MBN: THE MONTE BUBBLES NETWORK

 2007 Tournment Of Roses Rose Parade

 ROSE PARADE FLOAT WINNERS

•  Sweepstakes Trophy: FTD's "Jewels of Nature," for most beautiful entry

•  Lathrop K. Leishman Trophy: Sierra Madre's "Our Wonderful Wistaria," for most beautiful non-commercial entry

•  Grand Marshal's Trophy: Alhambra's "Circus Comes to Town," for excellence in creative concept and design

•  President's Trophy: Kaiser Permanente's "A Thriving Imagination"

•  Director's Trophy: Western Asset's "A Universe of Opportunity"

•  Queen's Trophy: Bayer Advanced's "The Red Carpet of Roses," for most effective use and display of roses in concept, design and presentation

•  Mayor's Trophy: Anaheim's "Always Fresh and Never Grows Old," for most outstanding city entry

•  Theme Trophy: Farmers Insurance's "Mother Nature"

•  National Trophy: Kiwanis International's "Together We Can," for best depiction of life in the United States

•  Governor's Trophy: Glendale's "Our Bear Essentials," for best depiction of California life

•  Bob Hope Humor Trophy: Cerritos' "Nature Rocks"

•  Judges' Special Trophy: Rain Bird Corp.'s "Natural Beauties," for most spectacular entry

•  Animation Trophy: LifeSource Whole-House Water Systems' "Clean Water"

•  Fantasy Trophy: National Notary Assn.'s "Signed, Sealed and Delivered"

•  Founders' Trophy: Downey's "Springtime Treasures," for best float built and decorated by volunteers

•  International Trophy: China Airlines' "The Natural Beauty of Taiwan," for most beautiful entry from outside the U.S.

•  Princess' Trophy: Lutheran Laymen's League's "God's Great Nature," for best entry 35 feet or shorter

•  Isabella Coleman Trophy: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California's "Home Sweet Home," for best presentation of floral color

•  Tournament Special Trophy: Lucasfilm's "Save Our Forest and the Garden Planet," for exceptional merit in multiple categories, including floats longer than 55 feet

•  Past Presidents Trophy: Palmdale's "Good Nature Begins at Home"

•  Tournament Volunteers Trophy: Torrance's "Nature's Wonders," for best floral design of entry 35 feet or shorter

•  Craftsman Trophy: NAMM, the International Music Products Assn.'s "Natural Harmonies, Oh Say Can You Sing," for showmanship and dramatic impact of entry longer than 55 feet

•  Extraordinaire Trophy: Oklahoma Centennial's "A Unique History," for most spectacular float, including those longer than 55 feet

•  Crown City Innovation Trophy: American Honda Motor Co.'s "Once Upon a Time," for best use of imagination and innovation to advance the art of float design

Source: Tournament of Roses

Bayer Advanced(TM) Float Wins Seventh Consecutive Trophy in the January 1, 2007, Rose Parade(R)

Red Carpet of Roses Float Receives Queen's Trophy for the Third Time for The Most Effective Use and Display of Roses in Concept, Design and Presentation

(Media Note: Bayer Advanced was #11 in the Rose Parade lineup and the fifth float in the parade. Digital images available upon request. )

 Jan. 1  Bayer Advanced(TM), one of the largest lawn and garden brands and creator of some of the most effective rose care products for consumers, won its seventh consecutive trophy in the 118th Pasadena Tournament of Roses(R) Parade on January 1, 2007.

Tournament of Roses judges awarded the Bayer Advanced Red Carpet of Roses float the Queen's Trophy for most effective use and display of roses in concept, design and presentation.

Bayer Advanced has won a Tournament of Roses trophy every year since 2001, when it first entered the Rose Parade. This is the third year Bayer Advanced has won the Queen's Trophy.

"A seventh consecutive trophy is an incredible honor and beyond our wildest expectations," says Bayer Advanced Head of Marketing Mark Schneid. "Phoenix Decorating's design and floral teams deliver year after year."

Michelle Lofthouse of Pasadena's Phoenix Decorating, the largest Rose Parade float builder, has designed all of the award-winning Bayer Advanced floats, including the Red Carpet of Roses.

  Key features of the 2007 Bayer Advanced Red Carpet of Roses float include:      * Thousands of roses, including more than 50 varieties of roses, the       most in Rose Parade history.      * Roses named after such celebrities as Bing Crosby, Chris Evert, Paul       McCartney, Marilyn Monroe, Rosie O'Donnell and Barbra Streisand      * The Bayer Advanced float also debuted the All-America Rose Selections'       2007 winners for best roses of the year -- Rainbow Knock Out(R),       Moondance(TM) and Strike it Rich(TM).                               Riders and Song  

This year there were 11 riders, including Lance Walheim, author of the best-selling book Roses for Dummies.

