By Donna Furey | LB Indy
The 49th Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade, scheduled to step off at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 7, will closely mirror what was planned in 2014 for the 48th parade, which was cancelled due to rain.
Trolley service is available to and from the parade this year.
A definite bonus for this year’s parade goers are the free weekend trolleys that will begin operating at 9 a.m. They will run along Coast Highway, from Cajon Street in North Laguna to Mission Hospital in South Laguna. Residents and visitors can board the trolley to the parade rather than try to park downtown.
As was the case with the very first Patriot’s Day Parade, viewers will enjoy music by the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band from the Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar.
Last year’s theme, “Home of the Free Because of the Brave,” will stand and as previously planned the parade will be led by grand marshal and Olympic gold medal swimmer and local resident Janet Evans.
The route starts on Park Avenue near Laguna Beach High School, turns right onto Glenneyre Street, right onto Forest Avenue and will end just past City Hall at Ocean Avenue.
The South Orange County Vietnam Veterans are still hoping to fill out their entry, No. 9 in the line-up, by inviting vets to march with them in uniform or ride if necessary in their convertible. They have participated every year since 1985.
Absent from the parade line up is the Laguna Beach Peace Vigil, whose members have held a Saturday morning rally at Main Beach for decades. Vigil supporters walked in the parade from 2004 through 2009, but have since stopped because the parade organizers banned any signs containing the word war. “We were told it was too controversial,” said local resident Eleanor Henry, a Peace Vigil member since the 1970s.
Werthe said none of the Vigil members have asked for an entry form for several years.
Supporters of the Laguna Beach Library march on Forest Ave. Photo by Ted Reckas.
The slate of parade honorees also remains the same as in 2014 with the exception of the junior citizens of the year. Perry Nielson and Garrett Burk missed out on the fanfare since they graduated from Laguna Beach High School in June. This year’s junior citizens are Janie Crawford and Taylor Addis. Others honored are patriot Robert R. Mosier, a U.S. Army Air Force World War II pilot; citizen of the year, Wayne Baglin; artist of the year, Carol Reynolds; and athletes of the year, Alisa Schwarzstein Cairns and Ian Cairns.
The annual affair was last cancelled in 1985 due to an early morning downpour.
Rental fees for portable toilets and a deposit on the reviewing stand were not recouped. While trophies could be updated for 2015, the cost of printing the programs was also lost as they had already been printed and distributed to advertisers during parade week, said parade organizer Sandi Werthe.
To accommodate the parade route as well as pedestrian traffic in the area, portions of downtown streets will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at 10 a.m. The entire length of Forest Avenue and Third Street, Glenneyre Street between Legion Street and Forest Avenue, and Park Avenue between St. Ann’s Drive and Glenneyre Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The farmer’s market will not be open.
The 49th Laguna Beach Patriot’s Day line up:
Laguna Beach Police Motor Escort
Parade Banner, Laguna Beach Boy Scouts
American Legion/Veterans of Foreign Wars Combined Color Guard
3d Marine Aircraft Wing Band. Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar
Parade Committee
Theme Banner, Laguna Beach Girls Scouts
Grand Marshal Janet Evans, Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer
Pageant of the Masters
South Orange County Vietnam Veterans
Honored Patriot Robert R. Mosier, U.S. Army Air Force, World War II
Hire Patriots/Veterans Green Projects
Laguna Beach City Council
Citizen of the Year Wayne Baglin
Laguna Beach High School Marching Band
Junior Citizens of the Year Janie Crawford and Taylor Addis
Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education
SchoolPower
Thurston Middle School Band
Athletes of the Year Alisha Schwarzstein Cairns and Ian Cairns
Laguna Beach Water Polo Club
Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association
Artist of the Year Carol Reynolds
Laguna Beach High Program Cover Artist Max Casper
and Thurston Essay Winner Colleen Turner
Orange County Chapter, Sons of American Revolution
Patience Wright Chapter, Daughters of American Revolution
Laguna Beach Unified School District Elementary Band
Exchange Club of Laguna Beach
Assistance League of Laguna Beach
Guide Dogs for the Blind VIP3 Puppy Raisers
Laguna Beach Garden Club
30a. Excalibur Car Club
Kyne Dance Academy of Laguna Beach
I.P. District
Laguna Beach Parents Club
Lil’ Kickers
Ruby’s Diner
Ralphs Grocery
Laguna Beach Seniors
Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce
Pet Rescue Center
Laguna Beach Beautification Council
Sawdust Art Festival
Capistrano Valley Model A Club
Palmdale High School Band
Laguna Beach Little League
Transition Laguna Beach
Y Adventure Guides
Laguna Beach Fire Department
Laguna Beach Lifeguards
Glennwood House of Laguna Beach
KX 93.5
Laguna Tunes
Laguna Beach Girl Scouts
Boy Scout Troop 35/Cub Scout Pack 35
Bassett High School Band, La Puente
Diamond/Crestview Neighbors
Ebell Club of Laguna Beach
Tivoli Terrace/Tivoli Too!
StuNewsLaguna
Barstow Junior High School Band
Laguna Beach Police Department
Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach
La Playa Center & Orange County Model A Ford Club
Pacific Marine Mammal Center
Rialto Middle School Band
Laguna Beach Independent/Laguna Beach Magazine
Laguna Playhouse
Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach
Townsend Junior High Band, Chino Hills
Waste Management
South County Fiat
JJ and the Habibis Laguna Beach Belly Dancers
Laguna Board of Realtors
Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
Honors Chorus of Top of the World/El Morro Elementary Schools
Rotary Club of Laguna Beach
United Studios of Self Defense
Blue Water Music Festival
Laguna Food Pantry
Fountain Valley Marching Band
Mission Hospital—Laguna Beach
Doctors Ambulance Service
Laguna Beach H.I.V. Advisory Committee
Laguna Beach Community Clinic
AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County
Susan G. Komen Orange County Affiliate
No Square Theatre
Oaks Middle School Band, Ontario
Laguna Laughter Club
Art Cars
Laguna Beach Legal
E. Steinert Construction
Spurs & Satin
Parade programs will be available around town next week. Additional information can be found on the parade website: lagunabeachparade.org.
Or by contacting Sandi Werthe at 949-494-6016 or email shworthy@cox.net.
The parade will be taped and broadcast by Cox Cable; for broadcast information check their website: cox3.com.”
The Crosscultural Council invite all to join their annual Post Parade Picnic at 12:30 p.m.in the parking lot of the Boy’s and Girls Club, 1085 Laguna Canyon Rd.,
for a mixture of cultures, Model A cars, kids and community. And the Vietnam vets will be at the Marine Room Tavern for their annual after-parade party.
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