“We are Fifty Something”Loma Linda Hosts 50th Community Parade

On a sunny Loma Linda Sunday, hundreds lined the sidewalks for the 50th Annual Loma Linda Community Parade, hosted by the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce. The Oct. 20, 2013 theme was “We are Fifty Something,” and community members of all ages lined Anderson Street for the celebration, which began with a parade featuring floats, vehicles and walkers before the celebration continued at Loma Linda Academy at the end of the parade line, which featured vendors, game booths and more. Over 80 groups and organizations participated in the parade, including Mayor Rhodes Rigsby, the Loma Linda Fire Department, firemen, Council Members Ron Dailey and Phil Dupper and other city leaders. Middle schools hailing from throughout the Inland Empire came to march with their bands and color guards, performing routines for the crowd, including Clement Middle School, Moore Middle School, Cope Middle School and Beattie Middle School. Parade entrants ranged from floats to band performances to community organizations, shared Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce CEO Phil Carlisle. Local clubs and organizations, like Loma Linda Youth Baseball & Softball and the Linda Valley Care Center also walked in the parade to spread community awareness. Children walked with baskets filled with candy and business cards, and tossed them to the crowd to promote local business in Loma Linda and surrounding cities. A pair of Model T Fords from 1923 and 1913 left the crowd applauding as they ended the parade after the Crown Firecoach Enthusiasts came rolling down the street in their vintage fire trucks from all over Southern California. Carlisle shared that the event, including planning, takes approximately three months, and has always been a popular community staple. “I think Loma Linda is a very special community and people just enjoy coming out once a year and remembering how nice it is to live, work and play in Loma Linda,” he said. He explained that the third weekend in October is also roughly the anniversary date of when Loma Linda was incorporated as a city in 1970. “It’s a chance for people to get out and be thankful they live in such a nice community,” said Carlisle. The fair following the parade, which took place on the Loma Linda Academy campus, was also an opportunity for community members to support the youth, by patronizing the various food, game, vendor and activity booths several Academy classes set up. Several community organizations sponsored the event this year, including Presenting Sponsor Loma Linda University Health; along with Gold Sponsors Courtesy Staffing Inc., Loma Linda University Print Services, The San Bernardino County Fire Department, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, Republic Services, Loma Linda Children’s Center, and Omnitrans; and Silver Sponsors Loma Linda Lopers, Spectrotape Corporation, and Seidner’s Collision Center. In future years, shared Carlisle, the Chamber is considering partnering with breast cancer awareness groups to help raise awareness to the cause, dovetailing with the month of November’s national recognition as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.