BATTLE GROUND ROSE FLOAT volunteer Ginger Lear works on the loudspeaker of a Victrola for the 2016 rose float, which will sport the theme “Old Time Blast” in this year’s Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade.
BARBARA GARRISON (left) and Judy Davis (right), two Battle Ground rose float volunteers, work on getting a flag ready for the 2016 Battle Ground rose float.
THE 2016 BATTLE GROUND rose float will feature a patriotic theme with music from an old-time wind-up Victrola, plus flags, stars and fireworks, all among thousands of flowers.
THIS RENDITION OF the 2016 Battle Ground rose float is what the finished float will look like upon completion.
Fundraising efforts have begun in support of this year’s Battle Ground rose float, an entry in the Portland Grand Floral Parade, which is set for Saturday, June 11.
Donations are invited to help pay for the annual project, which costs about $14,000 each year.
“Old Time Blast” is the theme of this year’s Battle Ground float. The theme follows the Portland parade theme, “Excessive Celebration.”
The Battle Ground float will feature a patriotic theme with music from an old-time wind-up Victrola, plus flags, stars and fireworks, all among thousands of flowers.
Four princesses ride the float. This year’s princesses are Shelby Woodside, Malia Meyer, Katie Beard and Allyson Barnes, all from Battle Ground High School.
The float is constructed entirely by volunteers. Volunteers are invited to help during work hours, which are Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1-4 p.m., at the Battle Ground Flex Building, located at 1308 SE Grace Ave., Battle Ground. Days and hours of volunteer work will be different during the last week before the parade. No experience is necessary to volunteer to work on the float.
The 2016 float will be accompanied in the Portland parade by the Battle Ground High School marching band.
Battle Ground has participated in the Portland parade every year since 1955, winning awards annually. The float won the coveted Queen Thelma Award last year, and claimed the Grand Sweepstakes Award as the best-of-the-best in 2006.
Last year’s float cost about $14,600, which included nearly $8,000 for flowers and construction materials. The rose float volunteer group paid the city of Battle Ground about $2,100 for use of the building in which the float was constructed.
Funding for the project comes from several sources. The sale of fireworks at the Fourth of July had provided significant support for the float project but last year raised only $4,293. Lacking a chairperson this year, the fireworks sale may not take place. Funding also comes from the sale of commemorative pins and holiday wreaths.
Marla Polos, board member of the rose float committee, said another nonprofit organization is needed to share responsibility and profits from the sale of fireworks. She urged that any representatives of such interested organization contact her.
Citizens and businesses donate money for the project in a program called Royal Order of Selected Enthusiasts (R.O.S.E.). Last year such donations raised $6,000. Those donating were recognized in a photo brochure which has been distributed throughout Battle Ground.
Riverview Community Bank donated $500 to the float project and was recognized as a Golden R.O.S.E. donor. Amy Price is manager of Riverview Community Bank in Battle Ground.
The Battle Ground High School class of 1959 also supported the project with a $500 donation.
And Best Western in Battle Ground supported the project with a $500 donation, contributed by owners Alkesh and Bindiya Patel.
Seven people or organizations donated $250 each and were recognized as Silver R.O.S.E. donors. They were Dennis Pavlina and Carmen Villarma of The Management Group, Ryan DesRochers, Brenda and Bill Ganley, Jane and Don Higgins, Jan Stockton of Lewis Group CPAs, Michele Denny, and Delores and Philip Johnson.
Those donating $100 were Mike and Kelly Achen of Achen Development LLC., Ken and Katy Root, Sharon Sorenson of Battle Ground Auto License, Bev and Don Brissler of Coldwell Banker United Properties, Ron Bertsch of Coldwell Banker United Properties, Jill Kurtz of Jackson, Jackson and Kurtz law firm, Chuck and Esther Kessinger, Rodger and RuthAnne Lance, Denton and Barbara Harlan of Layne’s Funeral Home, Dave Miller of Miller Farmers Insurance, Bob and Jane Brink, Robert Rose and Karl Rose of Rose Family Dental, David and Barbara Rowe, Marvin and Anne Case, Bill and Louise Tucker of BattleGroundHistoryBook.com, Bob and Ruthie Brown, Pat Wiwel, John and Lynda Idsinga of Keller Williams Realty, Barbara Evans, Mark Watrin of Battle Ground Kiwanis Club, Steve and Kay Burnett of Battle Ground Mini Storage, Keith Painter, Elie and Nyla Kassab of Battle Ground Cinema, Peggy and Kenneth Kirkman, Jim and Brenda Lester, Steve and Julie Pagel, Elaine Hertz, Laura Venneri of The Reflector, Eldon and Pam Church, Darrell and Peggy McClellan, Marty and Nancy Miller, Eric Starr of Northwood Public House and Brewery, Trish and Rich Rubin, and Terry Grendahl of General Federal of Women’s Clubs.
Donations to the R.O.S.E. program are now being sought at $100 or more per person, couple or business. Anyone willing to donate to this year’s Battle Ground float project is urged to call Louise Tucker at (360) 687-3619, or email her at blt@pacifier.com, or Marvin Case at (360) 687-4122, or email him at marvincase@msn.com
Information about volunteering to work on the float is available by calling Darrell McClellan at (360) 256-4654, Marla Polos at (360) 687-3772 or Bill Tucker at (360) 687-3619.
