TORTOISES MAY WIN IN THE END PALMDALE PICKS ROSE FLOAT DESIGN.Byline: JIM Jim Miss Watson’s runaway slave; Huck’s traveling companion. [Am. Lit.: Huckleberry Finn] See : Escape SKEEN Staff Writer PALMDALE -- Palmdale will be represented in the 2007 Tournament of Roses parade The Tournament of Roses Parade was established, and first held, on January 1,1890, in Pasadena, California, eight miles (13 km) northeast of Downtown Los Angeles. Rooted in tradition, this parade is broadcast on multiple television networks, watched by upwards of one by a family of desert tortoises crawling along a springtime landscape. Called ``Good Nature Begins at Home,'' the city's 35-foot-long float whose design was unveiled Tuesday will feature a family of three desert tortoises -- two new hatchlings and their mother -- crawling past wildflowers and flowering trees. More than 20,000 roses will be used to help decorate the float. ``Showcasing a family of desert tortoises on the float is an excellent way to reflect the city's commitment to family and preservation of local wildlife,'' said Mayor Jim Ledford. The skin of the tortoises will be decorated with carrot and radish radish, herbaceous plant (Raphanus sativus) belonging to the family Cruciferae (mustard family), with an edible, pungent root sliced in salads or used as a relish. seeds while the shells will be covered with Brazil and macademia nuts, black beans, cinnamon bark, montera leaves, sea grape sea grape n. A small tropical American tree (Coccolobis uvifera) growing on sandy beaches and having large, glossy, leathery, rounded leaves and hard purplish fruit arranged in grapelike clusters. leaves, and cobra leaves. Roses in sunrise hues of golden rust, light and deep coral, and glowing orange will be among the flowers used for the landscape. Other materials will include orchids, black lichen lichen (lī`kən), usually slow-growing organism of simple structure, composed of fungi (see Fungi) and photosynthetic green algae or cyanobacteria living together in a symbiotic relationship and resulting in a structure that resembles neither moss, green split pea split pea Noun a pea dried and split and used in soups or as a vegetable , mung beans mung bean n. 1. An Asian plant (Vigna radiata) in the pea family, widely cultivated for its edible seeds and pods. It is the chief source of bean sprouts. 2. The seeds or pods of this plant. , and eucalyptus eucalyptus (y  'kəlĭp`təs): see myrtle. eucalyptus . Like this year's entry, the float was designed by Raul Rodriguez and is being built by Fiesta Floats in Duarte. The city is spending $150,000 for the float's design and construction. The city's participation in the parade is aimed at improving Palmdale's image outside the region while at the same time building community pride among residents, Ledford said. More than 600 volunteers are expected to help decorate the float. ``If you are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a great perception building project, this is it,'' Ledford said. The city will be looking to increase the private donations and in-kind services for the project, said Laura Biery, who is heading up the project for the city. The city is shooting for $95,000 compared with $80,000 for the 2006 entry. The donations will be used to support the volunteers, including underwriting much of the costs for busing them to the float construction site, providing T-shirts, meals and prizes, Biery said. The city's 2006 entry, ``A Magical Place to Call Home,'' won the Princess Trophy, which goes to the most beautiful float 35 feet in length or less. In addition to generating some pride for Palmdale residents, officials said the float generated a great deal of publicity for the city. Media coverage included more than 20 newspaper articles about the float prior to the parade, television coverage from seven Los Angeles-based news stations, and coverage from two cable channels. Those interested in volunteering to decorate can sign up online at the city's Web site, cityofpalmdale.org. Those interested in making donations or sponsoring the float should call Laura Biery at 267-5132. james.skeen@dailynews (661) 267-5743 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) This is an artist's conception of the 2007 Palmdale Rose Parade float displayed in the Palmdale City Council chambers. (2 -- color) Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford watches as Laura Biery, in charge of the city's Rose Parade float, unveils an artist's conception of Palmdale's 2007 entry that will feature a family of desert tortoises. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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