REGION: Rose parade to feature local efforts

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10:00 PM PST on Sunday, December 26, 2010

By DIANE A. RHODES
Special to The Press-Enterprise


The 122nd Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade is watched by millions of people worldwide on Jan. 1, starting at 8 a.m. Several local connections should add to this year's viewing pleasure.

Riverside County Regional Medical Center will honor organ donor Amanda Katherine Seraphin with a memorial floragraph portrait on the "Donate Life" float titled "Seize the Day!"

In collaboration with OneLegacy, an organ and tissue recovery organization, the medical center will honor Seraphin, whose death from a tragic equestrian accident in 2003 allowed four others to receive the gift of life.

Special to The Press-Enterprise

A float titled "Backyard Fun," that prominently displays a lion figure, is being decorated for the 122nd Tournament of Roses Parade with help from members of Hemet-area Lions Clubs. The members were transported to work on the float on a bus donated by the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians.

One organ recipient, Arturo Nunez, of Corona, had been planning his funeral three days before he received Seraphin's liver.

"Amanda will never have a wedding or another birthday celebration, so this is her celebration," said Liz Seraphin, mother of the 25-year-old organ donor.

The theme of this year's Rose Parade is "Building Dreams, Friendships and Memories."

Members and guests of local Lions Clubs spent a couple of day-long sessions in Pasadena, helping to assemble this year's float.

"The theme for the float is 'Backyard Fun' and this will be the largest and most colorful float the Lions have produced since it first started doing the float back in 1992," said Ken Reed, 1st vice district governor and member of the San Jacinto Lions Club.

He said decorators included some from his club, the Hemet Breakfast Lions Club, Hemet Ramona Valley Lions Club and the Hemet Leo Club.

"The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians graciously provided the use of their tour bus to transport the decorators to the float barn in Pasadena," Reed said. "People do not have to fight the traffic by driving themselves and it also allows for great fellowship on the bus."

After more than 100 years it is hard to find something new but organizers have done just that by offering a webcast featuring the prize-winning bands of the 2011 Rose Parade.

Bandfest is a display of different field show styles that compete prior to the event at a stadium near the parade route.

"This is the first time not only our pipes and drums will appear but our color guard as well," said Mike Mohler, fire captain and public affairs officer for Cal Fire. "What an honor for us to be sanctioned to be in the Rose Parade."

The cost of the musical experience is $8.50 for each Bandfest show or $21 for all three shows, which will be streamed live at 2 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday.

Members of the CDF Firefighters Honor Guard, Color Guard and Pipes and Drums from Riverside County will perform during the morning show Wednesday and will march in the parade Saturday.

"Farmer's Insurance gave us a $45,000 donation to support the Honor Guard and families of fallen firefighters," Mohler said. "This is a really big deal. Without them it would have been difficult for us to attend."