Each year, the Santa Maria and Nipomo Rotary Clubs co-sponsor the Christmas Parade of Lights in Santa Maria and collect canned foods for the Salvation Army as part of the festivities. It is estimated that six months of the Salvation Army's food supply comes from this one event, so it is a huge community service. It is also tons of hard work and lots of fun for all involved. With over 100 parade entries, several street closings, thousands of viewers and judging and parking and publicity and fundraising issues, Parade co-chairs Mike Gibson and Dave Wright and their committee have their hands full! Warm thanks to the City for its support of the event and to all the Rotarians who make the event so appreciated by local families, we salute you! Happy holidays to all!

Special congratulations to this year's Grand Prize Parade Entry from the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), for its amazing float...we recognize one our own in the driver's seat! Rotary Santa Maria South is partnering this year with NAWIC to provide funding for holiday gifts for foster teens. Watch for parade photos soon!