Walnut community spirit hits the streets, walkways and stages of the L.A. County Fair Friday, Oct. 17, during the annual Walnut Day festivities. From saluting the city’s community heroes to cheering on the local schools and organizations in a parade to watching the ponies run in Walnut’s honor, the day is fun for all.
Since it is your city’s day, don’t pay full price to join the fun at the Fair. Walnut residents, employees and friends can receive a buy one, get one free admission coupon from various locations in the city. Then, the fun starts at 2:40 p.m. at Fairplex Park where the Race of the Day is named in honor of Walnut. Don’t forget to stop by the Community Expo, where Walnut businesses, civic and community organizations will fill Pepper Street with booths offering information and goodies.
At 5 p.m., line the Fair parade route and cheer on local civic organizations, schools and community groups as they march down Broadway. Taking a prominent place in the parade are the town’s Community Heroes. The young adult hero is Aaron Lim. Aaron is a senior at Walnut High School. Since his freshman year he has been involved with several school clubs, including Future Business Leaders of America (of which he is currently the president), the French Club and the American Cancer Society Youth Club. He is an active committee member for the ACS’s Relay for Life, serving as co-chair of the Luminaria, a remembrance ceremony of friends and loved ones who have survived or have lost their battle to cancer. The event is a 24-hour commitment. Aaron is also involved with the school’s drum line and a volunteer for the city’s annual Walnut Family Festival. He participated in the summer Institute for Educational Advancement where he interned at the Los Angeles County Children’s Hospital.
Adult hero is Jeanie Stowell. Jeanie was involved with Vejar School’s Community Club and served as team mom for all of her children’s teams in softball, baseball, soccer and swimming. During her involvement at Vejar, she took custody of two children who were living in substandard conditions and raised them through high school. Jeanie is one of the founders of the Walnut Valley Food Bank and co-founded Parent Partners at Walnut High School. She currently serves on the board of the San Gabriel Valley Training Center, which provides quality services to adults with developmental disabilities. Jeanie has been a member of the Walnut Valley Women’s Club for 33 years, working on many fundraisers and projects. One of her favorite activities is the holiday benefit program where the Club purchases gifts for local children.
Kenny Silverberg is also being honored as an adult hero. Called a Superdad, Kenny always finds time to be involved with his children and their activities. He has volunteered as a coach for the track team at Collegewood Elementary School, coordinating a team of more than 100 participants for the annual Mt. San Antonio Relays. In addition, he became involved in the school’s Community Club where, along with a committee of parents, he organized fundraising events, including the end of year school carnival. He has served as head coach for his sons basketball teams. To date, Kenny has influenced the lives of more than 100 youths through his volunteer coaching efforts. Kenny is also the head timer and team dad for his sons’ swim team.
The three heroes will be feted at the Community Heroes Celebration at 5:30 p.m. at the Pepper Street Stage.
The L.A. County Fair continues Wednesday – Sunday through Oct. 4, closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Live thoroughbred horse racing Sept. 10 – 28, dark Mondays Sept. 14 and 21 and Tuesdays. For information on ways to save at the Fair, visit lacountyfair.com.
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