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New Year’s Day is expected to be extra special for three lucky winners taking part in this year’s Ultimate Tournament of Roses Experience drawing, which helps fund South Pasadena’s float in the annual Rose Parade.
Then Mayor Dr. Marina Khubesrian did the honors, drawing three winners during the Dec. 4 City Council meeting. Later in the meeting, Councilmember Robert Joe was selected by the council to serve as mayor after Khubesrian concluded her one-year term.
First place went to Randy McKinley, who will receive four tickets between the 40 and 50-yard lines for the Rose Bowl Game on January 1. Ed Wong, the second place winner, will receive four VIP tickets in the reviewing section for the Rose Parade. The third place winner is Elliot Sainer, who will receive $300 in cash.
Alan Vlacich, an official with the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee, assisted Khubesrian with the drawing by holding a basket filled with potential winning tickets.
The drawing is among four fundraisers conducted by the SPTOR each year, joining a golf tournament, a classic car show and a year-end Crunch Time Party.
Vlacich says it costs about $100,000 to pay for flowers and materials to create the city’s floral masterpiece each year.
Two hundred tickets were up for grabs in the drawing with the designed to raise $20,000 for the city’s float in the parade.
Vlacich, who has been involved in the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses for about 20 years, is busy with the local SPTOR committee, also serving as co-chair of the organization’s golf tournament along with John Vandercook. In addition, he is the nominating chair for incoming board members.
