World's Shortest Parade Will Have Grandstands on July 4

Sometimes it takes an outsider to see how you can improve things you do year after year.

Rachel Hill, who lives in Morgan Hill and took over as Assistant Vice President at the Comerica Bank in Aptos a year ago wanted to raise money and help people see her favorite parade better.

A banker who is not only used to helping people solve problems, but has taken a real love for her new community and is moving here, she had the idea to get some bleachers and sell the seats for all of the money to go to Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Support Services.

She called Aptos High and they donated the bleachers, which will be by the bank on the Safeway side of the parade.

"Last year I wanted to go down for the pancake breakfast, but I couldn't even get through the crowd," she said. "This year I'd like to see more food on our end of the parade." She's looking for someone to provide it, and may resort to having students sell muffins for the charity, if nothing else comes through.

Hill has taken to the community so much she's taken Leadership Santa Cruz and gone to the Santa Cruz Citizen's Police Academy, as well as joining the Aptos Rotary Club.

Tickets for the two 16-foot grandstands are $10. Contact RLHill@comerica.com or get down to the bank at 30 Rancho del Mar before they are gone.