runners at . The temperature when the race began with more than 100 participants at 8 a.m. was 85 degrees, according to Race Director Barry Gray. Scott Friedlander won the men’s event while Mary Beth O’Donnell took the women’s title.

O'Donnell, a Deerfield resident who has run more than 20 marathons and four ultra marathons, said Wednesday's race was the most grueling of her career. "It was tough on everyone," she said. "It's hard on your body."

In the flower show, Janet Youngberg was the overall winner with her yellow Day Lily. Sisters Ashley Kamen, 10, and Ellie Kamen, 12, were the junior division champions. 

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