Menifee's Annual Independence Day Parade

Celebrate Menifee’s annual Independence Day Celebration with a night of festivities at no cost on Saturday, June 29 at Wheatfield Park.

The event will begin with a parade down La Piedra Road at 5 p.m. It is open to guest participation and will conclude with a fireworks display at 9 p.m.

The event will offer entertainment for all ages, including live music from the Josh Royse Band and Cloud, a free kids zone and more than 100 food and craft vendors. The night will also include stunts and tricks from Gale Webb’s Extreme Sports and Air Show for a full night of family fun. 

Although the event is free, guests are encouraged to bring canned goods as donations for the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard, a non-profit organization aimed to aid locals who suffer from hunger and malnutrition. 

A free round-trip shuttle to the event will be available from the Sun City Civic Association parking lot at the corner of Sun City and Cherry Hills boulevards to Wheatfield Park from 5 to 10 p.m.

Street parking is available along Menifee and La Piedra roads with directional “no parking 
signage” to clearly mark designated areas. Limited parking is available in the dirt lot across from
park. 

Wheatfield Park is located at Menifee and La Piedra roads. To participate in the event’s parade, call 951-377-6089. For more information, contact the city of Menifee at 951-677-3072.

Farragut Holds 26th Independence Day Parade

The Town of Farragut will host the 26th Annual Independence Day Parade beginning at 9:30 a.m. July 4. The parade will begin on Kingston Pike at Lendon Welch Way (Farragut High School entrance) and continue to Boring Road, just east of Farragut Towne Square Shopping Center (old Ingles store site).

This year’s Grand Marshal is the Farragut Folklife Museum. Their float will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Campbell Station with an encampment scene that will depict both Union and Confederate soldiers in uniform. Entries have been submitted by groups such as businesses, community and civic organizations, area schools and churches and will include the Farragut High School Band, floats, animals, antique cars, dance groups and elected officials.

Due to the parade, Kingston Pike will be closed from Concord Road to Boring Road from 8:30 a.m. to approximately noon. Following are the parade detours:

• North side - Campbell Station Road to Grigsby Chapel Road to Smith Road to Kingston Pike (going west) or Campbell Station Road to Parkside Drive to Lovell Road (going east).

• South side – Concord Road to Turkey Creek Road to Virtue Road to Kingston Pike (going west) or Concord Road to Kingston Pike (going east). S. Campbell Station Road will be open to the private road just south of the former Silver Spoon for access to the bank, post office, etc.

This year, the portion of Kingston Pike from Concord Road/West End Avenue to Campbell Station Road will be reopened approximately 15 minutes after the final parade participant has passed through the Campbell Station Road/Kingston Pike intersection. Kingston Pike will be fully reopened once all participants are safely off the road.

For more info about the parade, call Farragut’s Parks and Leisure Services Department at 865-966-7057 or click here!

Filipinos Hold Independence Day Fete in NYC

The city was having one of those hot and humid Sundays when the air was at its driest and the heat of the sun was punishing, unless you were in a park under a shady elm tree waiting for the big Philippine Independence Day parade.

Schoolteacher Catherine Ranili from Brooklyn didn’t mind the heat at all last Sunday, June 2. She was on Madison Avenue to watch her idol Sharon Cuneta perform live for what seemed to be the largest Philippine Independence Day celebration ever, with a crowd that at times grew to more than 80,000. “I grew up with her songs,” she told the INQUIRER.net.

Fil-Am VIPs greet passing parade. 

Cuneta of TV 5 was among the showbiz celebrities that graced the event and gave it luster. With her were Aga Muhlach and Derek Ramsay.

Wearing a black suit, the Megastar was all sweat as she sang Rey Valera’s “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko.” Senator Bong Revilla of GMA Pinoy TV performed the same song after TV 5’s segment. The three networks shared one stage and had their show one at a time.

Thousands cheered as Cuneta kicked off the parade’s four-hour musical program. She apologized for causing the parade’s delay, saying her limo was snarled in traffic as they headed to the assembly area.

All together

This year’s celebration was unprecedented. The Philippines’ top three television networks offered their talents for the parade.

Actor Rafael Rosell of GMA praised Ambassador Mario de Leon and the parade organizers ending the practice of one network exclusively sponsoring the parade.

“Maganda po itong ginagawa ninyo na pinagsama-sama ninyo kami lahat, lahat ng TV networks,” Rosell said during a meet-and-greet at the consulate.

“It’s this one day in New York that we can shout altogether ‘I’m proud to be Pinoy!’ and show to the world that Filipinos have a great sense of solidarity and camaraderie. That no matter who you work for or what you believe in, we can be united as one,” said Grace Labaguis, marketing consultant for GMA International.

