The wife of Agustin Roberto "Bobby" Salcedo, the El Monte civic leader abducted and killed in Durango, Mexico, during a vacation with her, talked to The Times' Mexico City Bureau chief Tracy Wilkinson about what happened.

"We were just going out with a group of friends," Betzy Salcedo said, speaking slowly and casting her eyes downward. "You are careful, you look around, but you never think this kind of thing can happen ... to innocent people. We were having a good time. Then we were in the mouth of the wolf."

Hours later, Bobby Salcedo was dead, hauled away from the bar with five other men, their bodies dumped in a dried-grass field on the outskirts of town.

Arrangements were being made Saturday to repatriate Salcedo's body. The 33-year-old, who was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, was an assistant principal and school board member in El Monte.

His slaying underscores the random volatility of the violence in Mexico and the ease with which the pain it causes can seep past the country's borders.

Read Tracy Wilkinson's full story here.

Despite the blossoming of the historic preservation movement in L.A. in the last decade, the city lost some nice architecture all the same.

Curbed LA has a tribute to these lost buildings, including several residences and of course the Ambassador Hotel.

There are also some that are easy to forget, including the old Gilmore Bank building that gave way to the Grove shopping center. And several along the Miracle Mile, including a landmark department store and savings and loan.

-- Shelby Grad

Warren had sent out the appeal via an online communication to Saddleback Church members Dec. 30. The money was needed, he said, to offset a deficit resulting from hard economic times. Giving among church members had declined at a time of greater need for church’s aid.

Now, the church will enter the year with an unanticipated surplus, officials said.
 
“I wasn’t surprised by this offering, as Saddleback is famous for radical generosity,” Warren said during tonight's service.

Warren represented the total with a display that included 24 parishioners rising to represent $100,000 each, said spokeswoman Kristin Cole. Virtually all of the individual donations were for less than $1,000, according to the church, she added. More donations remain to be counted.

The church has launched similar appeals before, raising $1.6 million for victims of the 2004 Asian tsunami and $1.7 million for victims of Hurricane Katrina, which struck New Orleans in 2005.

“I say without fear of contradiction that I don’t know of a more generous church,” Warren said in a news release.

The church does not release comprehensive information about its budget -- or even a budget total -- so it’s difficult for those outside the leadership to get a clear picture of church finances.

The church was never in danger of going under, Cole said. But without the infusion, the church would not have been able to accomplish its ministerial work as planned, she said.

Like other charitable organizations, Saddleback has had to do more with less, even as it expanded its work in some areas, Cole said.

Warren launched the appeal online with these words: “This is an urgent letter,” he wrote in all capital letters, “unlike any I've written in 30 years. Please read all of it and get back to me in the next 48 hours.”

In a later message, Warren sought to downplay any suggestion of critical difficulties.

“The cause of our financial shortfall was NOT a management issue,” he wrote in an online message, “but simply by the way Christmas occurred in this year's calendar. After 10 packed Christmas services, and with Christmas Day on Friday, many people were out of town or too tired to come back for weekend services, so the unusually low attendance created an unusually low offering. That is understandable.”

Warren already was famous in evangelical circles when President-elect Barack Obama asked him to deliver the invocation at his inauguration. Many other evangelical ministers had sharply criticized the views of the Democratic presidential nominee; many liberal supports of Obama, in turn, faulted the choice of Warren to play such a symbolically important and visible role at the inauguration.

The church, which belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention, says that about 22,000 congregants attend services every week at its five regional locations.

--Howard Blume

About 90 firefighters responded to the blaze at the three-story Miracle Terrace complex, 225 S. Western Ave. Firefighters helped dozens of residents evacuate safely from the 39-unit building.

No other injuries were reported, said Anaheim Fire Department Chief Tim Butler.

The identity of the victim was not released. Fire officials declined to say where the body was found. 

“The first engines reported heavy smoke from the second floor,” Butler said.

The fire heavily damaged four units and spread to the third floor and attic. It took about 70 minutes to the extinguish the blaze, officials said.

Red Cross officials were helping displaced residents find alternative housing. It was not known when they will be able to return. The cause of the fire has not been determined, Butler said.

Arson and homicide investigators have been called to the scene, as is routine in fatal fires, he said.

--Stephanie Chavez

The sheriff's SWAT team stormed into the apartment about 3:30 p.m. after negotiators failed to make contact with the man. Inside, SWAT officers found the man dead of a gunshot wound, said Lt. Jerry Cummins of the San Dimas sheriff's station.

A sheriff's homicide detective was dispatched to investigate the man's death, which is a standard procedure in such circumstances.

The standoff began about 9 a.m. in the 20000 block of Calora Street, near Sunflower Avenue, after deputies responded to a call of an assault with a deadly weapon, said Deputy Robert Boese.

Deputies found a woman lying outside the apartment with multiple gunshot wounds, he said. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was listed in stable condition, authorities said.

The relationship between the woman and the man was not immediately known. A motive for the shooting has not been determined.

--Ruben Vives

The officer, whose name has not been released, sustained an elbow injury and was taken to a local hospital, said Long Beach Police Officer Jackie Bezart.

The investigation of the crash apparently contributed to significant traffic delays on the southbound 405 Freeway approaching Bellflower Boulevard, said California Highway Patrol Officer Monica Posada.

The incident was reported at 3:50 p.m. The officer was off-duty, said Posada, who characterized his injuries as moderate but not life-threatening.

Los Angeles police confirmed that the officer was driving a department-issued motorcycle. He might have been returning home after a shift, said Officer Bruce Borihanh, an LAPD spokesman.

-- Howard Blume

Public parking at the lot, at 111th Street and La Cienega Boulevard, is being consolidated with other lots. Travelers who use Lot B are encouraged to now park in Lot C, at 96th Street and Sepulveda Boulevard, just north of LAX, officials said.

Passengers returning to Lot B after Thursday will have to catch a Lot B/E shuttle on the upper level of the Central Terminal Area, by the Employee Shuttle Stop signs in front of each terminal.

-- Kim Christensen

The standoff began about 9 a.m. in the 20000 block of Calora Street when deputies responded to a call of an assault with a deadly weapon, said Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Boese.

Arriving deputies found a woman with multiple gunshot wounds, he said. The victim was taken to a local hospital. Her condition is not known.

The Sheriff’s SWAT team surrounded the apartment shortly after the man barricaded himself inside the unit, he said.

The relationship between the suspect and the victim is not known, nor is a motive for the shooting, Boese said.

-- Ruben Vives

The bodies of Jose Torres, 44, and his wife, Paula, also 44, were found Friday by their daughter shortly after 1 p.m. in the 1600 block of East 108th Street, according to coroner 's investigator Brian Elias and the Los Angeles Police Department. Both had been shot to death.

The daughter had arrived at the home and dialed 911 after discovering the bodies. “She said her dad had shot her mother, then himself,” said LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman.

A motive for the shooting has not been determined, authorities said.

-- Ruben Vives

Brady Alan Mertens, 25, of Culver City approached an access point for authorized vehicles about 4:30 a.m. Friday near 111th Street and Aviation Boulevard and allegedly climbed a security fence, said Lt. Ed Trahan of the Los Angeles Airport Police Department.

Mertens was carrying a double-edge blade, police said.

“His presence was reported by security officers and shortly thereafter arrested by police officers," Trahan said.

He was booked on suspicion of carrying a dangerous weapon, trespassing and public intoxication, according to airport police. He is being held in jail in lieu of $20,000 bail, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

-- Ruben Vives

The Riverside County coroner's office is expected to perform autopsies Monday on three adults and two children killed in a New Year's Day fire at a Palm Springs trailer park.

Fire officials also are investigating the cause of the blaze, which authorities now believe was a tragic accident.

