The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Pioneer Pac members prepare for parade
Event to commemorate city’s founding, 200 year history
It will be one Pioneerspirit-filled bus.
Members of Elyria High School Pioneer Pac dedicated the afternoon of Aug. 3 to decorating a bus for the largest parade in the 200 year history of Elyria.
“It’s a good way to show student support and we’re involved in our city,” said 17-year-old Pioneer Pac President Alison Guerini, a senior and lifelong resident. “We have banners hung along the side. We decorated some windows.
“We’ll have a smiley face on the front of the bus, and dates of the first games of the season, such as the first volleyball game at the Elyria High School gym, so people can come out. And we’ll be throwing out candy and blowing bubbles.”
The “Grand Bicentennial Parade” commemorates the founding of Elyria in 1817 by Heman Ely. It is sponsored by Elyria Charities.
The city and Elyria’s Bicentennial Committee of more than 100 volunteers organized the event, according to a news release.
Elyria Mayor Holly Brinda indicated in the release the bicentennial parade will be the largest parade in the history of the city with more than 1,200 participants and 110 parade units.
The parade is 10 a.m. to noon, Aug. 5, Brinda said.
It marches from Poplar Street down Gulf Road, turns right on Ohio Street, left on Washington Avenue to Broad Street, turns left on Middle Avenue, going past Elyria High and turns right on Seventh Street and
right onto West Avenue. The parade will disperse in the Elyria High parking lot, according to the release.
“The parade route is longer because we want to involve as many Elyrians as possible and showcase some of our important landmarks and our new additions like the renovated Middle Avenue and our beautiful new Middle Avenue and Elyria High School,” Brinda said in the release.
The parade includes a Cincinnati Circus Parade Troupe, five bands, 25 floats, circus performers, baton twirlers, super heroes, Ghostbusters the Sweet Adelines, a living statue of Heman Ely, the Elyria Apple Princess and Court, antique cars and more, according to the release.
After the parade, the Cincinnati Circus performs at Ely Square, along with a special recognition program for the State Championship Elyria High School Softball Team.
First Aid Stations will be Ohio Street and Washington Avenue, Ely Square, Elyria Catholic and Elyria High parking lot.
“We are looking forward to a wonderful day that demonstrates
how strong our community pride is in Elyria, Ohio,” Brinda said in the release. “Major companies, organizations, churches and many others are really having fun planning and building their floats and involving their employees and members in the festivities – and we can’t wait to see the outcome.”
Parade participants will stage at Northwood School, Elyria Catholic High, Gulf Road and Poplar Street, according to the release. Floats and vehicles must arrive from 8-8:30 a.m., all other groups from 8:30-9:15 a.m., according to the release.
Approach staging areas from Abbe Road and go west on Poplar. Parade marshals will wear bright orange, clearly labeled shirts.
Drop off parade participants at St. Jude. Only parade vehicles should enter other staging areas, according to the release.
Pioneer Pac spirit bus
Elyria High Principal Tim Brown said the Pioneer Pac spirit bus will leave at 8 a.m. from the High School. Families and students are welcome to ride to the staging area on the bus, but that will require a long wait because the parade begins at 10 a.m.
On Aug. 3, lettering was painted on windows by John Filipiak, an art teacher
at Crestwood, Oakwood and Franklin elementary schools.
“I’m all about promoting the schools,” Filipiak said. “I’m big on pride. My three kids all went to Elyria Schools.”
Students decorating the bus included Pioneer Pac vice president Caylyn Rodriguez, a 16-year-old senior; 16-yearold junior Izzy Stewart; 17-year-old senior Macy Taylor; 17-year-old senior Alyssa Rodriguez; and 16-year-old senior Sarah Schneider.
The Pioneer Pac asks fans to wear red to the parade to show support.
“I hope that we’ll see that our students are really involved and they care about the community,” Alison said. “I hope it will inspire people to come out and show a lot of support for student athletics.”
She also hopes other school districts will respect Elyria more after the new stadium is built, she said.
Caylyn said Alison bought sunglasses and Hawaiian leis to encourage game attendance. Each game theme will be posted on Twitter, they said.
“I think it’s very exciting and an honor to be involved in our city celebration,” Alison said.
“This is our senior year,” Caylyn said. “We want to go all out. It’s all or nothing. We want to be remembered.”