Floats and marchers

The parade featured colorful floats from various community organizations. Leading the parade were Ambassador de Leon, two-time Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDC) president Fe Martinez. Founded in 1990, PIDC is the organizer of this, the largest Independence Day gathering outside the Philippines.

Marian Rivera and Sen. Bong Revilla greet throng. 

Joining Martinez were Sen. Chiz Escudero and girlfriend Heart Evangelista, celebrities Gary Valenciano of TFC, GMA’s Marian Rivera, Rosell, Sen. Revilla. From TV 5 came Cuneta, Muhlach and Ramsay. 

The masked-and-plumed Dinagyang Street Dancers from Iloilo City provided the tempo and color.

Judges gave the marchers grand prize to Bacolod City Masskara NY Edition, with Bibak as first runner-up and Kiding Sindaw Melayu Heritage, second runner-up.

The Floats Category grand prize went to the Filipino Social Club of New York, with Kapampangan Foundation as first runner up and Philippine Fiesta U.S.A., Inc., second runner up. The Dinagyang Festival Group of Ilo-Ilo was given a special participation award.

Food galore

Littered with barbecue sticks and plastic glasses with the remains of melted halo-halo, Madison Square Park was full of the aroma of grilled barbecue.

Families shared food from plastic plates and cardboard boxes. Some were seated on benches others sprawled on the hot pavement. It was a picnic. Small children wore patriotic T-shirts, and some lolos and lolas held umbrellas while dancing to a finale concert by TFC’s Valenciano.

As in any other public events, celebration organizer PIDC met a number of hurdles this year, including serious funding problems. But the commitment to celebrate together as one strong force of Filipino presence in the U.S. was evident during the celebration.

For details, click here.

Ohio Community Sticks Together!

It was nearly midnight on a recent Friday when Keith Urig finally called it quits, though he and his friends weren't quite finished with their life-size model of the time-traveling DeLorean from "Back to the Future."

The pulley system he had rigged up to lift the famous vertically opening gullwing doors was still jerky, and the fog machine was only pushing vapors out of one exhaust port.

"We've been working on the float for three weeks now," said Mr. Urig, a 40-year-old owner of a small excavating company. "Your fingers definitely get tired from ripping up tape."

That is because the faux DeLorean automobile that Mr. Urig helped build for this town's annual parade—along with a 12-foot-tall clock tower also from a scene in the film—was made mostly of duct tape.

In recent years, the tough adhesive, originally designed to waterproof munitions boxes during World War II, has been transformed from a trusty household repair tool to a geeky status symbol. Devotees craft everything from prom dresses to runway fashions to boutique items like wallets, purses and jewelry.

Scenes From a Duct-Tape Festival

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Festival attendees wait to hear results of the duct tape fashion show.

• More photos and interactive graphics

Here in Avon, a town of almost 22,000 outside Cleveland that bills itself as "The Duct Tape Capital of the World," things go a bit further, with an annual three-day celebration of the stuff. At this year's 10th annual Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival, there was a duct tape fashion show and duct tape sculptures of everything from giant Buddy Holly eyeglasses to a towering silver duct system. Thousands of visitors strutted their stuff in sticky homemade creations. The highlight was a parade with 19 floats vying for top prize.

"It's really an all-American product," said Bill Kahl, executive vice president of marketing at ShurTech Brands, the locally based maker of Duck Brand duct tape and one of the largest employers in town. "Kind of like bluejeans."

ShurTech, whose Duck Tape Facebook page has 5.3 million fans, provided each parade participant with 60 rolls—or roughly 600 yards—of tape to fashion floats for the festival.

For Mr. Urig, that wasn't nearly enough. "We had to scrounge every store in town," he said. "I called my sister who lives a half-hour west of here. She picked up 20 more rolls for us."

Enlarge Image

DUCT TAPE

By Saturday morning, the Avon High School parking lot was crowded with floats that more or less conformed to the parade's theme, Decades of Duct Tape. There was a World War II tank, a multicolored VW Bug and a Landspeeder, the antigravity craft featured in Star Wars.

"It was a madhouse trying to get ready this year," said Pat Klingshirn, head adviser of a local 4-H Club who oversaw the building of a large Sherman tank in her garage.

Dressed in camouflage duct tape, Ms. Klingshirn's grandson, 15, stood on a milk carton inside the tank and peered out the hatch. "You just never know how long this tank is going to stay on the trailer," she said. "I told him, 'Just hold on, Tristan, hold on!'"

The 4-H club has won prizes for its parade floats two years in a row. "We knew that there were a lot of good ones this year," said Ms. Klingshirn.