The 1966 hit song "Good Day Sunshine" by the Beatles played while the float traveled the 5-1/2-mile parade route.

               Previous Bayer Advanced Rose Parade Trophies      * 2006: Queen's Trophy for most effective use and display of roses in       concept, design and presentation      * 2005: President's Trophy for most effective use and presentation       of flowers      * 2004: Fantasy Trophy for most outstanding display of fantasy and       imagination      * 2003: Animation Trophy for the most animated float      * 2002: Queen's Trophy for most effective use and display of roses in       concept, design and presentation      * 2001: Fantasy Trophy for most outstanding display of fantasy and       imagination                              About Bayer Advanced  

Bayer Advanced rose care products are the Exclusive Rose Care Products of the Tournament of Roses. Bayer Advanced is a business group of Bayer CropScience LP and part of the Bayer AG family, a Fortune Global 500 company. Members of the Bayer AG family make such well-known brands as Bayer Aspirin, Aleve(R) and Alka-Seltzer(R). Research Triangle Park, N.C., is the business headquarters of Bayer CropScience LP. Kansas City, Mo is Bayer CropScience LP's core technology center. The global headquarters of Bayer CropScience is located in Monheim, Germany.

Bayer, the Bayer Cross, Bayer Advanced, Aleve and Alka-Seltzer are trademarks of Bayer. Rose Parade and Tournament of Roses are trademarks of Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.

Source: Bayer Advanced

Monday January 1st 2007

11 a.m EST 8 a.m. PST

Theme :  Our Good Nature

45 Floats, 22 Marching Bands, 23 Equestrian Units, 1 Star Wars Spectacular, 3 Official Vehices.

Grand Marshal : George Lucas

THE FLOATS DAY 4

    The 2007 AARS award-winning roses are:      

*Moondance, an extremely vigorous, tall and well branched floribunda with      

large trusses of creamy white, beautifully formed flowers contrasted with      

very glassy, dark green foliage.     *Compact and even more 

floriferous than Knock Out®, its famous      predecessor, 

Rainbow Knock Out is resistant to rust and mildew and will      

perform well in any North American garden, offering a nice display of      

hips late into the season to compliment the late fall blooms.     *

Strike It Rich, a 21st Century version of the classic 1950 AARS      

award-winner, Sutter's Gold, has the spicy fragrance, long elegant buds      

and tantalizing color of its ancestor, but boasts longer lived gold,      

orange and red blend flowers offset by very dark green leaves and red      stems. 

World's Tallest Roses Reign at 2007 Rose Parade

www.OrganicBouquet.com Makes History With Spectacular 5+ Foot Tall Eco-Blooms

Dec. 28  Billions of flowers have adorned the floats of the Rose Parade in its 117-year history, but never a rose that stands as tall as the Rose Queen herself ... until this year.

Organic Bouquet (www.OrganicBouquet.com), the eco-flower pioneer, announces the debut of the World's Tallest Roses at the 118th Rose Parade in Pasadena, where they will grace the float of the 89th Rose Queen, Mary McCluggage, as well as the Santa Fe Springs float.

The first certified sustainably grown flowers ever used in Rose Parade history, these magnificent red roses grow naturally 5-6 feet tall, each stem boasting a large head which opens to an astonishing four inches in diameter, creating a sea of lush red rose petals.

"These spectacular roses fit perfectly with the parade's theme, Our Good Nature," said Gerald Prolman, founder and CEO of www.OrganicBouquet.com. "The beauty of even the most stunning flower is enhanced when it is grown in a socially and environmentally responsible manner."

How do these roses get so big? A combination of natural factors have come together to create this extreme rose. At the equator, on an Ecuadorian farm, nestled between two volcanoes at more than 9,600 feet, Organic Bouquet's World's Tallest Roses enjoy days of prolonged sunlight and cool nights which allow these super-sized beauties to flourish beyond expectation.

These natural blooms are non-genetically engineered and are certified sustainably grown by Veriflora(TM), an international eco-floral certification standard that verifies social, environmental, ecological, and quality management practices.

Mr. Prolman, who established www.OrganicBouquet.com in 2001, has led the eco-flower market by developing supplies in more than five countries and promoting the need for eco-flowers on a global scale.

