Camellia Festival opens in TC

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Oak Avenue Middle School Marching Band performing in Temple City’s Camellia Festival on Feb. 21, 2009

The Camellia Festival got off to a healthy start Saturday here in Temple City with the annual parade and band review. Above is the Oak Avenue band, always one of the best. This parade is unique for bands because it includes many middle school marching bands. Also included were Madrid School (in El Monte) and Foothills Middle School in Arcadia.

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The Oak Avenue Middle School Band drum major goes to work at the Temple City Camellia Festival Saturday.

The bands played on…. including the Foothills Middle School band (green and black colors) from Arcadia:

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A good show.

Not pictured: Politicians who use the parade to advertise their campaigns. Why does Cathe Wilson, who was riding in an old car, have to be in the parade? Any other time would be fine, but using the city parade as exposure for a city council race which takes place in less than two weeks is wrong. That goes beyond the advantage of incumbency.

I give credit to Ken Gillanders, who is also running for re-election on March 3. As far as I could tell, he did not appear in the parade.
Of course, neither did any of the other candidates who are challenging the incumbents. That’s as it should be.

Here’s to a successful Camellia Festival in Temple City. If you go (it takes place next to City Hall on Las Tunas Drive) don’t eat too many funnel cakes.
And let’s hope the rain stays away this weekend.