Lompoc Valley
FLOWER FESTIVAL 2017
INSIDE
Festival to feature parade, music, food, fun. Page A2
Bernie Federmann to lead parade as grand marshal. Page A3
Volunteers make Flower Festival happen. Page A4
Entertainment schedule, queen candidates. Page A5
Lompoc Flower Festival to feature
PARADE, MUSIC, FOOD, FUN Festivities get underway Wednesday Jennifer Best CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A2 | Sunday, June 18, 2017 | Lee Central Coast Newspapers
L
ompoc Valley will celebrate its 65th Annual Lompoc Valley Flower Festival this week with a triedand-true recipe for success: floral show, queen contest, parade, food, arts and crafts vendors, and live entertainment. The 2017 theme, “Small Town, Big Heart,” is expected to be reflected throughout the week’s events, which begin Wednesday and run through Sunday, and are coordinated under the direction of Flower Festival Committee President Rose Isaac. The events kick off with the Lompoc Valley Flower Festival Queen Coronation Saturday, when 2016 Flower Festival Queen Zoe Burritt will pass off the silver, poppy-adorned crown to this year’s winner. The contest grew this year to include eight contestants: Ciarra Blow (Kiwanis Club of Lompoc), Irish A. Caayupan (Filipino American Club of Lompoc), Alia Carlon (Elks Lodge No. 2274), Gabriela Cazares (City of Lompoc Employee Development Association), Elizabeth Guerrero (Lompoc Rotary Club), Ana Novarro (La Purisima
Frank Cowan, Contributor
A clown from the Lompoc Shrine Club waves as the club entry makes the turn at H Street and Ocean Avenue during the 2016 Lompoc Flower Festival Parade on Saturday.
Concepcion School), Destiny Resura (Lompoc Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Business Committee), and Audreyanna Villa (American Legion Post 211). Ryon Park opens for festival business at 10 a.m. Wednesday after a week of site preparation by Lompoc Valley Festival Association volunteers. Food booths, commercial vendors,
Enjoy the 65
115 E. College Ave., #13 In The College Center Lompoc, California 93436 (805) 736-9996 Open Mon & Tues 8am - 3pm Wed - Sat 8am - 9pm Closed Sunday
carnival rides and live entertainment will be available all five days. Arts and craft vendors will be in the park Friday through Sunday. Food will be served throughout the festival by local organizations, from CPC Hmong Alliance Church’s spring rolls to AYSO Region 77’s jambalaya, Kiwanis Club of Lompoc tri-tip to Iglesia Bautista Familia de
th
Flower Festiv Festival
Dios papusas and agua fresca. Vandenberg Top II, New Hope Christian Church, Lompoc Filipino American Club, Lompoc High School Instrumental Music Program, El Concillo de Lompoc, Blackhawk Booster Club, Campfire, and Cornerstone Church will also raise funds through their food and beverage booths. Park entertainment begins at
3 p.m. Wednesday with Alley Project opening the festivities. Garcia Dance Studio brings its act to the stage at 4 p.m. followed by Kaitlyn Chui Band, and Storm closes the stage from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. with its brand of funk, rhythm and blues, and classic rock. Thursday’s live performances begin at 11 a.m. and include Gold Coast Blues Band, Anything Possible, Sign Bender Jazz, Do No Harm with Dylan Ortega closing the place down with the 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. slot. Friday brings flowers and more music to the park. Voice Studio opens the stage at 11 a.m. followed by Brandy Sidecar. Howard Miller Blues Band will play while flower specimens are delivered the tent, followed by Livewire and Pop Gun Rerun. The Flower Show returns this year with locally grown specimens accepted on Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Judging will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. following the parade awards ceremony. Flower exhibitors remove their entries between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday. At 10 a.m. Saturday, Parade Marshal Ernie Federman will kick off the Flower Festival Parade from the corner of North H Street and College Avenue. The parade of floats featuring local flora and natural materials, as well as equestrian units, drill teams, drum squads, PLEASE SEE FESTIVAL, Page A7
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Federmann to lead parade as grand marshal Jennifer Best CONTRIBUTING WRITER
When Flower Festival Association members looked at their list of nominees for 2017 Flower Festival Parade Grand Marshal, the choice was clear: Pastor Bernie Federmann. “He fit the bill this year,” said Lompoc Valley Flower Festival Chair Rose Isaac. Last winter, the association invited the general public to nominate citizens for the honorary position, keeping in mind this year’s theme, “Small Town, Big Heart.” “Judging on merit, it was pretty much unanimous, especially because of the theme. He does so much for the community,” said Miranda Beltran, of Lompoc Valley Festival Association. Federmann, born in Burbank where he was raised in a Jewish family, converted in 1970. As a youth, he was active in band, choir, as a Sunday school teacher and in youth ministry. He served as an associate pastor
Len Wood, Staff
Lompoc Foursquare Church Pastor Bernie Federmann talks with a young visitor during a service. Federmann is the 2017 Lompoc Flower Festival parade grand marshal.
