67th ANNUAL LOS ALAMOS OLD DAYS PARADE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The 67th annual Los Alamos Old Days Celebration hosted its “Greatest Little Small Town Parade” today starting at 11:00 a.m. featuring more than 50 entries from around the region. Sponsored by the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club (LAVMC)—a local all-volunteer philanthropic membership group open to men, women and families—dedicated to preserving the town’s unique character and hospitality and providing scholarships and funding to local students and organizations. The parade and festivities attracted an estimated 3,000 or more people to the community today according to organizers.

The Parade Grand Marshall was Martin Chavez, a life-long resident of Los Alamos for 77 years (born 4/21/36). He attended Olga Reed School in Los Alamos and graduated from Santa Maria High School in 1954, the same year he married his sweetheart Lola Jean Ford who accompanied him in today’s parade along with their grandson Airman First Class Anthony Chavez. They proudly raised seven children (six boys and a girl) in Los Alamos. Parade Coordinators were Los Alamos residents Julie Moore and Mary Lou Noll; Announcer was Laura Kath; and Parade Judges were two anonymous members of the LAVMC. The parade began with the singing of the national anthem by 23-year-old Mia Vazquez, a Los Alamos native now attending California State University-Channel Islands majoring in music.

2013 Los Alamos Old Days 67th Annual Parade Winners are:

1. Civic Organization: TIE—Santa Maria Elks Lodge #1538 Officers Wagon & Outriders AND Chumash Community Color Guard

2. Commercial Organization: 2014 Dodge Challenger from Rocket Town Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram

3. Youth Organization: TIE–Righetti High School Warrior Band & Color Guard AND Olga Reed School Students

4. Equestrian—Youth: Santa Barbara County 4-H Horse Project

5. Equestrian—Adult: Los Canperos Charros

6. Equestrian–Animal-Drawn Vehicle: Wagon with Veterans Drawn by Tepesquet Mule Team Jill & Jayne Directed by Teamster Tom Feland

7. Automobile/Motorized Equipment—Antique: Restored Model A Ford driven by John Traller

8. Automobile/Motorized Equipment—Classic: 1955 Chevy driven by Chris Brown Silva

9. Automobile/Motorized Equipment—Tractor: 1928 John Deere Model D driven by Barry Manfrina

10. Automobile/Motorized Equipment—Farm/Ranch: 1947 Farmall Cub Tractor driven by Carol Brown Silva

11. Military: “California Hundred,” Company A, 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry re-enactors

12. Clowns: Santa Maria Elks Lodge #1538 Clowns

13. Musical: Garcia Dance Studio

14. Novelty: Moe Murphy’s Vintage Ice Cream Truck & Work Wagon

Organizers announced that the 68th Annual Los Alamos Old Days Celebration will be September 26-28, 2014. For further information on the Los Alamos Valley, all events and activities year-round, please visit www.LosAlamosValley.org