Poway Gives Back: Don't Miss the Parade!

 By Bill Stoudenmire

The big day is almost here. The 49th annual Poway Days Parade and 5K, with the theme “I Love a Fit Poway,” will take place on Saturday.

The inaugural 5K Fun Run and 1-mile Walk In the Park, sponsored by Live Right Wellness Centers, will begin at 7 a.m. in Community Park. Former world BMX champion Dale Holmes, who is a Poway resident, will be the official starter.

At the same time and place the Poway Kiwanis Club will be putting on a pancake breakfast. Then, the Poway Days Parade, sponsored by Walmart, will kick off at 9 a.m. at Pomerado Road, east on Poway Road, and ending at Bowron.

More Than 90 Parade Entries

This year we'll have over 90 entrees, including all four Poway Unified high school marching bands and Marines and vehicles from the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp Pendleton.

Former City Council member and Rotary District 5340 Governor Carl Kruse will serve as Grand Marshall. Announcing at three stations along the route will be Sam Bass from KYXY, Dave Mason from 105.7 The Walrus, and Channel 7's Artie O'Jeda. 

Thanks to the U.S. Army for all their help and support and to all of the sponsors who helped the parade committee exceed their goals. See all of them listed, all the details, and sign up to volunteer  at www.powayparade.org. See pictures on the Poway parade Facebook page. If you haven’t registered for the 5K come early to sign in and we'll see you Saturday.

Second Chance Celebrates 20 Years

Not to be confused with the animal adoption agency, San Diego Second Chance Program is a not-for-profit organization that creates opportunities for people to transform their own lives by fostering behavioral changes that promote personal responsibility, healthy relationships and positive contributions to society.

The program provides job readiness and skills training, job placement, mental health and prisoner re-entry services, sober-living houses for adults and youth in need and more.

On Saturday, Oct. 5, they'll be celebrating 20 years of second chances in a gala at the University of San Diego from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be dinner, a live auction and program, plus a DJ and dancing. 

You can sponsor a program graduate so they can attend and celebrate their success by purchasing a ticket for $150. There are other ways to donate to the program. Log on to www.secondchanceprogram.org or contact Senior Development Associate Maureen Polimadei at mpolimadei@secondchanceprogram.org.

Coastal Cleanup Day Is Coming

The 29th California Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday, Sept. 21. Are you available? 

Coordinated locally by the environmental non-profit, “I Love a Clean San Diego," the day is part of the statewide California Coastal Cleanup and International Coastal Cleanup which has included 150 countries and 9 million volunteers since it began 28 years ago.

Last year, more than 9,000 volunteers from San Diego and Tijuana removed 167,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from local beaches, lakes and waterways. This year there are 90 cleanup sites countywide.

Because it is “coastal” cleanup doesn't mean Poway is left out and volunteers are needed for cleanup at Poway Creek in Poway Community Park as well as at other inland in-need locations. On line registration is open now. Volunteer at www.cleanupday.org where you'll also find a map showing all the cleanup sites.