in Santa Monica, then pastor in Sylmar, before moving to Lompoc in 1986 with his wife, Debbie, and their children, Jamie and Brian. Under his leadership, the congregation at Lompoc Foursquare Church has grown from 175 to 1,600 members,
many of whom also volunteer throughout the community. Using his gift of public speaking, shameless promotion of his own volunteer efforts and feelings about them, self deprecating humor, and love, Federmann encourages congregants
to serve outside the walls of the church and into all corners of the community. Though he told the 2012 Foursquare Convention-goers he’s had more than a dozen invitations to move on, the Federmanns are committed to loving Lompoc with all of their heart, and the community has responded. Church members have worked with Boys & Girls Club, feeds the community, partners with other churches to bring services to the community. They take bite-sized projects from elephant-sized problems. Some projects have included one-day graffiti-removal projects, city cleanups, mowing lawns, even providing cold water on hot days and along parade routes. By stepping in to volunteer and talking to his congregation not only about the projects, but his feelings about the work, Federmann has created a culture of volunteerism at Foursquare. “Pastor Bernie does a
tremendous amount of work in the community. He puts on events, works with young people, and is a great preacher, by the way,” Isaac said. Federmann has served as chaplain for both the Lompoc Police Department and Lompoc Fire Department, as a civic leader for Air Education Training Command at Vandenberg Air Force Base, and honorary commander of the 30 Security Forces Unit at Vandenberg. He coaches and mentors other pastors and church leaders, and is a member of the Lompoc Valley Ministerial Association. In 2010, he led the charge to bring back Lompoc’s July 4 fireworks show after it was cut the prior year for budgetary reasons. Under his direction in 2012, Foursquare provided hygiene kits and financial backing to New Life Christian Center’s homeless relief effort after Bridgehouse homeless shelter closed its doors. PLEASE SEE FEDERMANN, Page A6
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Lee Central Coast Newspapers | Sunday, June 18, 2017 | A3
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Volunteers make the event happen Jennifer Best CO NT R I B UT ING W R ITE R
Len Wood, Staff
Carol Kirkland, right, and her daughter Jade Young, co-chairs of the Lompoc Flower Festival Queen division, show off the new crown and cape for the 2017 Queen.
A4 | Sunday, June 18, 2017 | Lee Central Coast Newspapers
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Festivals don’t run themselves, and Lompoc’s Flower Festival is no exception. In fact, it relies on a cadre of dedicated, long-term volunteers who give up family time, sleep, even their vacation time to bring the tradition to town year after year. “I love to see the people. I love the vendors who come from all over; they’re great people; they keep me motivated to keep coming back. The volunteers throughout the association, anyone who gives up their time to give to the community like this, are a great group of people,” said Inga McCullough, vendor chair and a 10-year Flower Festival volunteer. The Lompoc Valley Festival Association has, in fact, only two paid employees. They are backed by volunteers in this annual effort which includes
vendor fair, live music, parade, flower judging and carnival over the course of five days. They rent the park, secure the permits, work with food safety professionals to ensure public health, and do the grunt work, too. “Honestly, I think that the heart of the organization and the only reason that it’s running is because of the volunteers. It’s so important to us to be able to give back to the community. They know how important that is, to dedicate hours and hours and hours of their time. Nobody expects anything in return, which I think is just beautiful. They’re the heart of the event, the reason we do it,” said Miranda Beltran, the association’s administrative assistant. Perhaps no one has served the festival longer than Bonnie PLEASE SEE VOLUNTEERS, Page A6
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Check our website for upcoming information on Lompoc Pops Orchestra’s 21st Season – 2017-2018 new concert dates should be posted by August. Be sure to get tickets for our last concert of the season featuring:
Territorial Law 7:30 pm - Monday �Small Town - Big Heart�
June 19, 2017
Welcome to the 65th Annual Lompoc Valley Flower Festival More Info: (805) 735-6463 / www.lompocpopsorchestra.org
John Callan, Contributor
From left, Irish Caayupan, Elizabeth Guerrero, Ciarra Blow, Ana Luisa Navarro, Gabriela Cazasares, Audrieyanna Villa, Alia Carlon and Destiny Resura were introduced as the 2017 Flower Festival Queen candidates during their premiere at the Elks Lodge in Lompoc on Saturday.
