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Each year the L.A. County Fair honors Community Heroes – young adults and adults – from 18 surrounding cities during the 23 days of the Fair, Sept. 4 – Oct. 3. Wednesday, Sept. 8 is Montclair Day at the Fair, a day for celebrating volunteers, humanitarians, students, neighbors and community organizations working to make their city a better place to live for everyone.
Montclair Day festivities include a parade down Broadway featuring civic organizations and school bands. A presentation will be held on the Building 4 Stage following the parade to honor Montclair’s Community Heroes for 2010, junior hero Tasha Vipapan and adult hero Lou Ventura.
Junior hero Tasha Vipapan has volunteered weekly for the past year at the Montclair Medical Clinic. Every Thursday she can be found helping schedule appointments, taking payments, pulling and filing charts and helping new patients. She is always willing to take on new tasks and is ready to learn. Tasha also volunteers at the city of Montclair’s community events. She has helped serve pancakes at the city’s Easter Egg Hunt and Pancake Breakfast, assisted at the Family Fun Festivals and sells refreshments at the Concerts in the Park among other events. She always serves the community with a smile. In addition, Tasha is a member of the Montclair High School Key Club and on the school’s Color Guard Team.
Adult Hero Lou Ventura has volunteered for Meals on Wheels for the past three years, which operates Monday – Friday to deliver hot lunches to Montclair residents who are homebound or are unable to cook for themselves. At least three days a week he goes to Montclair Hospital Medical Center to separate the meals out between drivers and then uses his own car to deliver up to 20 daily lunches to residents. He is often the only person the recipients see, and he willingly provides a sympathetic ear, engaging them in conversation, providing assistance and helping them locate community resources if needed. This year Ventura accumulated more than 900 hours of service and was the recipient of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program’s (RSVP) President’s Gold Award for his service. In addition, he has volunteered as a member of the RSVP West Valley Advisory Council.
Montclair residents, friends, family and supporters can join their community celebration on Sept. 8 for just $5 before 5 p.m. with a coupon or voucher available on the community page at lacountyfair.com. Coupons are also available at the Montclair Chamber of Commerce, City Hall and other community locations. Come for the Fair; stay for the community festivities: parade at 5 p.m. and hero presentation at 5:30 p.m.
The L.A. County Fair opens Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4 – 6 and then Wednesday – Sunday, Sept. 8 – Oct. 3, closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Live thoroughbred horse racing at Fairplex Park will be Sept. 9 – Sept. 27, dark Mondays Sept. 13, 20 and Tuesdays.
For information about ways to save at the Fair, visit lacountyfair.com.
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Under the direction of the Los Angeles County Fair Association, Fairplex is home to the L.A. County Fair, the largest county fair in the world, as well as The Learning Centers which encompasses Fairtime Learning, The Child Development Center, The Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC), the Junior Fair Board, and the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts. Fairplex also operates a diverse hospitality business with the Sheraton Fairplex, McKinley’s Grille, KOA RV Park, Finish Line Sports Grill, Cornucopia Foods, and the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel and Conference Center (opening 2011). The campus is also home to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona; horse-racing and Barretts Equine Limited; as well as the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. For more information, please visit www.fairplex.com.
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