The last four floats Mr. Urig has built—and entered on behalf of his company—won prizes. This year, he and his wife and two young sons worked with other families on a float for their local chapter of Native Sons and Daughters, a national program that encourages bonding between parents and children.

"Everything is trial and error," said Dave Horwedel, the group's leader. "You just bolt things down and hope it doesn't fall apart on the way."

Excited crowds thronged the parade route, waving as floats passed. Thanks to a thick coat of Vaseline and a second fog machine, the DeLorean's doors flapped flawlessly (until the right gullwing broke) and fog billowed evenly from both sides of the car.

The Sherman tank—and Ms. Klingshirn's grandson—also remained intact. "When he popped up a lot of people cheered," she said.

Over on the festival's main stage, professional models stalked down a runway in elaborate duct tape dresses, including an asymmetrical red and black number that took first prize in a "Project Runway" contest this year.

Afterward, children and teens from around the country—and as far away as Canada—showed off their duct tape wear in front of judges who evaluated them on workmanship, originality and creative use of tape.

"It's all duct tape except for a vinyl tablecloth underneath," said Macy Trout, a 10-year-old New Jersey native whose outfit won first place. Dressed as a diner waitress, she wheeled across stage on roller skates carrying a tray full of duct tape burger and fries.

In keeping with the retro theme, art students from the University of Cincinnati displayed giant duct tape sculptures, including a pair of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, a View-Master toy, and a 12-foot-tall Optimus Prime, leader of the Transformers.

"The biggest challenge we faced was getting the tape to stick to the form," said Tyler Hamilton, a recent graduate of UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, and architect of the View-Master. "The internal structure was made of wood, which got dusty in the studio. I overlapped it a lot, and the tape got strength from sticking to other tape."

In the crafting tent, families sat fashioning knickknacks out of duct tape, while more seasoned artisans hawked their duct-tape wares next door.

Robert Stringham, who was dressed in a duct tape apron, pointed to his brother, who wore a plaid duct tape vest, with matching bow-tie and fedora. "I'm trying to outdo him," he said.

By midafternoon when festival planners announced the winning float—the DeLorean—none of its architects were around to see it take first place. Mr. Urig and the rest of the group had volunteered for cleanup crew, and were busy picking duct tape detritus from the trampled grass.

"Most of the fun is in the building," said Mr. Urig. "I guess we could have a nice little campfire with the DeLorean now if we wanted to."

The Philippine American Friendship Day Parade

The Philippine American Friendship Day Parade and Festival will take place on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., along West Side Avenue and in Lincoln Park, Jersey City.

Festivities will begin with a 10 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Victories Church, located at Kennedy Boulevard and Ege Avenue.

At 11:30, the opening ceremony for the parade will be held at West Side Avenue and Claremont Avenue.

The parade begins at 12 p.m. at the Bergen Light Rail parking lot on West Side and Claremont Avenues.

Featuring colorful floats, marching bands, and Filipino celebrities, this year’s 23rd annual parade’s Honorary Grand Marshal is Mayor-elect Steven Fulop.

The parade will travel to Lincoln Park, where the festival begins at 12:30 p.m.

The festival includes performances by 18 different artists and groups, including GMA Kapuso star Glaiza De Castro, a “Filipino Idol” singing competition, flea market, delicious Filipino and Asian Cuisine, and numerous Philippine craft and business booths.

Special guests include GOP gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Barbara Buono, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, Assemblyman Charles Mainor, and the Hudson County Freeholders.

Vulcan Stampede float nearly completed

After plenty of hard work, the USS Vulcan float is in its final stages of completion and gearing up towards being ready for its first appearance in the Calgary Stampede Parade.

A new generator, new battery and safety harnesses are all that’s need to be added in order for the float to be up to the Calgary Stampede’s safety standards, said Wayne Pedersen, one of the creators of the float and Extendicare administrator.

He said he hopes the float will really help put Vulcan on the map.

“Something like this isn’t just your horses or your band playing — it’s unique, and it’s something that has never been done before in the parade,” he said. “I think it’ll be really cool.”

To date, the float has been conditionally accepted and is just waiting on safety inspections that will be completed the day of the parade, said Pedersen.

He is confident the float will meet safety standards since he has been communicating with parade directors every step of the way and has received nothing but positive feedback.

The USS Vulcan was the dream of Pedersen and Pat Schneider when they thought one day after a typical meeting at Extendicare that Vulcan should have a float since it has had one in the past.

