This Fourth of July weekend is proving to be special for Juliana McGovern of Marmion Way.

Her son, Air Force Col. James J. McGovern, has come home for to spend time with family for the holiday.

The colonel, his Welsh wife Lisa, whom he met while stationed in England, and the couple's 13-year-old son, James Ryan McGovern, were to arrive yesterday from Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.

Juliana McGovern said this is first time her son has been home since the Fourth of July weekend in 2007. Since then, he has finished a master's degree and graduated with highest academic distinction from the Air War College, and took command, in May 2008, of the 366th Operations Group, based at Mountain Home. As commander, he oversees the flying operations of the F-15E and F-15C aircraft. The group has more than 800 military and civilian members assigned to three fighter squadrons, the 366th Operations Support Squadron, the 266th Range Squadron and the 388th Electronic Combat Squadron, which flies Navy EA-6Bs in the Joint Prowler program at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

The proud mother said the family planned to take in the Gloucester parade last night, and then attend tonight's parade and bonfire in town. "Then we'll have some seafood," she said. "Being out in the mountains, I think he'd like a lobster."

"I have seven sisters and brothers, so we'll be traveling to that other Cape to see them," Juliana McGovern said.

Col. McGovern was in the Pentagon during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, serving as a liaison to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, she said. "They told them to run to the Quadrangle, but he and his buddies ran the other way to pull people from the burning building," she said.

He achieved the rank of colonel in August 2007, and has received numerous awards and decorations, including the Silver Star for valor, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal.

He has taken part in Operations Desert Storm, Deny Flight over Bosnia Herzegovina, Allied Force over Kosovo, and Enduring Freedom in Iraq.

Catch the Storytime Train

Hundreds of children from across the North Shore will join local youngsters Wednesday for an afternoon of stories and entertainment in Millbrook Meadow.

Children and their parents from nearby communities will board the Storytime Train (MBTA Monserrat commuter rail) and travel to Rockport. Families are invited to bring a lunch and join library staff and volunteers in greeting visitors from other towns when the train pulls into the station at 11:25 a.m.

The group will walk to Millbrook Meadow to enjoy their picnic lunches.

Activities in the meadow will begin around 12:20 p.m. Colored balloons will guide children from one activity to another.

Professional storytellers Tony Toledo and Sharon Chace will be stationed at the red and blue balloons.

"Tattoos" will be available at the yellow balloons.

In case of rain, the event will be canceled.

For further information, contact Rockport Public Library at 978-546-6934 or go to www.rockportlibrary.org.

On Wednesday, July 15, at 11 a.m. in Millbrook Meadow, juggler and magician LuckyBob will entertain the children.

These programs are funded by the Friends of the Rockport Public Library.

Legion Band to begin 76th season

The Rockport Legion Band will open its 76th summer concert season Sunday, July 12, with a program titled "Reflections and Projections." The program will both honor the late conductor emeritus Robert E. Puff, and look into the future of the band.

The program will include music by George Gershwin,¬  Leroy Anderson, Meredith Willson,¬ John Philip Sousa, a selection of music from the film "The Wizard of Oz," music arranged by Puff, and the premiere of a march written in his memory by a band member who wishes to remain nameless here.¬ 

The composer of the march tells the Times that Puff, who also wrote a couple of marches of his own, was a big fan of German and Austrian marches, as well as those in other European styles. "This march has a first strain that is in the style of a German march, and a trio section that is in the style of an Italian march. There are even references to British marches in the introduction and break strain," the composer said.

The program will also include music taken from the first¬ CD ever released by the band, which will be on sale during the show, as well as a few other surprises.

Concerts will be held every Sunday evening through Aug. 30; listeners are invited to bring their own chairs or blankets to this family-friendly program.¬ Refreshments will be available. All concerts will begin at 7 p.m. and are presented on the bandstand at Rockport's Back Beach.

Club offering Seaside Garden tour

Tickets are still available for the Rockport Garden Club's tour of "Seaside Gardens" next Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.

The tour will take visitors to some of Rockport's diverse private seaside gardens, many open to the public for the first time. The tour consists of ten stops and features 15 gardens, each offering unique plantings and gardening styles. Perennials, refreshments, and original art will be offered for sale at designated tour sites.

Tickets are $25 and are available in advance at Toad Hall Bookstore, 51 Main St., or by calling 978-546-2250 or 978-546-7871. The Garden Club uses all proceeds to plant and maintain Rockport's town gardens and to fund civic projects and scholarships.

Bridge Club

These are the most recent bridge scores for the Rockport Duplicate Bridge Club:

Tuesday, June 23: First, Muriel Davis and Elaine Luongo, 66; tied for third, Molly Foster and Lyn FitzGerald, Pat Sylvia and Merrill Goestner, and Cheryl Hunt and Lynn Crain, 61.

Thursday, June 25: First, Maureen Sheehan and Cynthia Bjorlie, 481âÑ2; second, Lynn Crain and Anne Millar, 47; third, Molly Foster and Lyn FitzGerald, 45.

Saturday, June 27: Tied for first, Muriel Davis and Gus Lawson, and Molly Foster and Merrill Goestner, 511âÑ2; third, Syd and Charlotte Goldan, 51.

Tuesday, June 30: First, Milt and Helen Lauenstein, 59; second, Pat Sylvia and Merrill Goestner, 561âÑ2; third, Cynthia Bjorlie and Elaine Luongo, 51.

Thursday, July 2: First, Maureen Sheehan and Lyn FitzGerald, 531âÑ2; second, Herb Hurwitz and Judy Feldman, 491âÑ2; and third, Pat Sylvia and Elaine Luongo, 421âÑ2.

Rockport beat reporter Jonathan L'Ecuyer is on vacation this week. He'll return next week; if you have tip, story idea, or item for Ramblings, call him at 978-283-7000, ext. 3451, or e-mail jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.