On December 30th, Mr. Prolman will present the Tournament of Roses Queen with a bouquet of the World's Tallest Roses. Later in the day, Prolman will be available for interviews on-site as Fiesta Parade Floats decorates the Macy's (Queen's) float with the World's Tallest Roses.

Source: Organic Bouquet

ROSE BOWL TEAMS AT THUNDER MOUNTAIN DISNEYLAND DECEMBER 26th 2006

(C) MBN 2006 William Hoehne

Disneyland welcomed Rose Bowl bound University of Southern California and the University of Michigan in their first stop of Rose Bowl events in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle the day after Christmas. USC and Michigan , will be playing in the 93^rd Rose Bowl game in Pasadena on New Year’s Day 2007.

Disneyland Ambassador to the World Becky Phelps hosted the welcoming ceremonies. Phelps proudly announced that the City of Anaheim , celebrating its 150^th Anniversary, would have a float in the Rose Parade for the first time in over 30 years (since 1971). It’s theme is “Always Fresh and Never Grows Old.”

The Rose Queen and her Court reign over the Tournament of Roses Celebrations. The Royal Court was introduced, Rose Princesses Christina Barsamian, Aneesah Giroux, Sue Park, Blair Ramirez, Kaitlin Terpstra-Sweeney, Danielle Vine and the 89^th Rose Queen Mary McCluggage. The Royal Court and Queen were selected from more than 1100 Pasadena area young women who participated in the Tournament of Roses Royal Court tryout.

President of Disneyland Resort Ed Grier and Mickey Mouse joined Phelps to the podium. “We’re also excited and honored to continue another great tradition as we partner with our friends from the Tournament of Roses to introduce the teams that participate in the the Rose Bowl.” Disneyland has been associated with the Tournament of Roses since 1959.

Grier introduced the President of Tournament of Roses Association Paul Holman. The theme of this year’s Rose Parade is “Our Good Nature”. The Rose Parade is known for its spectacular floral floats and the requirement that all the floats are entirely decorated in all natural materials.

Holman credits the “tireless good natured enthusiasm of our selfless volunteers who really are the driving force behind the Tournament of Roses, and you’ll see why this year’s theme is so appropriate. It truly brings these two important elements together - the natural artistry of the Rose Parade and the good nature of the people who make it happen every year.”

The Tournament of Roses began in 1890, but the Rose Bowl entered later in 1902, with the first post season college football game in history during which – Michigan defeated Stanford 49-0.

USC representing the Pac 10 conference, has won 21 Rose Bowl Games, more than any other school in history. USC Trojans Coach Pete Carroll has led USC in his 6 years of coaching to 64 wins and an 84% winning percentage. “We are ecstatic about being part of the Rose Bowl again…We’re thrilled about this opportunity and the chance to play such a great university in a classic matchup, with the Big 10 and Michigan just makes this even more special.” Both USC and Michigan will be playing in their third Rose Bowl game in the past four years.

USC Trojan players introduced were Wide Receiver Dwayne Jarrett, Center Ryan Kalil, Defensive End Lawrence Jackson, Linebacker Keith Rivers, and Quarterback John David Booty.

University of Michigan Wolverines is playing in their 20th Rose Bowl Game, more than any Big 10 school ever. Michigan Head Coach Lloyd Carr has led Michigan in each of his 12 season at the helm to a bowl game winning 78% of his Big 10 conference games.

“I’d like to congratulate Coach Carroll and his team on wining the Pac 10 Championship and representing everything in college football in a positive way. We hope you’ll all come out and cheer the team of your choice, but I would specifically ask those Michigan people. We’ll be a little outnumbered but not in spirit.”

Michigan Wolverines players introduced were Offensive Tackle Jake Long, Tailback Mike Hart, Quarterback Chad Henne, Center Mark Bihl, and Defensive End LaMarr Woodley

Each of the USC and Michigan players went the extra mile to make some special dreams come true by spending some time with young people from Foothill Family Services. Holman, on behalf of the staff of the Tournament of Roses, gave the children tickets to the Rose Bowl game.

Phelps with Disneyland Resort Ambassador Counterpart Andrae Rivas, presented a

hand blown glass replica of Sleeping Beauty castle with the inscription “From all your friends at the Disneyland Resort” for each of teams. Ending celebratory Disney music, then a sound of a “pop” and team colored confetti flew through the air. “We’ll see you on game day

Dec 27

Stater Bros. to Distribute 30,000 Goodie Bags at 2007 Rose Parade(R)

Goodie Bags Are Filled With Product Samples and Free Coupons

Dec. 27 For the seventh straight year, Stater Bros. is supporting the 2007 Rose Parade(R) Goodie Bag Program. On January 1, 2007, 30,000 Goodie Bags filled with product samples and free coupons will be distributed along the Tournament of Roses Parade route in Pasadena, California.