The first model, made back in 2008, was constructed out of half-moon shaped tables and cardboard and a layer of grey paint was then added to complete the look. The first year it went through the Spock Days Parade, a separate vehicle pulled the float through the streets of Vulcan, but both Pedersen and Schneider dreamt of one day having a self-propelled float.

A year after its maiden voyage, the USS Vulcan was remade out of an old satellite dish Pedersen found at the local transfer station, and to his surprise, a kind fellow one day made Pedersen’s dream come true.

“When Leonard Nimoy came to town, we were asked to lead him in the parade with the USS Vulcan,” said Pedersen. “Then a fellow from the Danish Canadian Club in Calgary told me he saw the float on the news, and said he had an old self-propelled float deck that they don’t use anymore. He offered it to us for cheap, so I went and looked at it and took it.”

After receiving such a generous contribution from the Calgary man, Pedersen was looking for extra funding and pitched to the town a request for some financial assistance to help grow the floats popularity. A total of $5,000 was given to Pedersen for his efforts from the town of Vulcan.

This year, not only did Pedersen receive the same $5,000 from the town, but Chinook Credit Union also matched the contribution of the town and gave Pedersen an additional $5,000.

“The manager (of Chinook Credit Union) said they would love to contribute to this, and after asking to have the funds, it was approved,” said Pedersen. “It was a big, big help.”

Not only will the float drive its way through the busy streets of Calgary July 5, but it will also be a part of the private, invite-only Alberta Children’s Hospital Parade held July 4. The float will be showcased to all the children that won’t be able to attend the Stampede or the Stampede parade.

Pedersen’s hopes are high that the float will be a top competitor among all other community floats that will be part of the Stampede Parade. A panel of judges adjudicates and awards winners for the best float.

As of last week, there was still one volunteer place available and Pedersen asks anyone who’s interested to contact him either by e-mail at wpedersen@extendicare.com or by phone at 403-485-2022.

Vendors and residents from local and surrounding areas, including Dallmann Computers, Floors First, Indus Graphics, GM Welding and Chinook Credit Union, Bill Storoschuk, Keath Brooks, and Armando Russian were big contributors to the float and Pedersen extends a warm, grateful thank you for the all the help and support.

“It’s not just the float — it’s the people, it’s the sound, it’s going to be the smoke, the lights, and it says Vulcan, AB., right on the front,” said Pedersen. “Everyone will know Vulcan is coming.”

Beautiful 'Villains' for Miss New Jersey Parade

A collection of villains - from Poison Ivy of Batman fame to
Cruella de Vil from "101 Dalmatians" - rolled down the Boardwalk
on Wednesday in the annual Miss New Jersey parade.

The 23 contestants had fun with their costumes, taking the opportunity to dress in elaborate outfits that impressed even experienced parade watchers.

"This was definitely way over the top," said the current Miss New Jersey, Lindsey Petrosh. "I couldn't compare my float last year to these."

The parade villains included the comical Hamburglar, portrayed by Miss Island Resort Cara McCollum, and the evil Nurse Ratched, as done by Miss Central Coast Melissa Hoffman.

Fans lined the Boardwalk from Sixth to 14th streets to watch, take pictures and cheer for their favorite contestants.

Kate Harenza, of Wyomissing, Pa., brought her daughters Madrid, 15, and Elizabeth, 9, as well as her mother, Lynda. The family owns a home in Ocean City and comes each year during pageant week.

"This is a yearly tradition for us" Harenza said. "It's fun and healthy and different."

The family looks forward each year to watching the Miss America Pageant, knowing they saw Miss New Jersey on the Ocean City Boardwalk.

"We've been coming for 10 years now," Harenza said. "We love the 'Show us your Shoes'."

Lynda said she was disappointed when the Miss America Pageant left Atlantic City and is glad to see it back.

As for their favorite costumes? The Wicked Witch of the West, Captain Hook and Cruella de Vil were family's picks.

Pageant co director Lou Barthold said he was impressed too.

"The girls put a lot of effort into this," he said as the parade came to an end.

But there would be little time to celebrate their good work.

"Back to rehearsals," Barthold said.

For details, click here!

Record Crowds for Ice Cream Days

More fun flavored with more sweet treats than ever before -- that's the scoop on Le Mars' Ice Cream Days 2013. All the events last week were very well attended, according to Brad Pick, Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce board president and vice president of marketing.

"Starting Wednesday with the Tri-State Drive-in Cruisers through the fireworks Saturday, I thought it was just a phenomenal event," he said. Days events he'd attended, Pick said. The Chamber coordinates Ice Cream Days each June in the four days leading up to Father's Day.

This year, Wells Enterprises sponsored new events in cooperation with the Chamber to celebrate Wells' 100th birthday in business. Wells is a family-owned ice cream and frozen novelty manufacturer and the city's largest employer.

