Support your local ice cream stores:  Schoolhouse Creamery, 17 Fox Farm Road.  Open daily from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m.  Frosty Joe’s, 1 Track Drive, Binghamton.  Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.  (located across from Love’s gas station near Five Mile Point)

The first records of something like ice cream being made and consumed date back to around 697 AD in China.

It was President Ronal Reagan that, in 1984, had the idea to create a special holiday to commemorate the delicious treat that over 90 percent of Americans love to eat. At first, this day was only meant to be observed once, on July 15 of 1984. But the dairy industry saw an opportunity and made it into an annual celebration. The day quickly became one of America’s favorite holidays, and it actually encourages people to eat more ice cream. Currently, it is estimated that 23 gallons of ice cream are consumed in America every year.