The 2007 Rose Parade(R) Goodie Bags will include many products and valuable coupons from over 18 of Stater Bros.' premier vendors. The Stater Bros. vintage 1948 Diamond T Restored Truck will also be on display near the parade route to further represent the Company.

"The Stater Bros. 'Family' of Employees is proud to support this prestigious event for the seventh straight year," commented Jack H. Brown, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Stater Bros. Markets. "The 30,000 Goodie Bags will be an added treat for many of the spectators at this year's Rose Parade."

Stater Bros. was founded in 1936 in Yucaipa, California, and has grown steadily through the years to become the largest privately owned Supermarket Chain in California and the largest private employer in both San Bernardino County and Riverside County, with annual sales in 2006 of $3.5 billion. In the October 2006 issue of a Leading National Consumer Magazine, Stater Bros. was rated as the best place to shop for groceries among Full Service Supermarket Chains in Southern California and No. 10 in America. Stater Bros. also owns and operates Heartland Farms, provider of Knudsen Dairy products to Southern California. The Company currently operates 162 Supermarkets, and there are over 17,000 members of the Stater Bros. "Family" of Employees.

 STATER BROS. MARKETS...SERVING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FAMILIES FOR 70 YEARS  

Dec 26

DISNEYLAND ROSE BOWL DAY

Joyce Chow Photographer 

(C) MBN 2006 William Hoehne

Dec 21

FTD Features a Record-Breaking Collection of Springtime Flowers on Its 54th Rose Parade Float Entry 'Jewels of Nature'

Float Riders Include Singer Marie Osmond and Children's Miracle Network Patients

Dec. 21 / Florists' Transworld Delivery, Inc. (FTD), a leading provider of floral products and services, is celebrating its 54th year of partnership with the Tournament of Roses(R) at the 2007 Rose Parade(R) presenting a breathtaking float featuring the largest collection of springtime flowers ever featured in the history of the long-running parade.

In addition to a record-breaking amount of spring flowers, FTD is joining forces with Children's Miracle Network -- the alliance of premier hospitals for children. Marie Osmond, the co-founder of Children's Miracle Network and three children from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles will proudly ride the FTD float, "Jewels of Nature." Marie and the children's presence on the float represent the millions of families whose lives are touched by the good-willed employees and donors of the Children's Miracle Network.

In honor of the 2007 Rose Parade's theme "Our Good Nature," FTD is helping to spread the message of good-willed acts through the web site www.FTD.COM/CMN, where 15% of each product purchased will be donated to the Children's Miracle Network. In addition to the main web site, FTD also hosts over 35 web sites for individual children's hospitals throughout the U.S.

FTD's 54th Float Entry

FTD's 54th Rose Parade float entry, "Jewels of Nature," celebrates nature's renewal and the rebirth of spring with brilliantly decorated butterflies, hummingbirds, caterpillars and spectacular floral gardens. Thirty-five lively butterflies with wingspans up to 13 feet form an overhead canopy above a brilliantly hued floral garden with over 45,000 roses. The abundant garden also overflows with an assortment of tulips, daffodils, iris, lily of the valley, calla lilies, hydrangea, peony, delphinium, snapdragons and more.

Decor for the Tournament of Roses

As the Official Floral Company of the Tournament of Roses, FTD donates hundreds of thousands of flowers to the events surrounding the Rose Parade to help bring to life the historic events. These flowers are seen starting with the announcement of the Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade and the announcement of the competing Rose Bowl Game(R) teams. FTD also spreads cheer throughout the Wrigley Mansion, the home to the Tournament of Roses, with exquisite holiday decor.

In addition, FTD also sponsors the decoration of the official cars, which carry the President of the Tournament of Roses, the Grand Marshal of the Parade and the Mayor of Pasadena down the parade route. In preparing for the 2007 Rose Parade, FTD brings well-known Netherlands designer Els Hazenberg and FTD Design Instructor J. Keith White to Pasadena to decorate the official cars in the Parade and FTD's 54th float entry "Jewels of Nature."

About FTD Group, Inc.