The partnership between Wells and the Chamber this year impacted attendance at Ice Cream Days, Pick said. "I think we had a good event -- the things that Wells did this year made it, I think, the best Ice Cream Days event," he said.

Wells sponsored traditional activities such as the Le Mars Municipal Band Concert and new ones. They included an ice cream birthday bash, a taste of Wells' products, concerts, Abu Bekr Shrine's Horse Mounted Patrol, a Siouxland Barbershop quartet and fireworks.

Hundreds of children and parents gathered near the Olson Cultural Event Center for the Wells' Birthday Bash Friday, complete with free ice cream, free face painting, free inflatable activities, free train rides and free treats from local banks.

Then people packed the street in front of the Blue Bunny Ice Cream parlor to listen to Old Band Wallace and returning favorite Tonic Sol-fa while enjoying Wells' specialties including Banana Rum Reserve ice cream and Jolly Rancher bomb pops.

Eileen and Raymond Rohlfs, of Le Mars, set up lawn chairs with a good view of the stage to hear Tonic Sol-fa. "This is what we come down for," Eileen said. Audrey Twit, of St. Joseph, Minn., is a newcomer to Le Mars' annual summer celebration who read about it in Midwest Living magazine last year.  She and her husband dried out from a downpour during Saturday's parade by looking at the Sittin' Pretty exhibit of painted chairs and tables in the Le Mars Arts Center.

The artwork was created by area artists as a fundraiser for the Le Mars Arts Council. Pick said It would be an "injustice" to any event to pick out a top highlight of all the Ice Cream Days activities.

People at Ice Cream Days events Saturday agreed.

Pypr Stoeffler, and her grandmother, Rhonda Hageman, both of Hinton, were drinking root beer floats at Miller's lunch at the Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars Saturday. Pypr said she liked "all of it," especially the "parade and candy."

Rhonda looks forward to Art in the Park at Foster Park and "just looking at all the different ideas" there. "I just like the town of Le Mars," she said.

Rhonda grew up in Hinton and recalls swimming in "the pit" at Le Mars Municipal Park. John and Jeanette Baker, of LaPorte, Ind., arrived Thursday night to visit their daughter Donna Macek, and her husband Layne.

This isn't the Bakers first Ice Cream Day trip.  "Le Mars is a friendly town and I love Blue Bunny Ice Cream," Jeanette said. The Bakers and their daughter were enjoying free ice cream at the Olson Cultural Event Center Saturday.

Sampling six ice cream flavor creation contest entries was a fun part of Ice Cream Days for Sharon K. Morrison, of Sioux City.

Dennis Morrice and Kimberly Ross, of Le Mars, won first prize in the contest sponsored by First National Bank, of Le Mars, and Wells. Morrice and Ross created Bada Bing! Ice Cream with Palmer Bing candies.

Some Ice Cream Days events had record numbers participating. The annual Disc Golf Tournament at West Floyd Park drew 80 people, which is 30 more than last year, according to event organizer Ben Sitzmann. "We had a great tournament, a great day," he said. There were 27 grillers in the Grill 'n' Chill Rib Rally on Saturday, meaning the judges -- and samplers -- ended up with very full stomachs.

Competitors said they had a great day at the grills. "We enjoy doing it as a family event," said Bruce Vonk, of Spark BBQ from Sioux Center. "Our whole family will be here."

They participate in several grill-offs each summer, but Vonk said they enjoy Ice Cream Days a lot. "It's a friendly crowd, and the atmosphere is awesome," he said. Delicious treats even flavored the fireworks finale for Ice Cream Days.

A 30-minute skyshow featured hearts, a sundae and a rapid-fire series of fireworks which lit a 100th birthday sign and an ice cream cone. Weather didn't dampen the Ice Cream Days celebration -- with the exception of Saturday's big parade.

Pick estimated 90 of the 100 entries made it through the downtown portion of the parade route Saturday morning. "We knew the rain was coming; we didn't know exactly when it was going to it," he said. Ice Cream Days organizers don't control the weather, but they do evaluate the annual celebration.

The Chamber will have a wrap-up meeting soon to talk about this year's Ice Cream Days and plan for 2014, Pick said. "I want to thank all the groups that sponsored events and put on events," he said. "I was just blown away by the attendance and everybody just seemed to have a great time." He said Ice Cream Days was an excellent showcase for the community.

"I think we're going to continue to grow the event and see more and more people making ice Cream Days their family vacation destination."

For details, click here.

