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50 °F 5 Day Forecast Friday, December 5, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 13, 2003 A pair of natty llamas trail the Jackson County Red Hat Society�s wagon appropriately attired for the parade. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Pear Blossom Parade goes especially smoothly this year, volunteers say Give or take a stray raindrop or two, Pear Blossom run and parade participants were spared a cold shower from Mother Nature Saturday, despite dark clouds that threatened to burst any minute, until just after the event. Led by local law enforcement officials, firefighters and a few late returning 10-mile runners headed the opposite direction, the 50th annual Pear Blossom Parade marched down Central and Main streets sporting the theme, "Where Do We Go From Here." Totaling more than 150 entries with nearly 5,000 people and their four-legged companions, the event included 10 marching bands and dozens of floats filled with pageant winners, government officials and everyone and everything in between. The streets were lined with poncho-clad pedestrians while balconies and the tailgates of parked pick-up trucks provided precious seating. Residents young and old sipped hot chocolate or coffee while waving at the nearly two miles’ worth of parade entries, which ranged from 1950s dancers and karate kids to radio deejays and boys (both little and big) in funny cars. Advertisement Helen Moore, a volunteer who has helped organize the parade for 14 years, said the annual event could not have gone much smoother than it did. "This year was a really good year," she said. "It’s always good, but this year was just especially smooth and the entrants were wonderful. Everyone does such a great job putting it all together." Central Point resident Alice Harding turned out to watch her daughter, a flute player for Scenic Middle School, march in her first parade. She also felt the event ran smoothly � especially on Mother Nature’s part. "This was the first time I’d been to Pear Blossom in a few years. I thought everything was pretty good and the rain even held off for us, yeah!" Cub Scout Aaron Dodds, 10, and 7-year-old brother Ben got to ride in their first parade float. "We were towards the front, so then we got to watch the rest of the floats that came after us. I liked getting to watch. At least we didn’t get rained on," Aaron said. His mother, Juli Dodds of Medford, also felt grateful for the lack of precipitation during the day’s events. "This is the first time I’ve been to this, and we really enjoyed it," she said. "The parade was a lot longer than I expected, and even the weather was decent. It wasn’t rainy, and it wasn’t freezing." Medford resident Laurie Casad was enjoying the parade with her annual "parade pals" parked in lawn chairs nearby. Five-year-old twin sisters Hannah and Hailey have been attending the parade with Casad, their baby-sitter, since they were 2. "I like the race cars — the ones with the kids driving and with the big people, too. And I like the music," said Hailey. "I like the music, too," Hannah chimed in. "Me, too! And the trucks — the loud ones." All told, the rain managed to wait until the last float had puttered by and the crowd at Alba Park began to thin. PARADE WINNERS The following are winners of this year’s Pear Blossom Parade contest: Floats, youth First: Barracudas Band, a group of four cousins playing electric guitars. Second: Pack 100 and Troop 13, Boy Scouts of America. Third: Jackson County 4-H. Floats, general First: Southern Oregon Federal Credit Union’s 1950s-themed 50th anniversary float. Second: Carpenters Local Union’s float, a tractor pulling a wooden boat made by local union laborers. Third: Jacksonville Shady Ladies. Equestrian category First: Jackson County Horseman’s Association. Second: Wells Fargo Stage Coach. Third: Southern Oregon Draft and Harness Association. Walking category, adult First: Rogue Valley Guide Dogs for the Blind. Second: Mail Tribune and Jackson Elementary School. Walking category, youth First: Chip Wright’s Karate. Second: Central Point Stars baton twirling team. Third: "Be a Fit Kid" physical activity group. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times