The fire was reported about 5:15 a.m. in the Western Village Mobile Home Park at 150 Oregon Trail. Twenty-five firefighters fought the blaze and had it contained by 6:30 a.m. While dousing the flames, firefighters found the bodies of the three adults. Soon after, they discovered the remains of two children.

Investigators with the Riverside County Fire Department and county Sheriff’s Department are talking to neighbors and searching through the debris for clues as to how the blaze began.

"It’s a tragic event," said Fire Department spokesman Frank Reilly. "It is a very tightknit park. A lot of people know each other."

No other injuries were reported. The fire completely destroyed the mobile home but did not damage any other homes in the park. 

-- Anna Gorman

At about 6:30 p.m., two men were riding their horses in the 14000 block of Lomitas Avenue, near 4th Avenue, when they became involved in an argument with five male suspects, who were inside a red SUV, said Sgt. Mark Lopez of the Sheriff’s Industry station. Authorities did not know what the argument was about. [Update: A previous version of this post stated that the incident occurred in the 1400 block of Lomitas Avenue and misnamed 4th Avenue as 4th Street.]

The two men, whose names were not released, got off their horses and were involved in a fight with the suspects. During the fight, one of the suspects pulled out a metal club and began attacking one of the equestrians with it, Lopez said.

The five suspects got back into their SUV. A passerby stopped and told them that police officers were on the way, he said.

At that point, “they see a woman on a horse approaching them and they drive into her,” Lopez said, adding that he did not know whether they were intending to hit the woman.

The unidentified female victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment.  Her horse suffered a gash on its chest, Lopez said.  

The man who was struck with the metal club also was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The condition of the two equestrians is not known.  The third victim was treated at the scene for cuts and bruises, Lopez said.

Further descriptions of the suspects or the vehicle were not known. Anyone with information about the incident can call the Sheriff’s Industry Station at (626) 330-3322.

-- Ruben Vives

Updated, 10:30 p.m.: Later Friday, guests on all floors were allowed to return to their rooms.

 --Anna Gorman

An early morning fire at a mobile home park in Palm Springs killed three adults and two children, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Coroner’s officials have not identified the victims and do not know if they were members of one family.

The fire was reported about 5:15 a.m. in the Western Village Mobile Home Park at 150 Oregon Trail. Twenty-five firefighters fought the blaze and had it contained by 6:30 a.m. While dousing the flames, firefighters found the bodies of the three adults. Soon after, they discovered the remains of two children.

Investigators with the Fire Department and county Sheriff’s Department are talking to neighbors and searching through the debris for clues as to how the blaze began.

"It’s a tragic event," said Fire Department spokesman Frank Reilly. "It is a very tight-knit park. A lot of people know each other."

No other injuries were reported. The fire completely destroyed the mobile home but did not damage any other homes in the park.

--Anna Gorman

"I hope this focuses people’s attention on the senseless killings taking place in Mexico right now," said El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero, who was a close friend of Salcedo. “Bobby was an absolute bright, shining star...They didn’t just take his life. They robbed him from our community. ... We have to get justice.”

Congresswoman Judy Chu called the incident “a terrible reminder of the drug war that is raging just south of our border, and most importantly, it shows that this conflict does not respect borders.”

Salcedo, who was also assistant principal at El Monte High School, was born and raised in Southern California, but his wife Betzy is from Gomez Palacios, where she trained as a doctor. The couple were visiting her family for the holidays. They were dining with some of Betzy’s former classmates at a pool hall Wednesday evening when armed men burst in and kidnapped Salcedo and five other men. All six were found dead Thursday, El Monte officials said. 

Friends and family said there was no reason for the couple to be targeted. “From all accounts right now, it sounds random,” said Salcedo’s brother, Carlos.

The situation in the state of Durango has been worsening in the last year. Traditionally, it has had a reputation as a peaceful, hard-working ranching state while neighboring states Sinaloa and Chihuahua were known for drug trafficking.

But with drug violence now an ingrained part of life in the states all around Durango, widespread criminality and lawlessness have descended.

The return home for Christmas was once a hallowed tradition of Durangan immigrants in Southern California. This year, however, the Federation of Durangan Clubs estimated travel home was down by as much as 60%, due mostly to widespread fear, said Carlos Martinez, federation secretary.

The federation was promoting an Interjet Airlines round-trip flight from Tijuana to Durango for $220, cheaper than the cost of a bus. But the airline had to cancel the flight due to lack of sales, Martinez said.

“There’s a lot of fear,” he said. “People don’t want to risk it.”

-- Sam Quinones, Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Ruben Vives and Jessica Garrison

Photo: Andy Fernandez, 26, of South El Monte wipes a tear from his face at El Monte City Hall, where a photo of slain El Monte school board member Agustin Roberto "Bobby" Salcedo and his wife was on display. Credit:  Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times

"There's a huge war between the Mexican government and the drug lords, and I think Bobby was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," said former El Monte Police Chief Ken Weldon, who has worked alongside Salcedo on community activities. "It could have been you or I or anyone else. I think when you're killing six people, you're making a statement for whatever reason."

Weldon described Salcedo as conscientious and hard-working, a "giver" and a leader, raising money for school events and trying to help families in need.

"People in this town loved him. Everybody loved Bobby. This is a dagger in the hearts of a lot of people," Weldon said. "El Monte has a way of coming together. Sometimes good comes out of the bad. We'll see if something good comes out of this. If we use Bobby as a role model for us, if we see what he did, it'll make El Monte a better place." 

El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero expressed outrage over the killing.

"I hope this focuses people's attention on the senseless killings taking place in Mexico right now," who was close friends with Salcedo. "He is a major figure in this community. He was a teacher for years, so imagine all the students he taught."

Salcedo, who also was the assistant principal of instruction at El Monte High School, had arrived in the Mexican city of Gomez Palacio earlier this week. The city of 240,000 is in the state of Durango and is the hometown of Salcedo’s wife, Betzy.

“They ordered everyone to the floor. They threatened to shoot them all if anyone dared to look up. They abducted the men,” Carlos Salcedo said. “Their whereabouts were unknown until the police chief informed my sister-in-law that they found the bodies, my brother included."

The bodies were discovered alongside a canal, local media reported. All the victims had been shot in the head, and dozens of spent bullet casings were found at the site, suggesting they had been slain on the spot, the reports said.

Carlos Salcedo said he did not know the identities of the other men.

Friends and family were in shock Thursday. They said there was no reason for the couple to be targeted. Salcedo’s wife told family members that she did not recognize any of the gunmen’s voices.

“From all accounts right now, it sounds random,” Carlos Salcedo said. “There is no reason for my brother to be targeted.”

Raging drug violence and rampant corruption have been a major problem in Durango, a tense, rough state. The local Catholic archbishop, Hector Gonzalez Martinez, recently described the region to The Times as one where gunmen “own the night” in village after village, even threatening priests.

The couple had been married two years, and Betzy Salcedo was a physician in Mexico. She has been preparing for examinations to practice in the United States.

Carlos Salcedo said his brother’s wife was devastated.

“She’s extremely brokenhearted. It’s a nightmare. I can’t believe it’s happening,” he said. “My brother had just such a bright future. He was finishing up his doctorate at UCLA — just the type of person you want in your community as a leader.”

In November, Salcedo was reelected to a new term on the school board of the El Monte City School District, which governs the city’s elementary schools.

Salcedo was born to a family of Mexican immigrants who arrived in the Los Angeles area in the 1960s. His father was a construction worker and his mother a homemaker. They had only an elementary school education, Carlos Salcedo said, but they pushed their five children to succeed educationally, and all went to college.