Chicago Spirit for Puerto Rican Day Parade

Members of the AfriCaribe Performing Ensemble dance and play
instruments  outside of their office on Division Street to celebrate
along with the  Puerto Rican People's Parade, which started
at the intersection of  Western  Ave and Division in Chicago.

For the first time since it was launched 48 years ago, the Puerto Rican Day Parade was held Saturday away from Chicago’s downtown, though the stream of dignitaries, beauty queens and motorcycle riders passing along the new route on the city’s Northwest Side was just as vibrant as in years past.

Thousands stood shoulder-to-shoulder on Division Street between Western Avenue and California Avenue watching the parade’s floats pass by.

Many said they were not bothered by a decision by the Puerto Rican Parade Committee of Chicago to move the parade away from Grant Park, though that announcement in April sparked some controversy between Puerto Rican community leaders.
 
“We don’t care,” said Juan Rivera, 62, as he sat in a golf cart decorated with Puerto Rican flags. “They could send us to the moon, we gonna be there. No matter where we are, we gonna be proud.”

The change in venues sparked criticism from some community leaders, who argued the move away from downtown decreases the visibility of the Puerto Rican community in the city.

Parade Committee leaders said holding the event downtown would be too expensive for the cash-strapped nonprofit organization. The organization joined forces with another neighborhood group — the Puerto Rican Cultural Center — that has long held a “People’s Parade” in the West Town and Humboldt Park neighborhoods where many Puerto Ricans still live.

Amid the controversy, a lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court seeks to oust the Parade Committee president, Angel Medina, alleging that he mishandled the committee’s money and circumvented regulations that would have forced him to leave his post.

Medina has argued that he has been trying to rescue the organization after years of financial difficulties — efforts that include nearly $200,000 in loans to the parade committee from his wife, Carmen Martinez.

Many parade goers seemed unbothered by the controversy Saturday, saying that, though they had some concerns about security, they didn’t mind the change of location.

Erika Gomez, 26, who for five years has taken her nieces and nephews to Grant Park to watch the parade, initially was skeptical about a Division Street celebration.

She had worried that fewer people might attend the parade and that there could be more violence, Gomez said.

But by the end of the festivities, she felt reassured.

“Overall, it turned out good, a great turnout,” Gomez said.

Initially, a rainy morning threatened a good turnout.
But the clouds gave way just in time for a spectacle of characters to roll through.

A band of motorcycle drivers outfitted in black leather jackets revved their engines. Beauty competition winners in shiny dresses waved to the crowd on top of a white staircase float. A marching band strolled down the street to their own music.

And at every turn, parade goers waved the Puerto Rican Flag.

Jocelyn Santana, 36, who has been coming to the parade since her parents brought her as a kid, drove an hour from DeKalb to bring her three young children to the festivities.

As a handful of people danced on top of a passing float to the song “Que Bonita Bandera,” Santiago reflected on that heritage.


“That's probably my favorite part, hearing that song, because it translates to ‘what a beautiful flag, what a beautiful flag,’” she said.

For details, click here!

Float parade to light up floral festival

There will be an explosion of colours and flowers when the annual floral boat parade makes a comeback next week.

Popularly known as the “Magic of the Night”, 14 flotillas decked in colourful flowers and lights will cruise through a 3km stretch of the Putrajaya Lake from June 22.

The boats will sail along the lake until June 30 from 8.30pm to 9.30pm before the anchor is dropped for a static display until 11.30pm every night.

One million visitors are expected to throng the nine-day event, said Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

The event is organised in conjunction with the “Putrajaya Floria” flora festival, which takes place in the day during the same period.

“There will be a five-minute fireworks display every night at the end of the cruise parade but on the first night, there will be an additional 45-second display of fireworks,” Mohamed Nazri said in a press conference here yesterday.

He said the event would help promote Malaysia as a unique tourism destination and to fulfil tourists' demand for a value-for-money experience.

The float parade is also among the ministry's tool to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

Mohamed Nazri said tourist arrivals in the country recorded a 15.9% growth in the first quarter of this year.

“We have received 6.4 million tourists as compared to 5.5 million tourists in the same period last year.

“Tourist receipts for 2012 also grew by 16.7%, generating RM14.99bil to the country's revenue as compared to RM12.84bil in 2011,” he said.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab attributed the increase in tourist arrivals this year to an increase in affordable flights and promotional activities.

“There were also many long weekends in the first quarter of the year, which encouraged people to travel.

“Tourism traffic also increased thanks to the opening of new attractions, such as Legoland,” Mirza said.

Tornado-weary Granbury, Ennis Offer Parades

Small-town festivals in Granbury and Ennis on Saturday provided a relaxing break for residents shouldering the grim task of putting their communities back together after tornadoes wrought destruction mere days ago.

