Our Laguna: Parade warms hearts on a chilly day

Dull gray skies did not dim the enthusiasm of the crowds that lined downtown streets for the colorful Patriots Day Parade on Saturday, celebrating the city as much as the honorees Dee Dee Challis Davy, David ConnellDee Dee Challis Davy, David Connell, Drs. Korey Jorgenson and Tom Bent, Hannah Glass and Austin Giageraso.

Participants and organizers of the 44th annual parade beamed despite sprinkles and a bitterly cold wind as they marched, rode, walked their dogs or danced along the parade route — in stilettos if you were Bree Burgess Rosen.

Winning local entries included the students of the Kyne Dance Academy, Laguna Beach Elementary School Band, a gorgeous black Mark 4 Jaguar owned by Gust Nelson and driven by El Hathaway for the School Board, the Laguna Beach Garden Club, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Pageant of the Masters and the HIP District — the area between Thalia and Diamond streets, of which Dennis Myers claims to be the unofficial mayor.

Band Assn. Sweepstakes winner, the Eagles of Oaks Middle School in Ontario, were flying high at the post-parade luncheon at Tivoli Too, where the award was presented.

For a complete list of trophy winners, see page A13 or visit www.lagunabeachparade.org.

The 100-plus students of Pauline and Lisa Kyne dance classes, including adorable tots in pink tutus, stopped the show at the reviewing stand in front of City Hall with their performance, which brought the crowd to its feet and earned them the Grand Marshal Trophy. “It was absolutely glorious,” said Richard Challis, father of Grand Marshal Challis Davy.

Junior Citizen of the Year Glass, who teaches intermediate tap at the Susi Q, hopped off the reviewing stand to join the dancers.

“Where else would you see an honoree join the entries?” asked Ann Quilter, who did her dancing on the stand. “I just loved it.”

It has often been joked that half of the people in Laguna are in the parade, the other half watches it.

If you are among the 25 people in town who couldn’t make it downtown, Cox3 will air the parade at 7 tonight; 4 p.m. Sunday; and at 9 p.m. March 19. It will also be shown at a time of your choice on Channel 1’s “On Demand in the Freezone” from March 20 through April 18.

What you don’t get to see on television is the hustle and bustle at the staging area at Laguna Beach High School as floats were decorated, marching groups assembled and participants checked out the competition.

The Sawdust Festival entry was a “woodie” replicated by Ryan Gourley from recycled items he found at restaurants, saloons — just about anywhere.

“If anyone can identify the swinging doors on the back, I will give them a free season pass to the Sawdust and free beer,” said festival General Manager Tom Klingenmeier. There were a lot of guesses, but nobody got it right.

“A few people recognized the seats from the old Javier’s, but no one identified the doors as the swinging gates to the Marine Room bathrooms,” Klingenmeier said Wednesday.

Exchange Club member and veteran Pat Freeman rallied the troops for the parade.

“We usually have between 15 and 20, but we never know,” Freeman said.

Kirsten Sedlick, Marine Mammal Center animal care supervisor and education coordinator, and Kelli Lewis, education director, supervised Pinnipin Club members Ian Webb, Devon Christensen, Alex Elliott and Haille Thomas, and club mascot Murphy, a very realistic-looking seal lion.

School board member Theresa O’Hare and husband attorney Bill O’Hare sported posters for the Laguna Beach High production of “Anything Goes.”

Sister Cities’ Chic McDaniel entertained on his guitar. McDaniel is looking for performers for the Sister Cities annual Fete D’ Musique on June 19. He hopes to expand the event out of downtown. If interested, call (494) 690-4444.

Guide dog trainee, Norway, had a ball socializing with other pups entered in the VIP3 entry — Very Important Puppies, raised by Very Important People for a Very Important Purpose — as well as Ann McDonald’s Irish and Asha, who marched in the Laguna Beach Community Clinic entry.

Laguna’s Patriots Day Parade may not be the most sophisticated parade in the world, but it is treasured and the committee and the volunteers that make it happen deserve to take a big bow.

Michael Lyons took over this year as president, but he had plenty of experienced assistance. Nine-time parade committee President Charles Quilter II serves as Lyons’ vice president. Nina Rietsch, who chaired the parade in 2005 and ’06, is the secretary, and “Can’t-do-it-without” Sandi Werthe is the treasurer and in charge of parade entries and the program, which helps finance the whole shebang.

Former committee officers Hal Werthe, Jean Law and Gavin Kentle continue to help. Community Service Director Susan Cannan, Rec Department veteran Ron Lutz and police Sgt. Robert Rahaeuser head up the city’s support.

John Campbell takes care of insurance requirements.

The committee also includes American Legion liaison Richard Moore, Hospitality Chairwoman Sande St. John, and Don Black, who is in charge of the VIP cars. Karen Ford is the school contact for the essay and cover art contests, won this year by Lorenzo Gomez and Devin Altieri, respectively.

Marv Johnson, Black and the Boy Scouts of Troop 35 put up the “No Parking” signs that keep the parade route clear. Explorer Scouts assisted in traffic control.

On parade day, the committee counts on Barbara and Jim Pemberton to check in the participants and get them to right spot in the lineup.

Howard Levin is the perennial parade starter. If he says no, you don’t go.

Keeping everything on track: marshallers Kathy and Ed Hanke II, Rietsch, Anne Wood and Emily Quilter — that was her in the sparkly helmet riding a motorcycle in the DAR entry — do you love it?

Jim Rue is the parade announcer stationed at the Laguna Beach Library, as well as the committee’s web master. John Kountz, who heads the Laguna Beach Emergency Communications Team of amateur radio operators, was the voice heard at the reviewing stand.

Patrick Quilter of QSC Sound and Jerry Ford set up the public address systems. Jay Andrus was in charge of the dispersal area.

Doug Miller is the official photographer. Many of the photographs in the program were his work.

Susi and Arno Chauvel, and Nancy and Gary Beverage, assisted by their rescue dog, Winston, have judged the parade for six years. Mike Morrison judged the cars. Bands, which compete for points, were judged by an independent Band Assn. team.

Garth Wyckoff was the TV commentator. Charlie did the color, as well as overseeing the set up of the reviewing stand with retired Fire Capt. Eugene “Diz” D’isabella, who has driven the historical 1931 Segrave Pumper Engine in all but the first Patriots Day Parade. To all the volunteers, participants and sponsors: bravo and encore.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; call (949) 380-4321 or e-mail coastlinepilot@latimes.com.