Turlock declares weekend all for Kaepernick, Niners

TURLOCK -- The city has declared Saturday and Sunday "Go Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers Weekend."

The recognition celebrates hometown hero Colin Kaepernick and his team, the San Francisco 49ers, as they play in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday in New Orleans.

In a statement about the proclamation, City Council members said they made the special declaration in response to the "exciting times, and we have received an outpouring of public support for Colin and his team."

The official proclamation will be presented at the Turlock Believes Tailgate Party on Saturday held by the Turlock Education Foundation, which benefits Turlock Unified School District. The public party will be in the parking lot of Kaepernick's alma mater, Pitman High School, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The family-friendly event is open to everyone, and people are invited to bring their barbecues and food to tailgate. Food vendors will be on hand, and no alcohol will be permitted.

To add to the celebration, the mayors of the hometowns of the two Super Bowl quarterbacks, John Lazar of Turlock and John Ward of Audubon, N.J. (hometown of Baltimore's Joe Flacco), have placed what they are calling a "gentlemen's wager" about the outcome of the big game.

If the 49ers win, Ward will wear their red and gold jersey to his next City Council meeting. If the Ravens win, Lazar will wear purple and black to the next Turlock council meeting.

Bee staff writer Marijke Rowland can be reached at mrowland@modbee.com or (209) 578-2284. Follow her on www.twitter.com/turlocknow.