Folks said the festivals exemplified the spirit of coming together and finding comfort in times of tragedy.

Lake Granbury’s water level was too low for safe boating, so people attending Granbury’s Memorial Day Celebration focused on shopping, food and visiting. In Ennis, the lighthearted National Polka Festival amassed a crowd for a weekend of dancing, music and celebration of Czech culture.

A wave of tornadoes struck North Texas on May 15. Six people were killed by a twister in Granbury. City officials said that 600 homes were damaged and that the worst-hit areas will need a year before they look normal again. At least 17 homes were damaged and dozens of businesses were damaged in Ennis, including many in the downtown district, where the Polka Festival’s parade usually runs.

In Granbury, 61 houses built by Habitat for Humanity were destroyed. Several residents have said the nonprofit has committed to rebuilding them.

Granbury’s Memorial Day weekend festivities were concentrated around the tiny Hood County Courthouse, which is surrounded by shops and restaurants.

Frances Wilson, who works at Truly Trendy Boutique on the town square, said business at the shop had been brisk Saturday. She recalled how she and her family had left one of her son’s school functions and returned home not long before the tornado arrived.

“It’s been very refreshing and humbling to see how the community is supporting one another,” she said. “It’s the most enduring, sweet, quaint town. I think it’ll be just fine. So many people want to help with the rebuilding.”

Rylee Hendrix, a student at Acton Middle School in Granbury, was at the festival filling a glass bottle with brightly colored sand.

“The sky looked like we were inside a yellow Easter egg coloring kit,” she said. “I thought this is how Easter eggs must feel when we color them.”

In Ennis, dozens of white festival tents housing arts and crafts and food lined the streets. Though the tornado forced organizers to change the parade route and find new locations for activities, the close-knit Czech community rallied in full force to attend.

“Everybody’s needing this right now,” said Gina Rokas, the city’s tourism director.

Ennis resident Gary Kudrna said he’s been attending the festival almost since its inception 47 years ago. This year, he sensed a different atmosphere — an appreciation for life in the midst of tragedy.

“The people are having more fun because of the tornado and because of the damage — they’re celebrating what’s still left,” he said.

Girls adorned with yellow, blue and red flower halos danced near the main stage while crowds of people lounged on bleachers, taking in the tastes of klobase, sauerkraut and kolaches. The morning’s parade showcased the Ennis High School marching band, Mayor Russell Thomas and floats carrying the Polka Festival king and queen.

Donnie Victorick and Brian Vanicek, director and president, respectively, of the Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas, were at the festival. Victorick said he was happy the festival wasn’t canceled.

“It’s a way of healing the loss or the frustration you went through,” he said. “And it’s great to see people come together and … ”

“Celebrate life,” Vanicek finished.

Million Puerto Rican Paradegoers In New York!

“It means everything to me,” grand marshal Rivera said of leading the 56th annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade for the first time. 

Mayor Bloomberg was among the 80,000 marchers, whose ranks also included many candidates vying to succeed him in City Hall.

Waving Puerto Rican flags and breaking out in spontaneous salsa moves, up to 1 million spectators packed Fifth Ave. on Sunday in New York City’s annual demonstration of boricua pride.

With 80-year-old legendary actress, singer and dancer Chita Rivera as grand marshal, paradegoers reveled in the roots of the Caribbean island.

“It means everything to me,” Rivera said of leading the 56th annual National Puerto Rican Day parade for the first time. “To me, it’s the cherry on top of the cake for me.”

Mayor Bloomberg was among the 80,000 marchers, whose ranks also included many candidates vying to succeed him in City Hall.

“The response has been amazing,” said Anthony Weiner, a mayoral contender trying to bounce back from a sexting scandal. “We’re all Puerto Rican today.”

Weiner’s rivals — Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Controller John Liu, William Thompson and John Catsimatidis — also participated in nation’s largest Puerto Rican Day parade.

“We are the most diverse city in the world. Our diversity is our greatest strength, and the Puerto Rican community is an enormous part of that,” Quinn said.

Chants of “Que Viva Puerto Rico!” echoed through the crowd melding with
mambo, hiphop and samba blaring from parade floats.

Latin band leader Orlando Marin, 77, dubbed the “Last Mambo King,” said participating in the parade was a “great honor.

“It’s a celebration of Puerto Rican pride and the fact that we are the friendliest group of people on the Earth,” said Marin, who rode on the Teamsters Local 237 float.

Jesus Reyes, 35, of the Bronx looked around at the crowd, most waving a Puerto Rican flags and wearing one emblazed on their clothes, and summed it up as “a beautiful day.”