Salcedo wanted to give back to his community by becoming an educator, his brother said.
Salcedo was student body president when he attended Mountain View High School in El Monte in the early 1990s and graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in history, later earning a master’s degree in educational administration at Cal State San Bernardino. He had been completing work on a doctorate in educational leadership at UCLA.

Before becoming a school administrator, he taught world history, government and economics. He inspired some of his former students to become teachers themselves, and some now work in El Monte, his brother said.

Quintero said Salcedo was devoted to education and leadership. The mayor said his friend volunteered at book giveaways and food drives.

“Bobby was an absolute bright, shining star in our community,” Quintero said.

Quintero said he hoped authorities would do whatever they can to catch the suspects.

“They didn’t just take his life. They robbed him from our community. ... We have to get justice,” he said.

Quintero said Salcedo worked with community colleges to get students from the community into universities. "Think of all the people his life has touched," he said. "This is a huge, huge loss to the community. This guy was a leader from when he was young. He was student body president at Mountain View High school, and he chose to come back and serve El Monte."

-- Hector Becerra in El Monte and Rong-Gong Lin II in Los Angeles 

Photo: Andy Fernandez, 26, of South El Monte, wipes a tear from his face at El Monte's city hall where a photo of slain city school board member Roberto Salcedo was on display. Fernandez was a student of Salcedo's. Credit: Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times

"Thank you for your service!" shouted one man.

No, the animals won't be going to Afghanistan. Rather, they are helping train Marines who will contract for local mules to transport guns and supplies when they arrive in that mountainous country.

"They're just as heroic as any other Marine," said the Marine Corps' Jason Dahl.

And yeah, Dahl added, they can be a bit stubborn.

"When they're having a bad day, they'll let you know," he said. "They've got more personality than some people I know."

-- Robert Faturechi

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 Residents in El Monte expressed outrage today over the killing of a 33-year-old school board member who was abducted and killed along with five other men during a holiday vacation in Durango, Mexico, this week.

"I hope this focuses people's attention on the senseless killings taking place in Mexico right now," said El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero, 34, who was close friends with slaying victim Agustin Roberto “Bobby” Salcedo. "He is a major figure in this community. He was a teacher for years, so imagine all the students he taught."

“They ordered everyone to the floor. They threatened to shoot them all if anyone dared to look up. They abducted the men,” Carlos Salcedo said. “Their whereabouts were unknown until the police chief informed my sister-in-law that they found the bodies, my brother included.

“She’s extremely brokenhearted. It’s a nightmare. I can’t believe it’s happening,” he said. “My brother had just such a bright future. He was finishing up his doctorate at UCLA — just the type of person you want in your community as a leader.”

In November, Salcedo was reelected to a new term on the school board of the El Monte City School District, which governs the city’s elementary schools.

Salcedo was born to a family of Mexican immigrants who arrived in the Los Angeles area in the 1960s. His father was a construction worker and his mother a homemaker. They had only an elementary school education, Carlos Salcedo said, but they pushed their five children to succeed educationally, and all went to college.

Salcedo wanted to give back to his community by becoming an educator, his brother said.
Salcedo was student body president when he attended Mountain View High School in El Monte in the early 1990s and graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in history, later earning a master’s degree in educational administration at Cal State San Bernardino. He had been completing work on a doctorate in educational leadership at UCLA.

Before becoming a school administrator, he taught world history, government and economics. He inspired some of his former students to become teachers themselves, and some now work in El Monte, his brother said.

Quintero said Salcedo was devoted to education and leadership. The mayor said his friend volunteered at book giveaways and food drives.

“Bobby was an absolute bright, shining star in our community,” Quintero said.

Quintero said he hoped authorities would do whatever they can to catch the suspects.

“They didn’t just take his life. They robbed him from our community. ... We have to get justice,” he said.

Quintero said Salcedo worked with community colleges to get students from the community into universities. "Think of all the people his life has touched," he said. "This is a huge, huge loss to the community. This guy was a leader from when he was young. He was student body president at Mountain View High school, and he chose to come back and serve El Monte."

