Fair Days Parade supporters receive honors during appreciation dinner

Every year, the Monroe Fair Days Parade rings in the Evergreen State Fair with a flurry of color and sound. Coordinated by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and the Monroe Fair Days Parade Committee, the event is a true testament to what can be accomplished when the community works together.

Numerous local businesses and nonprofit agencies came forward to help support this year's event through different levels of sponsorship, and last week those organizations were honored during an appreciation dinner at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.

Organized by Monroe Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Una Wirkebau and operations manager Shelley Nyhammer, the event took place on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the fairgrounds. The celebration included a catered dinner provided by Adam's Northwest Bistro and Brewery Chef Adam Hoffman and dessert by Sweet Bliss Bakery.

Commemorative certificates were presented to the parade's sponsors, and guests of the event were all invited to attend the Lee Brice concert following the ceremony.-á

"Every single person that is here right now had something to do with making the parade a phenomenal success,GÇ¥ Wirkebau said.

Guests honored for their support of the Monroe Fair Days Parade include the Evergreen State Fair, the city of Monroe, Republic Services, Monroe Public Schools, Union Bank, Evergreen Speedway, Speedway Chevrolet, the Monroe Public Schools Foundation, Fred Meyer, Walmart, Ben Franklin Craft and Frame Shop, Poppy Seed Productions, Lowe's and Adam's Northwest Bistro and Brewery Chef Adam Hoffman.

Attendees included Snohomish County Parks Director Tom Teigen, Monroe Police Department Chief Tim Quenzer, Monroe Fire Chief Jamie Silva, Monroe High School Principal John Lombardi, Evergreen Speedway operators Doug and Traci Hobbs, Washington State Senator Kirk Pearson, Monroe City Councilmembers Kevin Hanford, Kurt Goering and Jim Kamp and Monroe Mayor Geoffrey Thomas.

"Thank you everybody for all the work that you did in putting on the parade,GÇ¥ Thomas said. "This is definitely a group effort led by the chamber, and it's something that our community looks forward to year after year after year.GÇ¥

The city of Monroe's certificate was multifaceted and meant to honor the city as a whole, with emphasis on the Monroe Parks Department, the Public Works Department and the Monroe Police Department.

Staff from parks, public works and the police departments consistently attended parade committee meetings this year, helping to plan the event and coordinate logistics. During the event, public works staff helped ensure the roadways remained clear and everything ran smoothly.

The Monroe Police Department was an important presence both behind the scenes and out in the frontlines. Every year, officers and members of the Monroe Police Department Honor Guard usher in the parade in a proud presentation of the colors, this year sharing the honor with the Monroe Correctional Complex.

And the officers' work isn't finished at the conclusion of the parade. They are also responsible for facilitating streamlined access in and out of the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, and work tirelessly in support of that effort throughout the 12-day event.

"We couldn't do this without our police department,GÇ¥ Wirkebau said.

For more information on the Monroe Fair Days Parade, visit www.facebook.com/MonroeFairDaysParade?fref=ts.