“It’s our time to shine,” Reyes said. “I’m a Puerto Rican-American and that’s how I live. Your root is your root and we never lose that.”

The event went off without a hitch despite a preparade controversy after the Coors brewery came out with a commemorative Puerto Rican Day Parade beer can boasting the words “cerveza oficial.”

Coors eventually pulled the cans after protesters complained that the beer sponsorship was incompatible with a parade whose theme this year was “Celebrating Your Health.”

The only thing that marred the event was an accident that sent a 29-year-old motorcycle cop to the hospital with a broken leg. The cop, who had been policing the parade route, was hit by a BWM at 11:45 a.m. on Park Ave. near 84th St. The driver stayed at the scene and was not charged.

Troy Flag Day Parade

Click to enlarge

The Flag Day Parade likely drew as many as 50,000 people to the city Sunday afternoon.

“I believe everybody in the City of Troy came to see it,” said Edward Manny, a organizing member of the Flag Day Committee. “The Flag Day Parade was more impressive this year than it was the last three years.”

The parade was begun as an effort to remind citizens about the sanctity of the country's symbol, but that was hardly the only reason people from across the region were drawn to Troy for the parade, in its 46th year.

Rita and Gary Lewandowski came down from Malta for the parade, as they have done annually for the past 10 years. While the bands, the floats and the marchers are a hoot, Gary enjoys seeing the crowds of people who gather just as much. “I enjoy watching the little kids having a good time,” he explained. Children were present in droves at the Sunday event, many of them reaching past the barriers to dive for candies being thrown from the floats.

“The flag is very important to us — it's our country!” said Gary. It is also important to the soldiers who fight for the country, he noted. “Our men in uniform, our women in uniform — they follow the flag and we follow the flag. Everybody follows the flag. It's our flag.”

The importance of the flag was very immediate for Donald Trela, of Watervliet, who fought under the flag in the Korean War. He and his wife, Sigrid, have been attending the parade for the past 40 years.

“They used to have four or five construction trucks and that was at nighttime,” said Donald, recalling past parades.

Closer to the stage, Vinny Perniciaro, who came attired in a black dress coat despite the Sunday heat, was there to show his support for the flag as a member of the country's armed forces. A city resident, Perniciaro has been an active member of the National Guard for the past three years and is stationed at the 206th Military Police Co. in Latham.

“I'm in the service, so I like to come out for these type of things,” said Perniciaro, who was present with a friend that is attending the Sage Colleges. He admitted that support for the military in the country is at low ebb. “We've been at war now for 12 years, so it's kind of hard.”

Asiri Gayawardena, who is attending the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, came to the parade with his wife Roshi. As he hails from Sri Lanka, Asiri said he does not any real relation to the flag, but had come to the parade because he appreciates the area's culture.

“I am not from this country, but as someone from outside I appreciate the culture, I appreciate the people and I appreciate the celebration of the flag as a major part of your cultural heritage,” he explained.

Making the parade possible for the thousands that came this year was a trial, as it has been for the past several years, said Manny, largely due to reductions in state and business funding, fewer donations from the participating organizations — many of them veteran's organizations whose primary membership is shrinking — and fewer individual donations due to widespread job losses.

“This year was worse than others,” said Manny. “One of the big reasons we lost a lot of money was because of sequestration.”

Due to the funding shortages, the U.S. Marine Corps Band from Paris Island could not attend. However, the parade committee was able to meet and exceed their goal of $10,000, although they were still in need of $3,000 less than a month before the parade.

“If we don't have enough money we can't hire the rights groups to come in and put this show on,” said Manny. “We are always worried that someday we're going to have to say, 'We're not going to degrade the flag, we're just going to stop it now.'”

Despite the funding shortages, Manny said the turnout was “more impressive this year than it has been in years past, and I thought it was going to be a bad year.”

History of the parade: 

The city's Flag Day Parade was begun by the late James Pasinella, a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. One day in 1967, Pasinella was working at the U.S. Post Office in Troy on Broadway when a disturbance was heard on Fourth Street. He went outside to see what was happening and found a group of Vietnam War protestors burning the American flag. He was galled.

The next day, Pasinella and several of his co-workers put on a counter-protest by marching down Fourth Street with the stars and stripes held high — so began the Flag Day Parade in Troy.

The next year, Pasinella was joined by four other organizations — the Italian Community Center, the Polish-American Club, the Emerald Athletic Club, and the Troy Elks Club — who donated their services and members. Those organizations still participate in the parade, but they have been joined by veteran's groups, various schools and numerous other organizations in the years since the parade's inception.