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Coupons offered good only at Farmington bills location. $2 OFF ANY PURCHASE S10 OR MORE •Dine-in Only • Limit 1 • 1 Coupon Per Party Not Valid With Any Other Offer • Expires 01/31/02 (Of) Farmington Hills 12/28 2001 56 31005 Orchard Lake Road Just West of 14 Mile 248-855-4866 JN $3 OFF ANY PURCHASE S15 OR MORE •Dine-in Only • Limit 1 • 1 Coupon Per Party • Not Valid With Any Other Offer Expires 01/31/02 al You Gotta Have Friends agency, has been active with the parade for 33 years. Before his elec- Mel Saperstein, a Southfield attorney, tion to the executive committee in got his invitation to the parade 10 he chaired five divisions, 1 994, years ago. including community relations, coro- "Ron called me in 1992 because he nation, equestrian, food service and was on the executive committee and music. explained the progression that would This year, he gets to be in the lead to [his current] position," recalls parade, and will be driven in a car Saperstein, who will be attending with ahead of the Bob's Big Boy float, his wife, Linda. which celebrates the rock 'n' roll era "We graduated Mumford in 1958, of the 1950s and features the "Rock and we've always kept in touch. I love Around the Clock" hit recorded by a good parade and took the kids when Bill Haley and the Comets. they were young to see the "Since Sept. 11, we've added patri- Thanksgiving parades in downtown otic touches throughout the parade," Detroit. Ron has a lot of energy, and I says Bill Walleck, director of special know how hard he's been working." events for the Phoenix Decorating Stross, an Ann Arbor physician, also Co., which has made about 25 new grew up with Okum and has gone to floats. "We've added a lot of red, the Rose Bowl several times. white and blue and lots of American "As beautiful as it looks on televi- flags. sion, it's much better in person," says "For example, there will be a float Stross, who will be joined by his wife, showing a home, and we've added a Ellen. "I've seen how dedicated Ron is flag on the front porch. There will be a large robot on another float, and we've given him a red, white and blue helmet with Neil Diamond's performance of `America' as the accompanying music." Walleck, who has been working on the Rose Bowl for 41 years, is pleased with a float that honors veterans and another that shows Uncle Sam. The Marine Corps Band and West Point cadets play- ing percussion instruments also Susie Gross: "The will be adding to the patriotic Ron Okum: First Tournament of Roses feeling. Jewish president. Parade is renowned Flowers, the hallmark decora- for its pageantry, and • tions of this parade, started being it's an honor to be affixed to the floats on Dec. 26 part of it." with chrysanthemums, carna- tions, marigolds and gladiolas glued on first. About a day before the event, vial flowers — roses, orchid to all of this, and I think he can take and irises — get plugged in. The vol- great pride in what he is doing." unteer group Petal Pushers, with As the parade travels its 5 1/2- mile 3,000 members around the country, route, Okum's family also will be at help attach the blossoms. the center of activities. In the car with "The Tournament of Roses Parade him will be his wife, Nan; two daugh- is renowned for its pageantry, and it's ters and their husbands; and three an honor to be part of it," says Gross, grandchildren. Okum's visiting friends who invited Okum to ride in this will get some behind-the-scenes tours year's Detroit parade. and invitations to other festivities, "I'll be in California for a week including a Hollywood party. because the judging will take five More than 1 million viewers will see days. the parade live, and 400 million will "I've been told to bring an open see it on television. mind, and that's exactly what I will do "This really is an exciting time for as I look at the creativity, design, ani- me," says Okum, who has lived in mation and use of flowers on each California for 41 years and whose float. I didn't know Ron before I got Rose Bowl position has taken him to involved with The Parade Co., but parades around the country "It's espe- I'm glad to know him now and proud cially exciting to share it all with my to represent Detroit." family and friends." ❑