Page 3 - Christmas Tab 2017 e-edition

December 6 & 7, 2017 Christmas 2016 3 Christmas parade showcases London as family community
By Keven J. Geaney
Mid Valley Publishing
Back in 1998 a group of citizens who wanted to change the small town of London, from a drug community to a family-oriented community, decided to create a Christmas parade. Nineteen years later the parade is still around and London’s atmosphere has changed. e parade is on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 1 p.m. at the London Community Center, 5770 avenue 378.
In 1998 the parade had four oats. Citizens for a Better London was the organization that created the parade. Last year the parade had 16 entries and this year it is expected to have between 25-30 entries. e organization has since changed its name to Community Citizens of a Better London. e committee members areTonyBrito[president],LindaDuran[vicepresident], eresa Ruiz [secretary] and Jose Ramos [treasurer].
“We have a lot of good people in London and we want to build it back up to get it to where we want it to be,” Brito said. “I believe London’s going to change a lot.”
Brito stated that the reason for the parade’s growth over the years was because in 2003 the community started promoting the event. Now the parade also has entries from the Cutler-Orosi, Dinuba, Monson-Sultana, Kings River and Traver areas. All three elementary
Photo contributed
Volunteers gather in front of the Dinuba Chamber of Commerce oat last year.
schools from Cutler-Orosi are in the parade, along with Monson-Sultana School, Kings River School, the Dinuba Chamber of Commerce’s oat, a oat from the American Legion and a London Library oat.
e parade went from having one band last year to three bands this year. El Monte Middle School’s Cardinals Band, Washington Intermediate School’s underbirds Band and Traver Elementary School’s band will be performing in the parade.
Dinuba High’s ROTC Colorguard will also march in the parade. e Cruising for Jesus organization will have cars and bikes in the parade. At least 10 cartoon characters will also be making an appearance in the parade. Last year’s parade had Minnie and Mickey Mouse, SpongeBob SquarePants, a Minion, Elmo and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
e London Christmas parade will also have a queen and grand marshal leading the parade. Dinuba High School will choose a girl to be the queen. e girl has to be a resident of London and have a 4.0 grade point average. As of Nov. 27 Miss London hadn’t been chosen. A grand marshal also hadn’t been chosen.
If you would like to be in the parade register at noon at the community center.
Brito stated that his organization is also working on bringing a clinic and sports park to London. He would also like to see a Lions Club in London and a Tulare County Sheri ’s Substation.
“At one time we had a substation in London,” Brito said. “Now the substation that serves us is out of Goshen.”
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