Report outlines area’s shortcomings in health

Jeanette Young, of Marysville, and her granddaughter, Ellianna Fresquez, 5, of Yuba City, take a break from working with Hong Wan Lung, the Bok Kai Parade dragon.

“We really enjoy working on the Bok Kai Parade, and it’s nice to see so many of our airmen want to get involved,” said Lt. Nancy Gately. “We went to Chinese New Year in San Fransisco to walk alongside their dragon during the parade to see how it’s done.”

Gately, who is in her third year helping with the parade, said the base has been involved in the parade activities since the early 1970s.

Master Sgt. Kimberly Kennedy held the pearl, which Hong Wan Lung chases during the parade, as part of a practice session last Saturday.

“It’s a 138-year tradition, and it’s a real privilege to be part of that tradition,” Kennedy said.

The 175-foot-long orange, yellow and green dragon takes 27 people, Health Division, said a recently completed community health assessment report also identified lack of access to medical professionals as being an obstacle the county faces.

“We recognize it as a problem,” Quick said. “Recruiting and maintaining health professionals is one of the challenges the county faces. Right now is an exciting time

Bok Kai Parade chairperson Candice Young Fresquez, left, her mother, Jeanette Young, and Tech. Sgt. Corey Kraus connect the dragon’s head to its body last Saturday in Marysville. each holding a different section aloft, to make Hong Wan Lung come alive.

Airmen take turns holding the head and other sections of the dragon as they zig-zag along the parade route in front of large crowds.

The parade, which has 68 entries this year, honors Bok Eye, the Chinese Water God,

who is said to protect Marysville from flooding.

Jeanette Young and her 5-year-old granddaughter, Ellianna Fresquez, were on hand to help with the rehearsal. Young is a longtime Marysville resident and member of the Marysville Chinese Community and works at Beale as a civil servant.

“I’ve been working at Beale for 30 years and they have been great at coming to help with the parade every year,”

Young said.

Young’s daughter, Candice Young Fresquez, is the Bok Kai Parade chairperson and said the airmen’s participation enriches the sense of community for the parade experience.

“I like that there’s a sense of community with the Beale personnel helping because they’re from all parts of the country and world,” she said. “That they help with our unique, local, historical event is great.”