Ol’ Fashioned Parade Reinforces Community, Interdependence

Community members and travelers alike came together today to view the many attractions in the Half Moon Bay Ol’ Fashioned July 4 Parade which ran down Main Street yesterday afternoon.

“It keeps the community together, keeps it strong,” said Half Moon Bay resident Jim Holsman, who came to watch the parade with his wife Dawn, granddaughter Lyrik and friends from Santa Rosa.

The parade has been a tradition for a number of years.

“It doesn’t really feel like the 4^th of July unless you see the parade,” said El Granada resident Monica Molossi.

The parade featured many different groups and businesses of the Half Moon Bay Coastside including the Half Moon Bay Rotary Club, Farmer John's Pumpkin Farm, Half Moon Bay Horseshoe Club, Pastorino's, the Coastside Harley Club, Kuuk Sool Won, the Lions Club, Half Moon Bay Police and Fire departments, Coastside Mother’s Club and many others.

The Half Moon Bay Library marched in the parade while doing tricks with their library carts. “We get to let our hair down and show that we are like everyone else,” said Karen Choy, Children’s Librarian for Half Moon Bay. “We like more than just reading!” The library got so much grief for not going last year, staffers said, that they said they had to participate in this year’s parade.

“It gives exposure to the 4-H club and keeps up the tradition,” said Half Moon Bay resident Ruth Taillon of the parade, who marched with the 4-H club. It was the first year that the club brought goats with them. They walked on a leash next ot their guar

“(The parade) is what the 4^th of July means for the U.S.,” said Half Moon Bay Resident Nancy Jose, one of the many waiting for the parade to start.

This year’s Grand Marshal of the parade was Karol “Bo” Bobko, one of the NASA space shuttle program’s earliest commanders.

“It’s nice to have everyone get together,” said Bobko, a Half Moon Bay resident. “My most favorite part was waving at the kids.”

Bobko was the pilot of the first flight of the space shuttle Challenger in 1983 and commanded Discovery on STS-51D in 1985 and the Atlantis on STS-51J six months later. He was recently inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

“It was great to be recognized for my work and to get together with friends and family for the ceremony,” said Bobko of his recent accomplishment.

The parade is planned by committee made up of Cameron Palmer, also owner of , Roxy Stone and Lily Labaj. The trio has been planning the parade for over 20 years, nearly all by themselves.

“It’s just one of those things I grew up with and I’ve helped out for as long as I can remember,” said Palmer. “I just help keep the tradition alive.”

The parade is financed solely by donations and registrations fees and usually raises about $1000 each year.

“It seems to be a time where lots of groups get together,” said Stone. “The whole community gets behind it.”

The committee starts its planning a few months before Independence Day, but they get a lot of last minute additions.

“Everybody knows, but so many people come to sign up on the day of the parade,” said Labaj.

Many events took place after the parade including barbeques, live music and fireworks.