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Organizers pay $5K for Mardi Gras location

By JAYNE HANSON
Today's News-Herald
Published Friday, February 5, 2010 6:12 AM MST

Lake Havasu Mardi Gras organizer Steve Astorga has a positive outlook for his upcoming festivities despite having to pay $5,000 to host them in the English Village. Last year, English Village property owners donated the use of the property for the event.

“I might look for another location next year, but the whole idea was to bring life back into the English Village,” Astorga said, then added he is hoping an organization or business group would be interested in stepping forward to adopt the future Mardi Gras events.

Negotiations began with English Village property owner Chris Read and his son Aaron Read a few months ago. Astorga said the Reads were reluctant at first to allow the event to return to that location at all.

“There were a few issues with grease stains left behind from food vendors last year … Those issues have been addressed for this year’s event,” Astorga said.

Attempts to reach Chris Read were unsuccessful.

The beer gardens and vendor booths at the event will be the key Astorga hopes will cover the cost of the event. Any proceeds will be donated to local charities through non-profit group Tri-State Wheelers.

The city permits pulled to accommodate the event included parking concerns from China Buffet management. Astorga said he and his team of organizers would help post no parking signs in the area of China Buffet’s immediate parking area. The signs would help restrict parking in that area between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the event days.

The second annual Lake Havasu Mardi Gras is scheduled 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Feb. 16-20 and is free admission to the public.

This year’s scaled-down event will include carnival rides, food and retail vendors, beer gardens, DJ music and fireworks, Astorga said. For more information about the event, visit www.lakehavasumardigras.com.

SIDE BAR

Local Mardi Gras event schedule:

Feb. 16 “Fat Tuesday”— Mardi Gras Bead Parade will begin at 6 p.m. and travel down McCulloch Boulevard from Acoma Boulevard to Smoketree Avenue. Free admission.

Feb. 19 — Havasu for Youth Mardi Gras 2010 event will begin 6 p.m. at London Bridge Resort Convention Center. Advance tickets are $40.

Feb. 16-21 Lake Havasu Mardi Gras festival activities scheduled 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. at the English Village. Free Admission.

A few other Mardi Gras-type events are also scheduled in Havasu during Mardi Gras.

“FAT TUESDAY” MARDI GRAS BEAD PARADE

Lake Havasu Main Street’s Mardi Gras Bead Parade will begin at 6 p.m. and travel down McCulloch Boulevard from Acoma Boulevard to Smoketree Avenue.

Parade float registration fee is $15. Registration deadline is Feb. 12, according to Lake Havasu Main Street’s Web site.

Judged categories for include Commercial, Non-Commercial and Youth floats; any vehicle or vehicle group; and any musical group of band. Drill team categories include Organized, Uniformed, or Precision groups that can include motorized vehicles.

“We had 50 float entries last year and we are expecting more than that this year,” said Jeanne Nelson, executive director of Lake Havasu Main Street. All proceeds from the parade will benefit Havasu For Youth.

The parade was nearly cancelled this year because of lack of sponsorship until NPG Cable stepped forward to sponsor the event, Nelson said.

Lake Havasu City Fire Inspector Tom Delzio said Wednesday that each float must have a fire extinguisher on board. All materials used to construct the float must be made of flame-retardant materials, he said.

The fire inspector suggested using plywood rather than cardboard while constructing a float, simply because the plywood would burn less quickly if it happened to ignite.

For more information about parade registration, visit www.lhcmainstreet.com.

HAVASU FOR YOUTH MARDI GRAS FUNDRAISER

Havasu for Youth’s Mardi Gras 2010 event is the organization’s main fundraising event for the year.

“Ticket sales are down so we are really looking for ticket sales. I know we are asking for a lot right now, but we have to in order to keep the programs going,” said Havasu for Youth Executive Director Dianna Thornton.

