‘Dino-saur’ volunteers were dino-mite

“Oh, the Places You’ll Go” — and our Dino-Soar went faster and farther with his roller-skates and strapped-on wings, following his pterodactyl cousins; our Dino did soar on New Year’s Day, capturing the Animation Award. In the world of “float,” a very big brontosaurus is accompanied by a fluffy saber-toothed cat, a mom dinosaur and her nest of wobbling eggs, and a smoking volcano. Driving the float were Dustin Crumb and Jacob Maitless along with the computer animator, Dwight Crumb.

Many people contributed to the success of “Dino-Soar” — the construction crew, the site set-up and clean-up trolls, the tent kitchen which kept all workers fed and happy, the check-in desk, the Floatique sales group and most of all the many decorators who did a fantastic job of applying leaves, seeds, corn husks, ground split peas, carnations, and 10,000 roses of many colors. Constructing Dino involved the use of bungee cords and wet-suit neoprene to give the slow, curving movement of his head and tail.

A big thank you to all our members who annually contribute their dues to the association thereby insuring a new float every year, and we are grateful to those who support our fundraising events and our monthly Dine-Out nights. Thanks also to the board of directors who meet monthly and have the responsibility of raising and managing the funds to build the float.

It is most gratifying to see so many community members of all ages working together for a common goal and actually enjoying the opportunity to visit and get to know each other. What a thrill it is to see the crowd that gathers on Hampton Road on Dec. 31 to cheer the float as it is animated for the judges. This rose float belongs to all of us in the Crescenta-Cañada valley.

Ann Neilson
La Cañada Flintridge

Editor’s note: The writer is president of the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn.