'Save the Parade' goes to council this week
Organizers of the “Save the Parade” movement say they’re close to raising the cash necessary to bring back a July 4 tradition in Roseville. On Wednesday, they’ll seek approval from the Roseville City Council for parade street closures – but they’re likely to get the go-ahead only if they’ve come up with the $10,000 needed to fund them in full. They’ve already raised more than $6,000, they reported earlier this week. “I don’t see a problem hitting the 10-grand mark by next Wednesday,” said Bob Caudle, one of the people pushing to bring back the parade. A grassroots effort sprung up after The Press-Tribune reported that the parade, a partnership between the city and the Roseville Chamber, was cancelled after the city pulled funding because of budget cuts. The Save the Parade effort is asking 100 residents to contribute $100. “If it takes giving a hundred dollars to it, we’ll do it,” said Barbara Ferreira of the Roseville Emblem Club, a longtime parade participant. “One of our big things is Americanism, and Fourth of July – there’s no more Americanism than that.” City Spokeswoman Megan MacPherson said the city had to make cutbacks to close a $19 million budget hole, but that community members are welcome to take up the parade banner. “It’s always been a community parade, so we’re glad to see the enthusiasm and fundraising among residents and businesses to put it on this year,” she wrote in an e-mail. “Given what they’ve been able to do, the group has the City’s support to make the parade a reality.” Save the Parade organizer John Javidan, who has set up a Web site at rosevilleparade.com, said the hard work will be contacting past parade participants and letting them know it’s back on. “Normally they would receive their parade packets six to eight weeks in advance,” said Javidan, a professional event organizer. “This gives them a little over a month to prepare. Then again, we’re reviving the parade and that’s exciting to many people.” Organizers have been staffing a “Save the Parade” booth at Downtown Tuesday Nights, which Caudle said has generated widespread community support. “People are absolutely loving it,” said Caudle, who owns the Victorian event venue. “I knew it was important but it’s hit home for a lot of people.” He added that the idea is for the parade to end in Old Town Roseville, from where revelers could watch fireworks shot off from Sierra View Country Club. A city-sponsored Fourth of July celebration in Royer Park is still slated to take place, MacPherson said. -nathand@goldcountrymedia.com
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It still amuses me that the city can afford the expense of shutting Vernon st down every Tuesday night for a few months to the benefit of a bunch of out of town street vendors, but they can't afford to close it for a few hours fo a cherished local tradition. Just pass up one Down Town Tuesday night and have a pareade. Break even?
If the council took away the City Managers car allowance for a year you could have paid for the parade so whats up with that?
We thought of the same idea as "fuhrsg" mentioned about skipping a Tuesday. But Tuesday is very inexpensive for street closure compared to the 4th of July. Believe me I am no fan of what the City and the Chamber did but the 4th of July is a much larger event as well as weekend pay for city employees plus Holiday pay on top of that. The parade being on a Saturday and on the 4th of July made it quit expensive. 10x as much as a tuesday nite market. But the good news is...The Parade is Back On! It was approved unanimously which was a huge hurdle. Because originally it wasn't going to happen even with the money because of the late date...So...We still need a few more 100.00 sponsors and Registrants...And everyone to be there on the 4th.
Happy Centennial 4th of July!
We still need sponsors we are almost there...Go to "www.Rosevilleparade.com"