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Follow on Google News | Navy gearing up to help out at 61st annual 'PNC Roar on the River' in Trenton, MI, July 22-24Tickets to Friday's "A Taste of the Races," which features 31 of the region's premier restaurants and caterers, can be ordered online at www.trentonroarontheriver.com, or found at serveral locations in town. See the article for those locations.
By: HPR Media & Promotional Services LLC But, wait — it’s not what you think. The military will be represented during Saturday evening’s outdoor concert in the form of the U.S. Navy rock ensemble “Horizon.” One of several regional Navy bands deployed throughout the country, Horizon will hit the stage on the waterfront at about 6 p.m., aiming to bolster crowd morale with a rapid-fire mix of top 40 hits, classic rock, Motown, country, funk and jazz — all played with a flotilla of showmanship. The opportunity to have the Horizon play as the warm-up act for Saturday headliner Category 5 came as the result of some fortuitous timing, since this also happens to be Detroit Navy Week, a promotional tour held in conjunction with this week’s Thunder Over Michigan air show in Ypsilanti. “We are very happy to have them,” said Linda Francetich, coordinator of entertainment for the Roar. The Navy band is one of several new features at this year’s event, which opens Friday evening with A Taste of the Races, a taste-fest style event that will feature offerings of 31 restaurants and caterers, and continues Saturday and Sunday with world championship outboard power boat racing and a wide range of family-themed events. The Trenton Rotary, which plans and organizes the non-profit event as a local community service project, is looking at 2011 as a “recovery year” from the disastrous 2010 opening when severe weather washed out the Friday night party and outdoor concert, and resulted in the cancelation or scaling down of other events throughout the weekend. Trenton Rotary President Tom Dickman optimistically predicts a return to normalcy this year. “The Friday night party is back — and we promise no tornados,” Dickman said. While there was never actually a tornado touchdown at Elizabeth Park, there was a sighting nearby, and the associated wind and rain damaged the outdoor stage, some tents and other facilities. Despite all the obstacles, power boat racing was held throughout the weekend pretty much as scheduled. And Race Director Fred Miller expects racing to resume in top form this year as well, with the world championships in the SST 120 and SST 45 classes to once again be decided in Trenton. Miller anticipates a field of up to 15 SST 120s and as many as 21 SST 45s. The field will include defending 120s champ Butch Ott of Stoney Point, Ontario, and leading tour contenders Steven Dawe and R.J. West, both from California. The racing contingent also will feature some of Michigan’s best drivers, including Steve Merleau of St. Joseph, Gary Barber of Bay City, Kurt McCourtie of Jackson, Amanda Hagerl of Marquette, as well as tour rookies Dustin Fierek and Jim McGuire, of Drummond Island and Bay City, respectively. Jose Mendana Sr., of Miami, making a return to racing after six years, will be joined on the water by racing sons Jose Jr. and Carlos. “We’ Another key addition to the weekend agenda this year is a “Roar Idol” competition, which will be held throughout the afternoon Saturday and Sunday. Modeled after American Idol, the competition will be divided into divisions of youths and teen (8-17 years) and adults (18-plus). All participants will be required to sing a song of their choice without any background music for preliminary auditions on Saturday. If chosen to move to the final round, competitors must be prepared to perform a different song of their choice. The final round will be sung to background music. A Taste of the Races coordinator Ronnie Jacek said plans are coming together well for this year’s gala food fest, as the restaurants, many of which have been involved in the event for several years, remain committed to making the evening a success. For a single admission price of $35, attendees will have the opportunity to sample the wide assortment provided by the numerous restaurants, which typically comprise a great cross section of the region’s best establishments. Discounted tickets are available in blocks of 10 for $30 each. Tickets are available in advance at Trenton City Hall, 2800 Third St., or Jocks & Associates, 3630 West Road. They also can be ordered online at www.trentonroarontheriver.com. Hidden Agenda Band will headline the Friday night show this year. Like Category 5, HAB is a Detroit-based band with a strong local following — and previous Roar on the River experience. Both bands played on Saturday night the past two years. Hidden Agenda Band is noted for adeptly playing a wide range of music, including Top 40, funk, party dance music, classic rock, R&B, Motown, country, smooth jazz and blues. They are often referred to as Detroit’s “Ultimate Party Band.” Nandez Band will kick off the Friday entertainment beginning at about 6:45 p.m. Hidden Agenda Band is expected to hit the stage at about 8. Saturday’ Horizon, which is based out of Great Lakes, Ill., will entertain from about 6-8 p.m. Category 5 will take the stage at 8:30. Horizon’s superb showmanship and outstanding musical presentation has put them in high demand for state fairs, concert events, music festivals, and recruiting venues. Roar special events coordinator Bruce Diven said the Navy also is expected to have a presence out on the water with boats and throughout the park with various displays both race days. And also set to return to the agenda is the Saturday evening fireworks show, scheduled to happen around dusk. Last year the fireworks were cancelled, another casualty of the storm that hit Friday night. “The fireworks show will probably be better than ever this year,” Diven said. One event that will not return, though, is the classic car show. A more limited classic car “display” is expected to stationed along the park’s circle drive, but no prizes will be awarded. With the exception of the ticketed party on Friday evening, there is no charge to attend any of the events held during Roar on the River weekend. A $5 donation is requested to park vehicles inside the park as a means of supporting the park and helping to defer the Rotary’s cost of staging the races. Dickman said any surplus funds Rotary raises from this non-profit event will be used to support Rotary charitable projects. On-site concessions and souvenirs will be available on the parks grounds, and the traditional pancake breakfast fundraiser by Boy Scout Troop 1721 will be available for a nominal charge both Saturday and Sunday mornings. There also will be added activities for young children both days, thanks to lead sponsor PNC Bank sending its Mobile Learning Adventure Center, which provides an interactive experience geared mainly toward children 5 and under. Plus, the annual MBT Downriver Fun Fair will return as well, with games and inflatable attractions provided by Fun Services. Other features include special visits by the Detroit Pistons Automotion Dancers, a climbing wall and a bungee jumper. The entrance to Elizabeth Park is located on West Jefferson Avenue, three blocks south of West Road. To keep track of the latest developments, add the roar Website, www.trentonroarontheriver.com, to your favorites or send a Friend request to Roar on the River on Facebook. FOR A DETAIL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, VISIT http://www.trentonroarontheriver.com/ # # # Information provided by HPR Media & Promotional Services on behalf of the Trenton, Michigan, Rotary Club, which organizes the PNC Roar on the River. HPR is a southeast-Michigan- End
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