The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 17

METRO DITION FINAL THE TAMPA TRIBUNE SECTION TAMPA, FLORIDA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1977 Kimberlee Erb's Beauty Graced Venus Krewe Float Rowdy Pirates Lead The Floats By BRAD BOLE Tribune Staff Writer Rowdy pirates, their guns blazing in celebration of their successful invasion, swaggered up Tampa streets yesterday at the head of a two-hour stream of floats and bands. More than a half million spectators, the most ever to view the annual event, huddled in blankets and parkas against brisk winds that made the 60-degree temperature seem almost wintry. Behind them came Abe Lincoln on roller skates, fleets of antique cars and bicycles and finally the more than 30 floats representing businesses, communities and organizations. BEAUTIFUL GIRLS and young men decked out in the silks and feathers of the pirate uniform showered the crowd with souvenir coins and candy as they made their way from the Curtis Hixon Convention Center to the end of the parade route at Howard Avenue. Hawkers selling everything from balloons, buttons, stuffed animals and Batman knives to cuban sandwiches, soft drinks and cotton candy kept the crowds occupied and well-fed during breaks between bands and floats.

Emergency aid stations were located along the route to handle minor injuries, of which there were a few, police officals said. But no major injuries were reported and personnel at the aid station were mostly busy finding the parents of lost children. a A FORCE of 90 policemen moved small groups of children scampering for confetti and spent cartridges from pistols off the street as the flashing lights and screaming sirens of city police cars ushered the parade down its four-mile route. The color guard and band from the Orlando Naval Training Station was the first of 50 bands from throughout the state to thump and blare its way along the parade route. Pirates Accompanied The Gasparilla King And Queen Into Tampa Vacation, Souvenirs Part Of Children 's Gasparilla By WILLIAM R.

HANDY Tribune Staff Writer The Gasparilla pirates, passing out gold doubloons and empty shells from their pistols, were favorites of many of the children who watched the big invasion parade yesterday. Five-year-old Michael Mosely of 4307 Knights Ave. said the pirates were "scary," but not so scary that he doesn't look forward to seeing them next year. JAY SCRANTON, 9, and his brother Matthew, 5, also liked the pirates best. Jay said the pirates gave him handfuls of coins and shells.

Matthew, who also got some souvenirs, said Gasparilla reminded him of Halloween. Rick Ridgeway, 9, of 7802 Woodlynne said he liked the Hillsborough High School band best of all because his older brother went to that school. Ridgeway and Courtney Bissett, 10, each said they'd like to be in the parade themselves some day. Rick would like to play in the band and Courtney, who lives at 1904 Cape Bend would like to be a majorette. I 0 oV 4 tpfe wf 4 'i M'Mitf a rk Wx fete COURTNEY AND her sister, 7-year-old Darby, liked the Twirlettes float the best.

"They're cute," Darby said. Sissy Cutcliff, 10, and her sister Jenny, 5, also liked the Twirlettes, but Sissy said the pirates were the most exciting part of the parade. "But their guns hurt my ears," said Sissy, who lives at 2511 HollisDr. Sissy, Rick, Courtney and Jay unanimously agreed that one of the best things about Gasparilla day is the school vacation. DANE PALSIS, 11, of 808 Children's Loop in Brandon, said his favorite part of the parade was at the end, when television personality Dr.

Paul Bearer rode by on a hearse. Dane, who attends Nativity Parochial School, said he had no other plans for the big day, except to go home a write a book report for school. Between bites of fluffy, pink cotton candy, 9-year-old Tonya Ford of 1210 North Blvd. said she liked the pirates best, even though they did not scare her, but cotton candy came in a close second. i g- mm Ice Cream And Popcorn Made The Parade Even Better Pieces Of Eight And Ernty Bullet Shells Made The Pirates Special Favorites Of Kids:.