New Queen to Reign Over Liberty Week

For a young woman from Bellflower, the feeling of becoming queen for a year is . . . .

“Words can’t describe it,” said Angelica Cuevas, 19, the reigning Miss Bellflower who gives up her crown Saturday in the 1991 pageant.

This year’s pageant kicks off Liberty Week, which actually is two weeks of festivities, including a parade, foot races, pancake breakfast and carnival celebrating Bellflower’s incorporation 34 years ago.

A week after Cuevas crowns her, the new Miss Bellflower will don the satin sash and ride in the Liberty Parade, a convoy of floats and antique cars rumbling down Bellflower Boulevard to the song, “Proud to Be an American.”

Although the year went quickly, Cuevas is ready to relinquish her crown, she said. She spent the $600 scholarship money on tuition to cosmetology school, and expects to graduate in two months. “This is my real dream, to do hair and have my own shop in 5 or 10 years,” she said.

The beauty pageant begins at 7 p.m. Saturday in the William Bristol Civic Auditorium inside City Hall at 16600 Civic Center Drive. There are 12 contestants, ages 16 to 24, to be judged on beauty, personality, grooming, poise and intelligence. The competition will be in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown, and speech and conduct. The winner will receive a $600 scholarship, a specially designed gold crown ring, a day of beauty treatment at a local salon and the duty to represent the city all year at various functions.

Liberty Week events are scheduled through Nov. 3. For more information, call 804-1424, ext. 208. Here is the schedule:

* Oct. 26--Pancake breakfast, 5- and 10-kilometer runs and health fitness fair from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Thompson Park, 14001 S. Bellflower Blvd.; two magic shows at 2 and 7:30 p.m. in the William Bristol Civic Auditorium; and a merchants’ sidewalk sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Bellflower Boulevard.

* Oct. 28--Farmers market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Laurel Street at Bellflower Boulevard.

* Oct. 29--Mayor’s community prayer breakfast at 7:15 a.m. at Simms Park, 16614 S. Clark Ave.

* Oct. 31--Carnival from 3 to 10:30 p.m. at Thompson Park; Halloween parties from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Thompson Park, Simms Park and Caruthers Park, 10500 Flora Vista St.

* Nov. 1--Carnival from 3 to 10:30 p.m. at Thompson Park.

* Nov. 2--Liberty Day Parade beginning at 11 a.m. at Walnut Street and traveling north on Bellflower Boulevard to Jefferson Street; carnival from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Thompson Park; city birthday celebration beginning at noon at Thompson Park and including an arts and crafts fair until 5 p.m., children’s crafts from 1 to 5 p.m., sky-diving exhibition and parade awards ceremony at 2 p.m., musical birthday salute at 6 p.m., cake-cutting ceremony at 6:30 p.m., and fireworks at 7 p.m.

* Nov. 3--Carnival finale from noon to 9 p.m. at Thompson Park.