-- Hector Becerra in El Monte and Rong-Gong Lin II in Los Angeles 

Photo: Andy Fernandez, 26, of South El Monte, wipes a tear from his face at El Monte City Hall, where a photo of slain El Monte school board member Agustin Roberto “Bobby” Salcedo and his wife was on display. Credit:  Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times

Related: Mexico Under Siege

The fire occurred on the 1000 block of Rampart Boulevard at 9:36 p.m. When firefighters arrived, some residents said they believed there was someone trapped inside.

By the time firefighters arrived, the garage was engulfed in flames. The fire was contained in about 20 minutes, and officials found the man's body inside.

An investigation to determined the cause of the fire is underway. The victim's identity has not been released, and it is unclear whether the man lived in the garage.

The California Department of Public Health issued a warning about Chen PiMei Candy from China and Ticorindo Candy from Mexico, saying people should not eat them.

According to the agency, the candies have unacceptable amounts of leads in them. California issued the warning after testing the candies.

California considers candy with lead levels in excess of .10 parts per million to be contaminated. The tested candies had lead levels of as much as .14 parts per million, according to the health department.

Officials hope to have the candies removed from shelves soon. Ticorindo is sold at Dollar Max, among other stores. Chen PiMei Candy has Chinese lettering on the packages.

-- Shelby Grad

And typical for the New Year's morning in Pasadena, the sunrise has revealed yet another clear and picture-perfect day, albeit a tad chilly for Southern Californians: temperatures hovering in the 50s. 

The grand marshal, Capt. Chelsey B. "Sully" Sullenberger, who safely landed a disabled plane on the Hudson River, drew cheers from spectators as he walked the mansion grounds in anticipation of the 8 a.m. parade launch. 

Crowds of spectators gathered behind yellow rope to catch the first glimpse of official parade activity. The parade's 41 floats were parked along Orange Grove and riders were taking their places on the flower-festooned entries.

Several riders on the Farmers Insurance float, which depicts a giant drum major, posed for pictures with tourists.

Cathy Guevara, 37, of Oklahoma City said she arrived in Pasadena on Tuesday. "It's just so much fun," she said.  

-- Cara Mia DiMassa in Pasadena

As spectators on Colorado Boulevard began counting down to the new year, mischief, fun and fatigue began to spread. 

Kids squirted silly string and tossed whipped cream pies at passing cars. Late-night club-goers tottered out of doors in zebra-print stilettos. Others began nodding off.

Police activity along the parade route was largely calm, except for a fight late this evening involving at least three teenage males who knocked over some spectators' chairs as they attempted -- and failed -- to elude police. The teenagers, who were questioned on Colorado Boulevard just east of Fair Oaks Avenue, were not arrested.

Eight young men from Ohio played "Corn Hole" on the corner of Raymond Avenue just south of Colorado Boulevard, tossing beanbags 10 feet away through a board with a hole cut in it. “It’s a Midwest thing,” said Brad Watkins, 22. “People look at us like we’re weird here.” 

Watkins and seven other buddies drove 2,600 miles in a Chevy minivan to land a spot on the parade route. 

“We blew a tire on an Indian reservation in Nevada, and we’ve been eating cookies and ham sandwiches the whole time,” said Joshua Sigler, 22. The group dreamed up the trip once they knew their home team, Ohio State, was on its way to the Rose Bowl to compete against the Oregon Ducks. 

-- Amina Khan, reporting from Pasadena

Photo: Brian Bautista, 11, of Irvine manages to catch some sleep next to a busy Pasadena street while waiting for Friday's Rose Parade. Credit: Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times

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Guide to the Rose Parade

Photos: Rose Parade preparations

Map: Rose Parade route

Rose Parade faithful face 'turf war' and the night chill

Rose Parade visitors urged to take the Gold Line

Tour bus crashes near Rose Parade float viewing area

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Rose Parade weather will be good; traffic, not so much

“She’s extremely brokenhearted. It’s a nightmare. I can’t believe it’s happening,” he said. “My brother had just such a bright future. He was finishing up his doctorate at UCLA — just the type of person you want in your community as a leader.”

