Pacheco State Park’s high winds helped support another successful Kite Day event on June 20, according to Coordinator Jennifer Morgan, State Park interpreter.</p><p>Morgan said in an e-mail that 175 people attended the annual event; “no doubt due to the good weather.</p><p>“By far the highest attendance yet,” she said. “The strong winds were a challenge, but doubtless better than no wind and boiling hot, which we had one year.”</p><p>Morgan said the annual event started as a result of a brainstorming effort back in 2001.</p><p>“We wanted to get people into the park, and Wildflower Day is obvious,” she said. “But we thought it’s always windy here, ‘why not start a kite day.’</p><p>“We’ve done pretty well. We get people from both side of the hill,” Morgan said. “I think everyone has a great time.”</p><p>JoAnn Muniz of Los Baños brought her six-year-old daughter Alexis to the event for the first time.</p><p>“I think it’s a great idea and she’s having a blast,” Muniz said of her daughter. “We’ll definitely be here next year; we have to. We’re in it for the long haul.”</p><p>The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CAL FIRE, attended the event with their mascots Smokey the Bear and Sparky the firehouse dog.</p><p>“This is the first time we’ve ever had both mascots, and they are always real crowd-pleasers,” Morgan said. “We two crews show up; the ones from the Los Baños station, as wel as the Santa Clara station.”</p><p>Also available for attendees to participate in were bubble gum blowing and pie eating contests.</p><p>“They went really well; everyone had lots of participating and watching,” Morgan said.</p><p>Danny Lower and his family, from Santa Nella, spent their fourth year at the event.</p><p>“I wish more people would attend,” Lower said. “We’re hip on keeping the Earth clean and getting in touch with nature.”</p><p>“We can appreciate it and it’s such a perfect day,” Jennifer Lower added.</p><p>Five-year-old Samantha Lower said flying a kite was her favorite part of the day.</p><p>First time attendee Tiffany Torres, also of Los Baños, said bringing her six-year-old daughter Hannah to the event is something they’ll continue each year.</p><p>Anna Jaramillo helped bring Los Baños Girl Scout Troop 3110 to the event to support them in their volunteer efforts. The girls were providing a face-painting station.</p><p>“We’re always out here helping the park,” Jaramillo said. “The girls really enjoy it.”</p><p>“The Los Baños girl scouts did a super job painting faces and keeping the Kite Day music rocking,” Morgan said. “The Hot Dog Heaven food vendor did a great job, as well.”</p><p>Anwar Khan of Old City Kites in Sacramento hosted a booth at the event to help attendees make kites for free.</p><p>“We enjoy seeing how happy the kids are when they’re flying kites,” Khan said. “We’ve been here since the beginning. We really enjoy the day.”</p><p>Enterprise reporter Samantha Salas can be reached by phone at (209)388-6562 or by e-mail at ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com