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Beads Cause Glitch At Chasco Street Parade

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: March 28, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - For this year's Chaso Fiesta street parade the city of New Port Richey said it would enforce a policy barring the throwing of beads or other trinkets from floats. Five floats or units that allegedly violated the ban were pulled from the March 21 parade, according to Roger Michels, a longtime organizer of the parade.

"Every parade I've seen allows it," Michels said about tossing beads to spectators.

Safety concerns arose after a boy died at a 2007 Christmas parade in Plant City. Jordan Hays, 9, was run over by a float from which candy was being handed out to spectators.

Every float, however, now has safety monitors at all four corners, Michels noted. Most parades these days require such precautions, and "that's a good thing," he said.

Michels hopes to meet with the New Port Richey City Council at a workshop April 7 to review regulations for the street parade.

The no-throwing rule is mainly to protect the crowd, according to New Port Richey City Manager Tom O'Neill. A string of beads whipped through the air could be dangerous if someone isn't paying attention.

Parade participants sign written agreements to observe the no-throwing policy, O' Neill noted. "The city's intention is for everyone to have a good time," O'Neill has added.

Other than the snags, this year's parade seemed to draw about as large a crowd as usual, Michels said.

Some 140 units participated in the parade, Michels noted. About half the number of professional floats entered this year, Michels said, apparently because of the impact from the recession.

"I think the quality of parade was very good" nonetheless, he added.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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