“Bobby was an absolute bright, shining star in our community,” Quintero said.

Quintero said he hoped authorities would do whatever possible to catch the suspects.

-- Rong-Gong Lin II

Photo: Agustin Roberto “Bobby” Salcedo. Credit: Courtesy of the Salcedo family.

Related: Mexico Under Siege

Cotton candy sellers traversed Colorado Boulevard carrying their pastel-colored wares and men in dark jackets leaned against the boarded-up storefronts hawking Rose Parade T-shirts and toy horns. All along the parade route, early attendees camped along the sidewalk, marking their territory with mattresses and blankets, fold-up chairs and baby cribs.

“It’s a turf war,” said Samuel Jimenez, 20. “These guys here,” he pointed to the group to the left of him, “got pushed over. That wouldn’t have happened over here.”

Jimenez had been hanging around the corner since 7 a.m., avoiding warnings from police. He’d marked the spot for the last three years, and about 10 other family members would be sure to come, he said.

“When it turns 12, everyone goes crazy, dancing, saying 'hi' to everyone,” Jimenez said.

Last year, Jimenez's group brought a boom box and blasted Zion I. Close to 30 strangers, he said, drawn by the underground hip-hop beat, danced around them. “We had the radio bumping,” Jimenez said. “The cops had to break us up.”

The Pasadena resident, who lives just 10 minutes walking distance from the route, warmed his feet by a makeshift pit fire fashioned out of a miniature barbecue and shreds of paper. Next to him sat his girlfriend, Sarah Lamar, a senior at Marshal Fundamental.

Lamar, 18, remembered the excitement of staying up past midnight when her mother brought her as a kid.

Lamar, who this year said she left her 4-month-old son in her mother's capable hands, said it wasn’t the parade that drew her.

“I don’t like the Rose Parade, I like the hanging out before,” she said. “You see people walking by that you haven’t seen forever … It’s just fun.”

--Amina Khan

Photo: Liz McKelvey, left, and Samantha Smith, both 17, bundle up under a snowflake-patterned blanket, while Kaydence Tiffin, 4, gets a warm hug from mom Brandi Tiffin of Apple Valley as they all prepare to spend the night on a Pasadena street to await the Rose Parade.

Credit: Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times

Heather Shanahan, a student at Cal Poly Pomona, spent the day in the warm sun near the Rose Bowl as volunteers finished off a float depicting a tropical scene of palm trees populated by a toucan, monkey, giraffe and zebra.

The students put some of their engineering theories they learned in the classroom into practice, with some putting in 20-hour days to get the float done. The black toucan is set up to look like it's flying, and the brown monkey, whose mustache is made of oats, will wave scissors made of black beans to the crowd. 

"Our float’s pretty edible," said Shanahan, a construction and engineering major.

The float building was a family affair. At the corner of the float stood Shanahan's mother, who was tasked with pasting pink gerber daisies on the float's rim.

"It's really neat," said Kathy Shanahan, 55, of Yorba Linda. 

-- Nicole Santa Cruz in Pasadena

Photo: Seattle residents, from left, Sheila Goodwin, Teri Mixell and Fran Falkenberry glue on carnation petals to create hair for a monkey that is part of the Cal Poly universities' float "Jungle Cuts." Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times

Related:

More LA Now posts on the Rose Parade

Guide to the Rose Parade

Photos: Rose Parade preparations

Map: Rose Parade route

Rose Parade visitors urged to take the Gold Line

Tour bus crashes near Rose Parade float viewing area

Rose Parade fans steak out their favorite curbside spot

Rose Parade weather will be good; traffic, not so much