Eight candidates vying for Flower Festival Queen Willis Jacobson WJACO BSON@ L E EC E N T RALCOAST NEWS.COM
to run for Flower Fest Queen because “it gives me the amazing opportunity to give back and show my appreciation for my community, which has done so much for me and continues to.” PLEASE SEE QUEEN, Page A7
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Eight candidates are vying for the title of 2017 Flower Festival Queen. The candidates, along with their sponsoring
organization and a brief biography, include: Alia Carlon (sponsored by the Lompoc Elks Lodge): Carlon, a Cabrillo High School student, is a snow globe collector who has goals to be a medical professional. She said she chose
A6 | Sunday, June 18, 2017 | Lee Central Coast Newspapers
Volunteers
I like working with all of them. It’s fun. Tiring, but fun,” she said. From A4 When it comes to parade time, it’s volunteer Braithwaite, who first got Juan Esquivias on the spot. involved in 1978 when her For the queen contest, daughter ran for Flower it’s Queen Division Chair Festival queen. Braithwaite Carol Kirkland, who joined the association returns this year after a in 1990, and has since 12-year hiatus. served as parade chair, “I’m the type of person association president, and where, if I’m going to sugchaired the carnival for gest things be changed, I many years. should volunteer myself,” “It keeps me busy. I’m said Kirkland, who first on the short side of 80, volunteered with the festiand I’m not a person who val in 2002. likes to sit around. I enjoy She added to the all the people at the festicontest an educational val. I enjoy the camaradeelement focused on etirie of the other workers. quette, grooming skills There are so many who and life lessons that can volunteer, so many it takes take the contestants to put it on, to set it up into adulthood. and tear it down. I love my “In dealing and workcity,” Braithwaite said. ing with women, it’s all Another long-time about building each other volunteer is, in fact, Len Wood, Staff up. I feel like I have that responsible not only for instilled in me, so I can Derril Shiflet, Lompoc Flower Festival Park Chairman, also drives the over 40-foot long queen float in the parade. set up and tear down, pass those leadership but just about everything qualities on to these young that goes on in the park half a dozen, has either volunteering and having women. Why not teach during Flower Festival. co-chaired or chaired the worked, and the people (the contestants) some Park Chairman Derril food booths. With her and the city like the end life lessons that will take Shiflet and his partner in compatriot, Donna De La result,” said Shiflet, a them into their womanprep, Raul Gonzales, will Cruz, Barritt makes sure 27-year volunteer with hood and they can use team with half a dozen vendors find their places, Flower Festival. for the rest of their lives, volunteers working 12 to the Health Department Now that he’s retired, whether it’s help on their 14 hours a day on prepShiflet is enjoying a much gets through the booths, college application or ping the park up to a that every booth remains more relaxed look toward interviewing for a job in week before the festival stocked with ice, among the festival, but he can the future, any position,” opens its gates. They’ll other duties. Kirkland said. place administrative trail- appreciate volunteers “I know my family like Patriece Barritt, food Perhaps someday, the ers, fencing, direct food thinks I’m crazy because young women will return booth chair. She’ll take booths, place electrical the gift to a new generavacation from her city job I’m pretty much gone all and plumbing. tion, like the contestants week. Everyone has comdriving trash trucks and Prior to his retirement, ments about the festival, Shiflet would dedicate his hire childcare providers Len Wood, Staff who have returned to Kirkland with stories but no one jumps in and two-week vacation to the for the grandchildren she Patriece Barritt, chairman of the food booths at the helps. You can’t sit back festival, its setup, the fes- typically tends so she can Lompoc Flower Festival, poses for a picture at Ryon Park about raising their own children, excelling in and complain if you’re continue volunteering tival itself, and cleanup. in the area where the food booths will be located. their careers. not willing to jump in and with the festival. “I like doing it. I like “They come back 10 Barritt has volunteered help,” Barritt said. the end results. If we have group down there from all about giving back to years later and say, ‘thank with the festival for seven Like other voluna successful festival, I opening to close. The guys you,’ to give kudos, hugs, her hometown. years, and for the past teers, Barritt said it’s have the satisfaction of that get the park together “I don’t know if it’s appreciation. This really really bust their butts. It’s did work. It really is bigstupidity or dedication,” a good group of people. she quipped. “It’s a small ger,” Kirkland said.