FTD Group, Inc. is a leading provider of floral-related products and services to consumers and retail florists, as well as other retail locations offering floral products, in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. The business is supported by the highly recognized FTD and Interflora brands. Both brands utilize the Mercury Man logo, which is displayed in approximately 50,000 floral shops globally. The consumer businesses operate primarily through the www.ftd.com Web site in the U.S. and Canada and the www.interflora.co.uk Web site in the U.K. and are complemented by the florist businesses which provide products and services to our independent members.

About Children's Miracle Network

Children's Miracle Network-the alliance of premier hospitals for children- is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medial care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of children overcome diseases and injuries of every kind. To learn more go to www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org.

Source: FTD

December 16

PASADENA, CA. - Two college football standouts, Washington defensive lineman Steve Emtman, and Arizona State quarterback Jeff van Raaphorst, along with renowned sports journalist, Rube Samuelsen, will be inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame on December 31, 2006, during a ceremony at the Rose Bowl Game Kickoff Luncheon. The luncheon, which is sponsored by Trader Joe’s, will begin at noon and take place in the Kickoff Luncheon Tent in Lot K, adjacent to the Rose Bowl Stadium.

Steve Emtman led the Huskies to back-to-back Rose Bowl victories in 1991 and 1992. In 1990, Emtman led Washington to a 10-2 record, including a 46-34 victory over Iowa in the ’91 Rose Bowl Game. The following year, he returned to Pasadena, defeating Michigan 34-14 in the 1992 game, allowing the Huskies to earn a share of the National Championship.

A two year starter, Emtman earned Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors in the Pac-10 Conference, and became the first sophomore to win the prestigious Morris Trophy as the conference’s top defensive lineman. As a junior, Emtman won the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy, and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Emtman left Washington after his junior year and was the number one overall selection in the 1992 draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He spent six seasons in the NFL with the Colts, Dolphins and Redskins, though his career was cut short by a series of serious knee injuries.

In addition to the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, Emtman is also being inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame, as a part of its Class of 2007. Currently, Emtman is also involved in several business ventures.

Van Raaphorst, who grew up in San Diego, led Arizona State to its first Rose Bowl appearance, defeating Michigan 22-15, in the 1987 game. Van Raaphorst passed for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the game, out-dueling the Wolverines Jim Harbaugh, and capturing Rose Bowl MVP honors.

During his time at ASU, van Raaphorst broke 21 school passing records, including most passes completed in a game (38, twice), most yards gained per game average against one opponent (316) and longest pass play when he threw a 95-yard pass to Aaron Cox against USC in 1985. In 1986, van Raaphorst was named ASU’s MVP, and invited to play in that year’s East-West Shrine Game.

Van Raaphorst resides in the Phoenix area with his wife of 18 years and their three children. He now serves as Vice President and Sales Manager for Benton BioMedical, representing Medtronic’s Spinal and Biologic Sales Division in Arizona and Las Vegas. A member of the ASU Hall of Fame, van Raaphorst remains close to the Sun Devil program, serving as a color commentator for ASU football on TV and KTAR radio.

Rube Samuelsen saw his first game in the Rose Bowl during the regular season of 1922. His interest in sports led him to pursue an opening as a Pasadena sports reporter. From 1933 to 1956, he served as Sports Editor of the Pasadena Star-News and, from 1956 to 1962, he served as Sports Editor of both the Star-News and the Pasadena Independent. For many years, his daily column ran under the banner of “Rube-Barbs”.

During the course of his career, Samuelsen also served as columnist, special correspondent or contributor to a number of other publications including the San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Parade Magazine and Sport Magazine. He was also a radio sports commentator on the Pacific Coast for NBC from 1941-45; CBS from 1944-45, and NBC Monitor News in 1959.

His other activities over the years included president of the Football Writers Association of America, in 1954, and an honorary director of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association. Samuelsen also authored “The Rose Bowl Game,” a book of Rose Bowl stories, in 1951, and for many years, also played an active role in the Rose Bowl Game Kickoff Luncheon program.

In 1961, Samuelsen lost his eyesight. He continued to write and maintain an active life until his death in 1973, largely through the help and encouragement of his wife, Doris, his two sons and many devoted friends and colleagues.

His honors over the years included the California Newspaper Publishers Association Citation Award (1951), the National TWA Writing Award (1955), induction into the Fresno Sports Hall of Fame (1961), the Big Ten Blanket Award (1962) and the Grantland Rice Memorial Award (1962).

The Rose Bowl Hall of Fame was established in 1989 to honor members of the Rose Bowl family who have contributed to the history and excitement of the Rose Bowl Game, and those who embody the best of the passion, honor, strength and tradition associated with The Granddaddy of Them All.