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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2019)
8 Smoke Signals JUNE 15, 2019 Float designed by Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr. ROSE FESTIVAL continued from front page bacon and coffee prepared by Spirit Mountain Casino chefs. Unlike a majority of other years, rain and drizzle held off and the temperature was a tad chilly, but with dashes of sunshine. Spirit Mountain Casino celebrat- ed its 24th year of being a Rose Festival partner and ninth year as a presenting sponsor. Its float, “Keeping Culture Alive at Willa- mette Falls,” was the fourth out of Memorial Coliseum to begin the 4.2-mile parade route. The float was designed by Trib- al Council member and artist Steve Bobb Sr. and built by Port- land-based SCI 3.2, which has built every casino float for the last 23 years. Watching the parade from the front row Saturday, Bobb described the atmosphere as “fun and fes- tive.” “For our Tribe to be a part of this festival is great,” he said. “Growing up, I used to watch the Rose Fes- tival on TV and never imagined I would be a part of that.” It is Bobb’s eighth year designing the parade float. This year’s cre- ation was done with the input of Tribal members, who wanted it to reflect Grand Ronde culture. “A big accomplishment this year is being able to fish from the plat- form at Willamette Falls,” Bobb said. “I figured that would be a perfect theme to use for the float.” Apparently the five judges who examine each float in the parade to determine awards felt the same: The Tribe’s entry was honored with the Governor’s Award for best de- piction of life in Oregon. Volunteers and community mem- bers put the finishing touches on the float earlier in the week. The float featured a Tribal fisherman scooping his net into the rushing water of Willamette Falls from a platform above while a river otter pauses to take in the scene. In addition to Bobb, Tribal Coun- cil Secretary Jon A. George and Denise Harvey attended. It was Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez Members of the Grand Ronde Royalty escort the Spirit Mountain Casino float “Keeping Culture Alive at Willamette Falls” during the Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade held in Portland on Saturday, June 8. The casino’s float won the Governor’s Award for the best depiction of life in Oregon. Harvey’s first time at the parade. “Seeing all of the visitors and their excitement is great,” she said. “I wish I would have come in the past and brought my family, too.” Harvey, who also serves on the Spirit Mountain Community Fund Board of Trustees, attended a spe- cial check presentation filmed by “Good Day Oregon” Traffic Reporter Tony Martinez with Community Tribal Council member and Spirit Mountain Community Fund Board member Denise Harvey is interviewed by “Good Day Oregon” Traffic Reporter Tony Martinez and KPTV photojournalist Omar Granados during a Community Fund check presentation held prior to the start of the Grand Floral Parade in Portland on Saturday, June 8. Fund Director Michael Cherry be- fore the parade began. The Community Fund awarded a $50,000 grant to Juliette’s House of McMinnville and a $45,000 grant to Tucker Maxon School of Portland. The Community Fund has a long history of giving to both organizations dating back to the early 2000s. Juliette’s House is a child abuse intervention center and Tucker Maxon assists deaf and regular hearing students. “That gave everyone a good feel- ing to be able to give grants to great organizations,” Harvey said. It was the first time the Commu- nity Fund has distributed checks at the Rose Festival. The opportunity came about after Spirit Mountain Casino Sponsorship Administrator Jocelyn Huffman and Cherry met to brainstorm ways they could partner to do more outreach in the community. “Doing it live was a great oppor- tunity,” Huffman said. During the parade, Huffman also announced that Spirit Mountain See ROSE FESTIVAL continued on page 9 From left, Tribal Council member and Spirit Mountain Community Fund Board member Denise Harvey, Russell Mark of Juliette's House, Jennifer Hoofard of Tucker Maxon School, Spirit Mountain Community Fund Director Michael Cherry, “Good Day Oregon” Traffic Reporter Tony Martinez and KPTV photojournalist Omar Granados during a Community Fund check presentation held prior to the start of the Grand Floral Parade in Portland on Saturday, June 8.
