Rolling Traditions

By Lisa Duncan

“Seventy-two years… and I’m still working full time!” laughed David Francis Taggart, as though there was nothing remarkable about showing up every day for George Ben Page and his family for the past 72 years. At 89, the SBHS Class of 1954 Don climbed behind the wheel of Mission Linen’s beautifully restored 1923 truck for his 29th Montecito Fourth of July Parade. Riding beside him was his granddaughter, Roxanna Taggart, proudly riding shotgun since she was a toddler.

“The Page family has been very good to my Grandpa,” Roxanna said as families waved from the sidewalks. Named after David’s beloved late wife, she has seen firsthand the loyalty between her grandfather and Mission Linen, one of Montecito’s pioneering family-owned businesses since the 1930s, still led today by Linda Page, Tony Mancuso, and John Ross. On Independence Day, that enduring relationship rolled proudly down San Ysidro Road aboard a 1923 Ford truck.

“Dad! Did you see that? That’s a special car!” called one little tot as Montecito’s favorite hometown tradition came to life. Boy Scouts proudly presented the colors while patriotic scooters, bicycles, decorated wheelchairs, little red wagons, and pups in stars-and-stripes kerchiefs rolled alongside entries from Montecito Union School, the Montecito YMCA, the Friendship Center, and Mount Carmel Church. Vintage favorites included Dana Newquist’s antique fire engine carrying Mayor Randy Rowse and Dr. Steven Gundry, Jenna Reichental’s rare red 1957 Cadillac Biarritz convertible, and a car full of playful gorillas that prompted one spectator to laugh, “Gorillas in a convertible? Now that’s what I like to see.”

“That’s only half a horse,” another dad joked as Snugglebear, the tiny white miniature horse from Darlene and Scott Parker’s Santa Barbara Party Ponies, trotted by with patriotic stars stenciled across his snowy coat and festive red, white, and blue streamers flowing through his mane. By the time the festivities reached Manning Park, Snugglebear became the afternoon’s biggest celebrity as families gathered for pie-eating contests, potato sack races, and tug-of-war, where MUS edged out Cold Spring School. “It’s fantastic! There were more people watching the parade today than there were people in it!” laughed Anthony Ranii of MUS, while local favorite band Outta the Blue kept families dancing beneath the trees.

While Supervisor Roy Lee, YMCA Director Ryan Power, and Rock Rockenbach had the task of judging the parade, Mindy Denson, Bill Macfadyen, Houghton Hyatt, the Montecito Association, and countless volunteers once again made Montecito’s favorite hometown tradition look effortless.

Fortunately, Montecito’s finest traditions just keep rolling.