Federmann From A3
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offers a variety of programs, including youth groups, women’s groups, gathering opportunities for youth and a home for Mothers of Preschoolers. They also provide community feeding each Monday. Federmann also served six years as Lompoc public safety commissioner. His seat at the head of
the parade is hardly Federmann’s first honor. In 2004, he was named Lompoc Police Department Volunteer of the Year. In 2008, he was Lompoc Police Department Citizen of the Year. And in 2011, he was granted the Leadership Lompoc Valley Dick DeWees Memorial Leadership Award.
Festival From A2
clowns, community groups and more will march down H Street and Ocean Avenue. Saturday’s park entertainment follows the parade with Hardtimes/ Goodtimes opening the stage at noon followed by Holgers Heroes, Fossils and, at 8:30 p.m., Bostyx—a Boston and Styx tribute band. The festival winds down Sunday with Soul Cats opening the stage with funk and R&B at 11:45 a.m. 805 Call-Tejano and Selena, The Premier Tribute, wraps up the day by 6 p.m. This year’s Flower Festival sponsors include: Accurate Heating & Air Conditioning; City of Lompoc; Edward
Queen From A5
Frank Cowan, Contributor
Members of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Pipe and Drum Corps march and play down Ocean Avenue during the 2016 Lompoc Flower Festival Parade on Saturday.
and Walmart. Jones—Ed Hall; Grocery Admission to the festiOutlet; James M Hall; val is $4 per person, and Johnny’s Bar & Grill; Walker, Wilson & Hughen; free for youth 12 years old
Ciarra Blow (Kiwanis Club of Lompoc): Blow is a Lompoc High student and plans to attend Prairie View A&M University en route to becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner. On running for queen, she said, “I’m very excited to get more involved in the community and make a difference in the lives of all the young girls that look up to us. I am also eager to see my personal growth at the end of this journey.” Elizabeth Guerrero (Rotary Club): Guerrero attends Lompoc High and said she’s excited to run for Flower Fest Queen to get the chance to be “a positive representation of Lompoc.” She likes to run to unwind and enjoys crocheting. She said she considers her older brother to be her familial mentor and says she is motivated by her desire to help people. Ana Navarro (La Purisima Concepcion School): Navarro, who also attends Lompoc High, plans to move on to Grand Canyon University to major in nursing and minor in dance. She said she loves dancing,
and younger. Pre-sale tickets for the carnival and the festival are available until noon
Wednesday at the Lompoc Valley Festival Association Office, 414 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. For more information about the festival, including entertainment
lineup, daily schedules and flower festival rules, visit https://sites. google.com/lompocvalleyfestivals.com/lvfa/ or call 735-8511.
babysitting, collecting are her favorites — are attributed to Walt Disney, courage to pursue them.” pens and making people among her top hobbies. is: “All our dreams can The “Queen Mom” this laugh. She said she’s She said her favorite quote, come true if we have the year is Carol Kirkland. excited for upcoming campaign because she is “looking forward to (seeing) the young beautiful women we will all grow to be throughout the process.” Audreyanna Villa (American Legion Post 211): Villa is a Lompoc High student who plans to 104 So. C St, Suite C attend Grand Canyon UniLompoc, CA 93436 versity to major in childhood early development. (805) 737-0299 As a queen candidate, she said she is excited We can help you buy or sell properties. to become “a better role model, as well as getting to We can manage your rentals, or find you a place to live live. know people in my community.” While playing “Guitar Hero,” she can play the guitar behind her head, and loves to admire the beauty of nature. Gabriela Cazares (Lompoc Employee Development Association): Cazares is a 2015 Lompoc High graduate who has goals to start a family and work in the criminal justice field. She said she loves to go to Disneyland and that watching Disney movies — “Frozen” Excellence, Ethics, Experience and “Alice in Wonderland”
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Destiny Resura (Hispanic Business Committee): Resura, also a student at Cabrillo, loves enchiladas, visiting Las Vegas and plans to be a veterinarian. If she could meet anyone, she said it would be Martin Luther King Jr. She said she enjoys the camaraderie she shares with the other queen candidates, adding “being able to grow together and support one another is beautiful.” Irish Caayupan (Lompoc Filipino American Club): A Lompoc High student, Caayupan said she’s excited by the upcoming campaign because she gets to meet new people and experience “new adventures with the queen candidates.” Her favorite hobbies are hanging out with her dog, family and friends, and she considers her mother her top mentor because “she is always focused and motivated.”
Len Wood, Staff
Angela Burke bought the French bread pizza while Ryenne Clancy purchased the taquitos at the 2016 Lompoc Flower Festival.
A8 | Sunday, June 18, 2017 | Lee Central Coast Newspapers
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