The Fourth of July is a day of celebration. But on this day, people can celebrate other things besides independence. For 75 cents, they can celebrate bowling.

Skyway Lanes is a place of celebration on Independence Day. Bowlers get their fill of hot dogs and soft drinks, which cost 75 cents apiece. Or they can bowl for 75 cents. If they need shoes to get their strikes, the cost is 75 cents, of coarse.

Regular price to bowl is two bucks, but seniors and children pay $1.50.

Judy Allen, 54, manager of the bowling alley, has a passion for

bowling. Her mounted picture stands adjacent to the bowling counter in the St. Petersburg Bowling Hall of Fame. In 1999 she bowled four 300 games, which earned her a spot in the 1999 slot on the wall. Her passion for bowling has spilled out onto her customers. She has created enthusiasm and people are drawn by her excitement for bowling. It works, people come. People bowl.

There is a special reason to celebrate today because Allen is giving away free drinks to the bowlers who knock down the red pins. The pins are randomly placed amongst regular pins. "I just came up with the idea out of my head,'' Allen says.

Across the bowling alley Sanner Paul, 81, shouts, "I won a free drink!'' He walks triumphantly up to the counter to claim his prize from Allen. He returns to the group of his three bowling buddies carrying a cup of coffee. Dan Sullivan, 75, looks at the coffee and says, "What, wouldn't they give you a free beer?''

"Nope, I'm not old enough,'' Paul answers.

Stan Borzelleca, 75, who his buddies scoff, "always wins,'' says the secret to a strike is "getting the ball in the right place.'' Wearing a pink shirt, he throws out advice to his friends, telling them to "wiggle while you throw that.''

When it's his turn, Borzelleca grabs his bowling ball and concentrates on his targets at the end of the lane. He takes two steps and releases the ball as his right leg swings out behind him. Another strike. His third one in a row. "I'm on today, baby,'' he says as he shoots his arms into the air and a wild strand of white hair flies out from behind his balding head. If he could kick his heels together in his bowling shoes, he would.

Down a couple of lanes, six elderly women burst into rounds of giggles as they clap their hands in congratulations. "That-a-girl'' they shout to a friend who just kicked a spare with her wicked curve ball. She is wearing a white shirt with a red and blue explosion in the middle of her shirt that reads "USA.''

Meanwhile, Judy Allen is talking over the loud speaker, advising when a lane is open or offering a bowler congratulations. Stan Borzelleca receives a message from her on the bowling screen that reads, "You can do it, Stan.'' She works behind the counter giving shoes to customers or helping people with any troubles. Every now and then she throws her head back to laugh at bowlers who are strutting their stuff.

Allen encourages bowlers to have fun on and off the lanes. She likes working here and tries to come up with entertaining activities.

Skyway Lanes has team karaoke and team bowling on Fridays. Senior bowling is from one o'clock to three on Fridays. A '70s night is being planned for Aug. 5. League bowling is a favorite pastime for most regular bowlers. Activities continue to grow as the ideas appeal to the bowlers.

She works alongside Justin Beitch, 17, who says Allen is trying to provide more programs to attract people so the place won't close down. Allen used to coach Beitch in bowling when he was 5 years old. "He is my boy,'' she says.

He has the highest high school bowling average in Pinellas County and has earned thousands of dollars in bowling tournaments. He plans to put the money toward medical school. "Oh, I'll be a pro bowler on the side,'' he says.

Dorothy Meier says Independence Day at Skyway Lanes is celebrating a "good sport with good friends.'' A striking celebration that is pleasurable for all. The kick and a good follow-through look like the keys to celebrating bowling here on the Fourth of July.

In lanes nine and 10 a family of six is celebrating their Independence Day with confidence. Larry Bethune, 37, says he likes to bowl because "it is just another thing I'm good at.''

His competition, David Hudson, 12, says about himself, "I bowl like a pro.''

He looks down the lane with determination and swings his arm forward to let loose a rolling canon that falls into the gutter at the end of the lane. But wait. It flips out of the gutter, and knocks one pin down from the stack of 10.

Then comes Hudson's next turn. He knocks down eight pins and drops to his knees in front of the lane. He shouts, "I told you I'm the master.'' Then he saunters back to his seat. He's thinking about his next turn.