The adults-only charity fundraiser celebration is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at the London Bridge Resort Convention Center. The event was moved to Friday this year to allow “Fat Tuesday” parade-goers to join the fun. The evening will consist of Symphonic Winds live jazz music entertainment, dancing, silent and live auctions and Lent-friendly food, Thornton said.

“It is the first (Friday) of Lent that day so our menu is conscientious of that and includes fish dishes,” she said.

Auction items and raffle-ticket prizes include a free travel voucher for a 5-7 day cruise; Diamondback Major League Baseball club-level tickets and a $50 Chevron gas card; tickets to Phoenix Zoo; Tickets to Sea World; a motorized scooter; Phoenix Suns’ autographed items; a fragrance gift basket as well as a car-care basket.

According to www.havasuforyouth.org, the organization’s Web site, the event helps to support programs such as Peer To Peer Tutoring & Mentoring, Youth Enrichment Scholarships, LEARN after school programs a the middle school, Wise Guy and You Go Girl workshops, Child Enrichment Fund and Project Graduation. The programs reach over 3,000 local youth annually.

Advance tickets are $40 at Havasu For Youth’s office located at 145 N. Lake Havasu Ave. or call 928-453-2426 to reserve tickets.

For more information, visit www.havasuforyouth.org.

You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasuenws.com.

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Comments (16 comment(s))

joanp wrote on Feb 17, 2010 12:42 AM:

" Celebration of Mardi gras need more cash, I agree with that respecting the celebration of Lenten season.People are going absolutely crazy over New Orleans, Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday stuff this year (yeah, the Saints won the Super Bowl, fine; it's still going to take more than a few payday loans to rebuild the levies) – let me rephrase that: everyone is fawning over a city with one of the HIGHEST MURDER RATES IN THE NATION. That little tidbit aside, if paczki or just a plain old donut isn't good enough – you could try King Cake, a Mardi Gras staple. Essentially, King Cake is an enormous cinnamon roll, festooned with, frosting, beads (naturally) and a small plastic figurine (usually a baby Jesus) buried in it somewhere, the locator of which has to buy the next round of drinks. "

MN wrote on Feb 12, 2010 5:35 PM:

" Last year we had people in the parade, walk over to us and hand us beads. We got many! There is no need to THROW them...and people should keep their kids off the streets if they aren't in the parade..they are JUST beads for cripes sakes..you can BUY them anywhere! We are looking forward to the parade and the good works of everyone involved..thank you! "

Denial not a river wrote on Feb 12, 2010 12:18 PM:

" Is this anything that anyone with thier heads not buried in the sand did not know? I applaud the Editor of this paper for finally showing some guts for allowing this story to be written. I hope we see more of this type of thing from this paper.
I agree with many that the Police activity here has caused much of the decline but I must point out that it is up to the local Judiciary to restrain an overzealous Police. That is the check and balance but it does not exist here. Why? Because the local Judiciary played for team he is asked to referee and has already been punished for not making fair calls.
We need to start the change at the top. I feel that many of the police officers here want to do a good job but do not know the limits because the rules are not enforced on them.
Lets get a new council who actually would not be surprised by the numbers and know the causes so they can solve them. "

johnjay wrote on Feb 12, 2010 9:51 AM:

" kwb,

I feel for Mr. Read, I think the city will just wait him out and bleed him to death. Eventually they'll just take over the property using the tax lien laws. It's how a lot of cities are aquiring properties they want these days. It's just a form of socialism where you take away private property rights through punitive tax laws. How's that redistribution of wealth working out for everyone? "

johnjay wrote on Feb 12, 2010 9:45 AM:

" oldone,

Mardi Gras parades are going on all over the country. You do what every other municiaplity does, you have a walker on both sides of the float. This isn't something different than 100 other municipalities out there are doing. As far as being safe, the city can be 100% safe by doing one thing, not allowing anything. Problem is you end up with an 18 million dollar deficit and no funds to run your city, but at least you're safe. "

kwb wrote on Feb 12, 2010 5:22 AM:

" JohnJay a few years ago Mr Read submitted plans for developing the property but then mayor H. Jackson and a few long time residents didn't like that idea and tried to stick the tax payers with a huge tax bill by trying to buy the property for their own self gratification. Mr Read is probably stuck pretty good now and because of the economic down turn it is close to impossible for him to do anything. So we live with the H. Jackson and a hand full of people living in the pasts mess there for a few more years. Maybe the next time he or someone else wants to do something with their property the city will listen to them. "

oldone wrote on Feb 11, 2010 11:02 PM:

" Last year the bead throwing got a little out of hand and some folks and a few children got a little close to the floats. So being gunshy about lawsuits may be the reason for not throwing beads. I saw one young boy almost hit the side of a float myself. "

cal/hav wrote on Feb 10, 2010 7:35 AM:

" The first thing mentioned is No Bead Throwing, LHPD will enforce. Can some one point out the City Ordinance on that one please. Since when does the PD make up laws. Oh yeah, they make up bogus Citations I forgot. I suppose. Started with pigeon food now bead, Next will be rice at weddings. Bet if you threw them a Jefferson they would jump on it. "

Desertmouse wrote on Feb 9, 2010 10:41 PM:

" JohnJay, good eye to catch that about no bead throwing. Well, it was a good idea, too bad the city's attitude about enforcing "nobody can have a good time" rule here will kill it.
Besides, I am catholic and for me ash wednesday means I cannot partake in the fun, that is why mardi gras ends on fat tuesday!!!!!!! "

JohnJay wrote on Feb 9, 2010 8:59 AM:

" kwb,

What type of development is Mr. Read interested in doing? I don't think there is enough economic activity going on in LH to justify much investment for anything.

Just an FYI.
Noticed that on the brochure for the Mardi Gras parade. The first thing mentioned is No Bead Throwing, LHPD will enforce. This is what a Mardi Gras parade is all about. Notice the police leaders didn't come out and say let's figure out a way to make this work, it's just "my way or the highway" attitude. You have some very bad leadership in this city and until you change this attitude, you will continue to lose your homes, your businesses and your livelihoods. These people work for you, you don't work for them, when will the business community and private citizens take back their city from these bureaucrats. "

kwb wrote on Feb 9, 2010 5:32 AM:

" Have to love the people who post here like mn. Mr Read needs and attitude adjustment because he made a decsion about his property. All that the city and it's lets live in the past residents who keep pushing this idea that the English Village is some kind of tourist destination have done is make it impossible for Mr Read to do any kind of development on his property. It's time to let the land be developed and maybe Mr Read will be more accomodating to these activities. Attitude adjustment is a 2 way street. "

Forthefuture wrote on Feb 7, 2010 7:59 AM:

" Havasu lover. What about the few business's that are in the village. Have you even been down there to check them out. The ice cream shop looks great the coffee stand is just getting rolling and the restaraunt is awesome. These people took the time to try and bring something back to the village. So unless u support theses establishments perhaps you should hold back on your negativity. "

Desertmouse wrote on Feb 5, 2010 9:50 PM:

" Thank you steve for NOT begging for a money grant from the taxpayers to put this on. Good luck too you.

As a little FYI, Mardi Gras ENDS on fat tuesday, you seem to have it starting on that day. Maybe next year we could make it a new destination for Mardi Gras who cant make it to NOLA if we do that?
By then we should have a new city judge so as to not poor cold water on a good time. "

town resident wrote on Feb 5, 2010 7:46 AM:

" What a great event. We need more people like this in town! "

MN wrote on Feb 5, 2010 7:24 AM:

" What is with this Read guy?? Someone needs an attitude adjustment. Volunteers have cleaned up his place, for nothing, in the past!! The ball needs to get rolling on renovation! "

havasu♥lover wrote on Feb 5, 2010 6:50 AM:

" The English Village is nothing but an atrocious abandoned eye sore, that only serves to remind the public why there are laws to combat slum lords (which could use a little enforcement), and the owners are worried about.....grease stains? "

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