Belleville Bridge Walk, Taste of Belleville, dedication of canoe/kayak launch draw large crowd

A large crowd attended the Belleville Bridge Walk, Taste of Belleville, and dedication of the new canoe/kayak launch at Horizon Park on Aug. 20.
Not everyone took part in the 20th-annual bridgewalk, but those who did paused for a group photo before heading off to the Taste of Belleville.
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell was a part of the festivities and joined in the walk.
To mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the walkers included five WWII veterans who rode across the bridge. In golf carts with drivers were Chester Thurston, 97, U.S. Army Air Corps; George Craven, U.S. Navy; Primitivo Gutierrez, 90, U.S. Navy; and Walter Skszek, 93, U.S. Army. Making his way alone in his motorized chair with flag flying was Don Bluhm, 91, Army Air Force. Dave Meechan played the bagpipes to lead the procession.
After the walk, Mayor Kerreen Conley laid a wreath at the Veterans’ Memorial and the Belleville Community Chorus sang “God Bless America” and “I’m Proud to Be an American” using their newly purchased sound system for the first time.
Merrie Carlock of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said a few words in front of the plaque at the entrance to the new canoe/kayak launch at Horizon Park. The MDNR Trust gave a grant to construct the launch.
This was the dedication of the launch and Elizabeth Riggs from the Huron River Water Council also spoke. She presented a “Mile Marker” sign to mark the Belleville stop as part of the 104-mile Huron River Water Trail. The sign says Belleville marks 50 kilometers on the trail (31.3 miles).
The day was cool and quite windy, so only about five people took advantage of the free kayaks and canoes available to paddle. Towards evening, the wind died down and more got out on the lake in the kayaks and canoes.
The Taste of Belleville had a huge turnout. Three restaurants that agreed to take part in the Taste did not inform the Central Business Community that they were not coming. They just didn’t show up: The Lunch Box, Edible Arrangements, and Applebee’s.
Winners of the Rotary Club’s Rubber Ducky Race were: Adam Silvenis, $750; Kelly Dougherty, $450; and Jeff L. Aimone, $100. The race was a fund raiser for the club which will use the proceeds for tri-community projects.