DUARTE GETS ITS GROOVE ON ROUTE 66

Duarte may have lost many of its Route 66 icons, yet the City enthusiastically celebrates its little stretch of the Mother Road annually.  Along the Route where motorists once enjoyed hearty steak dinners and entertainment at The Trails Steakhouse (1952-2001) the parade marched along on September 24,2011.

Before the parade, a VIP breakfast was served and Grand Marshal Chuck Henry was introduced by Duarte Mayor Tzeitel Paras.

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GRAND MARSHAL CHUCK HENRY GETS READY TO JOIN THE 17THE ANNUAL PARADE!

DUARTE'S PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNEL, DCTV, ANNOUNCES THE PARADE PARTICIPANTS AS THEY MARCH BY.

SPECTATORS ALONG THE  PARADE ROUTE SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION!

THE DUARTE HISTORICAL SOCIETY VOLUNTEERS RIDE IN THIS PACIFIC ELECTRIC TROLLEY RENTED FROM THE VENICE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.  NICK MONTALVO AND HIS PARTNER JILL, PRESIDENT OF THE VENICE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, POSE IN FRONT OF THEIR TRAM.

ON BOARD WAS MICHAEL RAMOS, THE GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDSON OF ANDRES DUARTE, FOR WHOM THE CITY IS NAMED.  HIS GIRLFRIEND, LINDA, SITS BESIDE HIM.

              MUSEUM CURATOR IRWIN MARGILOFF AND DOCENT DOUGLAS ROSS

                URBAN COWBOY ALAN HELLER DUMPS HIS HORSE FOR A TROLLEY

                                THE STALLERS HITCH A RIDE

                        THIS YEAR MANY IMPRESSIVE BANDS JOINED IN

AS IS TRADITION, THE PARADE WAS FOLLOWED BY THE CITY PICNIC FEATURING BOOTHS, ENTERTAINMENT AND A CAR SHOW.  FOR ONCE THE DUARTE FESTIVITIES WERE ON THE WEEKEND AFTER THE SAN BERNARDINO ROUTE 66 RENDEZVOUS, INSTEAD OF VYING FOR PARTICIPANTS ON THE SAME WEEKEND.

                          THERE WAS AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF ANTIQUE CARS

THE DUARTE WOMAN'S CLUB COULD NOT MAKE BURGERS FAST ENOUGH TO PLEASE THE FAMISHED CROWD

IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE ROUTE 66 PARADE IS ORGANIZED ANNUALLY BY A GRASS ROOTS COMMITTEE, RESIDENTS WHO SPEND AN ENTIRE YEAR PLANNING THE EVENT ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS.  ALTHOUGH THE CITY COOPERATES AND HELPS, THE PARADE TAKES PLACE BECAUSE RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS MAKE IT HAPPEN THROUGH THEIR GRACIOUS SPIRIT AND DEDICATION TO DUARTE AND IT'S HISTORY.

THIS IS WHY WE SAY: DUARTE:  OUR KIND OF TOWN