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TagsGarden State company presents float in New Year's Day event
A New Jersey company makes its debut in Pasadena's Rose Parade this New Year's Day with a float that features garden-eating animals targeted by the firm's repellents and a seat of honor for a young Los Angeles leukemia patient.
Messina Wildlife Management, based in Washington, N.J., wanted their float to show animals reacting to the odor of its non-toxic Animal Stopper line, so the deer, rabbit, skunk, and raccoon riding aboard are comically holding their noses. Nestled among them will be special guest Candace Rodriguez of Los Angeles, a childhood leukemia patient whose wish to ride a Rose Parade float was granted by the father-and-son team that owns the company, James J. and James D. Messina.
The 122nd Rose Parade, which precedes the college Rose Bowl game, was conceived as a celebration of the flowers blooming in Southern California while the rest of the country suffers with winter snow and ice. This year's theme is "Building Dreams, Friendships and Memories" — which should come naturally at an event featuring marching bands, equestrian teams, flower-strewn floats and a small army of parade volunteers.
Float builders take pride in using natural materials for their creations. On the Messina float, some animals are fashioned from frames covered in Spanish moss, curly seaweed and pinecones. By tradition, the decks of float in the parade are decorated with a carpet of flowers in the hours leading up to the parade kickoff at 8 a.m. PST.Messina's float is 35 feet long, 18 feet wide and 16 feet tall. The garden setting designed by John Ramirez uses an array of fresh vegetables, fruit and corn, while its deck will be filled with roses, gerbera daisies, irises and manzanita branches. Rodriguez will ride with the Messinas as a special guest, waving to the crowd from a seat in the center of the garden.
Millions of East Coast viewers can see the event sponsored by the Tournament of Roses Association via national television broadcasts beginning at 11 a.m. EST. (Check listings for stations and times.) This year parade watchers also can vote for their favorite float by participating in the Viewers' Choice Award via internet or text message. Instructions are posted on the parade web site, TournamentofRoses.com.
Messina Wildlife Management is a multi-million dollar company built on the success of patented organic products that prevent browsing and nesting damage by repelling an A-to-Z list of pest animals from armadillos to woodchucks. Their products are sold at home outlets including Lowe's and K-Mart, and are available direct at MessinaWildlife.com.
— NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM STAFF
