People Services, Inc. successfully defended its title Saturday during the 52nd annual Redbud Parade and Festival, walking away with a Best Overall Entry victory for the third consecutive year. The winning float brought the classic characters of Lewis Carroll”s “Alice in Wonderland” to life, in line with the “Story Book Land” theme of this year”s parade.
Thousands turned out to enjoy the daylong event, which is hosted annually by Lakeshore Lions Club. Festival-goers enjoyed perusing the field of immaculate classic cars vying for title in the ninth annual “Show and Shine Car Show;” worm-wranglers of all ages cheered on their squirmy little contenders in pursuit of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce”s 42nd annual International Worm Races title; and families enjoyed playing games and the thrill of carnival rides while they anticipated the Independence Day fireworks display at dusk.
Longtime Lion and community contributor Jim Jonas served as this year”s parade marshal. Jonas is enjoying his 39th consecutive year as a Lion and has served the club in various capacities, including club president. He has served his community as a firefighter and fire district board member and remains active in a number of community organizations. “It”s a great honor to have been selected to serve as this year”s parade marshal. There are so many who are deserving of this honor and I appreciate my fellow Lions picking me this year,” Jonas said. “This will be the first time I”ve actually seen the parade in 20 years because I”m usually setting up for the festival afterward. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and it takes all of us and Lioness to make it successful.”
Lower Lake High School 2009 salutatorian Jamie Dawson served as Redbud Parade Queen. She was joined in her court by princesses Emmalina Illia and Krystal Holgate.
Miss Lake County Taylor-Paige Butler and Miss Outstanding Teen Katherine Murphy also joined this year”s procession.
Lake County Fire Protection District”s “Fire Folly Brigade” is a favorite attraction at many local parades. This year, the fire volunteers ran into a bit of trouble suffering two flat tires on their classic fire engine just before the procession got under way. But, that didn”t stop them. The engine was loaded onto a Fischer tow truck and the firefighters forged on, spraying the crowd from the raised flatbed of the tow vehicle.
A total of 36 awards were presented to parade participants. Results were as follows:
* Best Overall: People Services, Inc.
* First Runner Up: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Ladies Auxiliary
* Second Runner Up: Sons of American Legion
* Third Runner Up: Bernal Boys
* Most Patriotic Entry: Pearl Harbor Survivors
* Fraternal/Service Club Floats: VFW Ladies Auxiliary, first place; Sons of American Legion, second place; Lake County Shrine Club, third place.
* Commercial Floats: People Services, Inc., first place; Coulter Construction and Bordessa Construction, second place; Mendo Mill, third place.
* Non-Commercial Floats: Bernal Boys, first place; Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, second place; Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, third place.
* Church Groups: Evangel Christian Center, first place; Xtreme Impact Christian Ministry, second place.
* Antique Cars Pre-40s: Lake County Model A Club, first place; Tommy Rand, 1930 Ford, second place; Edna Adams, 1932 Chevy, third place.
* Classic Cars: Michael Kistner, 1957 Chevy, first place; Leo Parodi, 1971 Chevy Pickup, second place; Pamela Pope, teardrop trailer, third place.
* Unusual Car (electric and steam): Jim Mitchell, tractor, first place; R.J. Tucker, train and cannon, second place; Don Anderson, 2004 Cadillac, third place.
* Kinetic Sculpture: Elliot Naess, first place.
* Drill Teams: Boy Scout Troop No. 44 Color Guard, first place.
* Marching Group: Bob Hopkins and the Glory Days Flag Football League, first place; Challie Agee, second place.
* Fire Departments: Lake County Fire Protection District, first place; CalFire, second place.
* Comic Fire Departments: Lake County Fire Protection District with special mention to Fischer Towing.
* Other Public Service Departments: Clearlake Police Department, first place.
* Fun Things, etc.: In Cognito, first place; Lexi Cavagnaro, second place; Clear Lake Kids, third place.
Equestrian awards were presented to Lonne Sloan, Kirstin Sprakes, Seth Travis, Tiffany Robinson, Brandy (no last name provided) and Melissa and Sheila Palk.
Show and Shine Car Show results were reported as follows:
* Best of Show: Jack McMannus, 1941 Cadillac convertible
* Best Convertible: Jack McMannus, 1941 Cadillac convertible
* Full Custom: Vic Langlais, 1949 Mercury
* Resto Rod: Mike Venacro, 1932 Ford Cabriolet
* Pro Built: Al Wacaser, 1966 Plymouth Barracuda
* Best Paint: Joe Collabella, 1957 Chevy sedan delivery
* Best Engine: Don Martin, 1964 GMC
* Best Upholstery: Jack McMannus, 1941 Cadillac convertible
* Most Exotic: Ray Woolery, boat tail
* Best Car (1929-34): Rick Bonds, 1932 five-window Ford
* Best Car (1935-40): Bill Stallworth, 1938 Chevrolet
* Best Car (1941-48): Pat Morano, 1947 Chevrolet
* Best Car (1949-54): Vic Langlais, 1949 Mercury
* Best Car (1955-59): Joe Collabella, 1957 Chevy sedan delivery
* Best Car (1960-73): Bill Constable, 1970 Dodge Challenger
* Best Stock Truck (1900-1949): Joe Collabella, 1957 Chevy sedan delivery
* Best Modified Truck (1900-49): John Eckhardt, 1929 Dodge
* Best Stock Truck (1950-73): Chuck Davis, 1956 Ford
* Best Modified Truck (1950-73): Don Martin, 1964 GMC.
Lions Club member Bob Kiel reported that a set of car keys was found during Saturday”s event. Contact Kiel at Bob”s Vacuum 994-9752, to identify and recover.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
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