7 minute read
TRIUMPHANT RETURN
BASH IS BACK!
ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER
After a two-year hiatus, a tradition dating back more than 10 years is returning with red, white and blue sparks for this year’s Fourth of July celebration in Baldwin Park.
The first production of the Independence Bash was a smaller rendition produced by the Rotary Club of Baldwin Park in 2010. The event was taken over by the Baldwin Park Joint Committee in 2012 and existed as an annual event until the pandemic hit in 2020.
Special Event Producer Adam Bailey says he is excited to have the event back this year and promises it will be bigger and better than ever before.
The free event will kick off with a festival in the Village Center of Baldwin Park hosted by the Baldwin Park Joint Committee and presented by Orlando Health. The Village Center will come alive with participants and sponsors of all kinds offering fun including shopping, festival snacks and food trucks, a beer garden, face painting, balloon art, interactive activities, and more.
Featured food trucks will include Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, The Knot, MiCasita, Chicken Waffle Grill, Artisan Experience, Philreal’s Smokin BBQ, Alo Cuban Kitchen, Pho Wheels Orlando and The Real Maine Lobster.
The event also will feature a main stage near the lake featuring an interactive deejay, Bradmaster J; live performances such as the local Dance 360 Orlando team; and music.
At 9:15 p.m. residents will enjoy a spectacular 15-minute choreographed fireworks show over Lake Baldwin.
File photos
EVENT PRODUCER
Bailey has been designing and producing events for 21 years.
He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management.
Bailey always has had a passion for creating, entertaining and the social aspect that comes from the business.
“There are a lot of pride inducing moments that come from producing large scale events and that fulfillment is what drives me to be the best every day,” he says. “Each day in my world is different, and you never know what’s around the next corner. I just absolutely love it. Being a longtime resident of Baldwin Park, it brings me great joy to provide the community with events that they can be proud of.”
Bailey worked closely with the Baldwin Park Joint Committee, led by president Will Campbell, to produce this event and other signature events to bring the community together and help support the businesses within the area.
The event producer said his goal for the Independence Bash is the same for all of the community events.
“We want to produce polished, well executed events that the community can be proud of, all the while continuing to grow the signature events internally and creatively push the envelope,” Bailey says. “The end goal is a vibrant, involved, flourishing Baldwin Park joining in community.”
IF YOU GO
INDEPENDENCE BASH WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 3 WHERE: Downtown Baldwin Park
Emily Scales is an engraving artist who moved recently to Baldwin Park from Georgia.
Annabelle Sikes
Engraving expert
Baldwin Park resident Emily Scales spreads joy through creating personalized gifts for special occasions.
ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER
For Baldwin Park resident Emily Scales, nothing is better than putting a smile on someone’s face.
Although she has had a passion for people and building connections with the community her whole life, Scales is ready to share her talents with her new home in Baldwin Park through her love for engraving.
“I want to make people feel good and I think that’s just who I am internally,” Scales says. “I love making people happy and I love making people smile. It’s just a part of me.”
ENGRAVING MOMENTS
Although Scales never predicted engraving to become such a large part of her life, it has now become one of her biggest outlets. It’s a passion that lets her explore her creativity, challenge her own boundaries and create meaningful gifts for others.
“People love the personalization of engraved gifts,” she says. “Having a sweet message written on a gift just really enhances it and makes it more of a keepsake. Being able to put a smile on someone’s face when they receive the bottles, they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m keeping this forever. I don’t even want to open it.’”
Scales can engrave almost any glass, customizing items such as
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champagne flutes, wine and liquor bottles, or even perfumes and colognes. Her portable engraver, small enough to fit in her purse, uses a standard script calligraphy font paired with the customer’s choice of silver or gold ink. She said she commonly tries to match any markings on the bottle with the most flattering of the colors.
Scales says she is big into writing the selected message out beforehand so she can have it in front of her as she works. Any small mistake can prove detrimental for the small space suited for engraving — especially because Scales considers herself a perfectionist.
“If I am not perfect, it’s really tough for me,” she admits. “I continued practicing and didn’t give up, and the more I did it, the better I got.”
Scales offers free pick-up and free delivery in the Baldwin Park area. She says it takes about 24 to 48 hours for her to get the item back to the customer, with the customer being able to select eight to 10 words he or she would like on the bottle.
The engraver’s most popular projects are for special occasions or holidays. She said creating a handmade keepsake can sometimes create a special moment for not only the recipient but also the giver.
“I feel like when somebody has a gift that they want to give to someone, it’s already special to them in a way,” she says. “I want to be able to take it one step above that and really wow them.”
TWO PEAS IN A POD
Scales’ passion for engraving is a great way for her to connect with individuals in the community.
She just recently moved to Baldwin Park in April after being born and raised in Georgia.
Scales attended Kennesaw State University in Georgia and was an apparel and tech style major, studying fashion and clothes. After college, she interned with Target and took a job with the company after graduating in 2020. Then, COVID-19 hit.
Although Scales says she enjoyed retail, she wanted something more challenging and also an opportunity where she could spend more time with her family and friends; relationships are important to her.
That’s when her mom gave her the opportunity to come and work with her at Inkwell Designers, a family company that specializes in elegant embossing, hand lettering, sublimation, toner printing, menus, glass and metal engraving, signage, brush and watercolor lettering, hand painting, and so much more.
Scales says her mom gave her the opportunity to learn more about the entrepreneurial side of life. She has been a CEO for more than 20 years and starting both a web design company and Inkwell from their home in Georgia.
“I tried engraving four years ago and I just couldn’t do it,” Scales says. “It was not for me at the time, and I didn’t want to practice with everything I had going on in my life. Then, when I started to work with my mom, I realized I actually loved doing it and it was fun. Now, it’s kind of that creative outlet where I can turn the music on, I’ll have my bottles, I’ll get them ready to go and I just kind of feel like I’m out of my head.”
Like her mom, Scales enjoys being challenged and said she is always looking to “fill up her tool belt” and try new things.
TURNING A NEW LEAF
As part of her adventurous side, Scales has moved to Orlando to be with her previously long-distance boyfriend Tyler, who is studying law at Barry University. She says her boyfriend drove almost every weekend to come and see her while also maintaining his grades.
The two picked the Baldwin Park area because of its smalltown charm and environment, and so far, they love it.
Scales also recently started a new remote job doing technology sales in March.
Outside of doing her best to make other people’s special days extra special, Scales enjoys spending time with Tyler, where they enjoy running, walking and jogging together as well as sharing a passion for food and trying new spots in Orlando.
As far as the future, Scales is taking the journey one day at a time.
“I just want to help whoever I can,” she says. “I love helping people, and of course, I’m not going to say no to business either, but I do have to also focus on my full-time job and my other responsibilities.”
Emily Scales says one of her favorite parts about engraving is creating a unique gift for someone’s special occasion.
Courtesy photos Emily Scales can engrave fragrances, liquor and wine bottles, and more.
