The La Kiwanian The Weekly Bulletin of the La Cañada Kiwanis Club Serving the Children of the World

Wednesday,  July 11, 2007

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time.

The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada meets every Wednesday at Noon Visitors Welcome Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Gardens 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada, CA  91011

Upcoming Events

July 4, 2007 NO MEETING - NATIONAL HOLIDAY   July 12, 2007 BOARD MEETING FOR CLUB AND FOUNDATION 7:00 p.m. on Thursday Evening @ CitiBank, La Cañada July 15, 2007 SUMMER SOCIAL Sunday Afternoon from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. @ Toffels July 18, 2007 MONTROSE/LA CRESCENTA 1934 FLOOD - Arthur Cobery Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Gardens  July 25, 2007 RECORDING ACTORS & ANNIMATION IN MOTION PICTURES - Doc Kane Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Gardens   August 1, 2007 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Gardens August 2, 2007 BOARD MEETING FOR CLUB AND FOUNDATION 7:00 p.m. on Thursday Evening @ CitiBank, La Cañada August 29, 2007 APPLE FOR THE TEACHER - Day Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Gardens September 9, 2007 WINE & GOURMET FOOD TASTING 3 - 6:00 p.m. on Sunday at La Cañada Memorial Park Click on the following button to view the long term calendar

The Prez sez . . .

. . . our meeting couldn't start without Tom Burrough's great piano music!  After welcoming everyone back after two weeks, Prez Steve Hagerty reported that the large group of club members who attended the Kiwanis International Convention in San Antonio last week had a great time and found the activities both interesting and inspirational.  Highlights of the convention can be viewed on the Kiwanis International website (by everyone but Jack Dawson), and our August 1 meeting lunch program will be a presentation of some of the highlights of the convention by the Prez and other members who attended.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ed Moulton and Tom Burroughs are looking for Talent for the August 22 Talent Show.  Any and all talent is welcomed and encouraged.  Ed has a special request for a tenor or an alto (woman) to complete his barbershop quartet.

Clyde Hemphill had a special reminder about the Summer Social this Sunday at the Toffel's home.  Although the sign-up list has been misplaced, there will be tri-tip and chicken for all. 

Pat Anderson invited everyone to the July Chamber mixer on July 19 at 5:30 p.m. that will be held at the Allen Lund building.  The new patio area has been completed. 

Carl Christensen encouraged us to bring guests next week for a very interesting local history program on the Crescenta Valley Flood of 1934.

Bachy Bachmayer encouraged us to support Children's Hospital by stuffing a few bills in the cannister on our table.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

Bob Wallace announced that Sheree Ingram has completed all the requirments to become a full-fledged club member.  He called her up and presented Sheree with her permanent Kiwanis name badge.

THE PROGRAM

Once you have heard Darren Mattix speak, you understand how the new Town Center has finally "come to be."  As the developer of the project, it is not surprising that Darren is an excellent speaker, has a great sense of humor and is a master at the art of gentle persuasion.  Darren covered a number of interesting historical facts about the Town Center project, gave us an update on the current status of the project, and then answered a lot of questions.  Darren was a Key Clubber in high school and has lived in La Cañada for ten years.  Here is a sampling of the information he shared with us:

        Pat Anderson and Darren Mattix

The Town Center covers 11 acres.  The land was acquired "property by property" over a period of 40+ years by the Olberz family.  Many of the properties were purchased from unhappy homeowners during the construction of the freeway in the late '60s

.

There will be a 3/4 acre park within the Town Center.  The park will be called the Olberz Park and will be given to the city.

The Sport Chalet will be a tenant in the "A" building.

There will be 600 parking spaces.

The restaurants being courted as tenants are national chains and none will be a franchise business.

There are 30,000 cubic yards of dirt that need to be removed from the site, and 180 truckloads of dirt are being removed each day.  Not a single traffic complaint from the community yet.

The concrete pile was crushed into 12,500 tons of Cal Trans Class 2 size pebbles that will be used as the road base inside the development.

Completion is expected by the end of next summer.

HAPPY & SAD BUCKS

Doris Horwith was celebrating her granddaughter's graduation from LCHS, the birth of a new granddaughter, and a vacation trip with her whole family the end of July.

Tom Slaughter had a Happy Buck for having his son with him and an Interesting Buck because guest Lauren Knapf's great uncle owned the large Knopf Publishing Company.

Jack Dawson's Happy Buck was for chiropractor Mark Anthony who quickly fixed his bad backache.  His Sad Buck was for source of the backache - moving the Soap Box Derby crates.  Jack is with his guest, Barbara Dawson.

Howard Backer had Happy Bucks for our "new and improved" Club Treasurer (John Landrum).

Clyde Hemphill had a Sad Buck for Jack's backache.

Norm Johnson had ten Happy Bucks because ride-along Ed Moulton was always telling him to turn right when he should turn left and to turn left when he should turn right.  That caused Norm to purchase an On-Star navigation system.  Of course, the On-Star was wrapped around by a new car!

Pat Anderson had Happy Bucks for the good LCF Planning Commission decision to approve both the Von's renovation/expansion plans and the development plans for the old "flower shop" corner property on Foothill.

Daryal Gant had a Happy Buck for the use of a chauffeured stretch limo with full bar in San Antonio after the Kiwanis Convention.  Daryal said it was better than fifteen minutes of fame.

Steve Hagerty had a Sad Buck because Daryal took advantage of him at the convention and introduced him to every Kiwanian there who was from Dinuba.

FACTS AND FICTION

Music:  piano tunes by Tom Burrows and Ed Moulton leading us in God Bless America, Hi Neighbor, and On Kiwanis

Opening: flag salute by Pat Anderson and the inspiration by  Bachy Bachmayer

Guests:  Pat Anderson introduced Lee and Robert Dreyfuss, Jerry and Cynthia Berkman, Mary Ann McCann, Pat and Otis Hutchins, Dick McGrath, Zora Yasseri, Lita Minguez, Bret Furry, Joe Thompson, and Chamber employees Starr Frazier, Stephanie Brashears, and Olivia Brown; Melinda Thompson introduced her business partner, Glen Chafin; Jack Dawson gallantly welcomed his wife, Barbara; Tom Slaughter was happy to have his son Robert and Robert's friend, Laura Knopf  join us today; Diane DellaValle introduced past Kiwanis member and good friend, Sookie Mathews and the YMCA Senior Services director Nancy Turney; Carl Christensen welcomed his lovely wife, Irene, once he spotted her in the audience; Ken Lowe had his bride, Marjorie, by his side; and Linda Schooley was a guest of her hubby, Fred.

Anniversaries:  Although the Prez forgot his list, Fred Schooley not only "fessed up," he also made a wonderful Millennium Club contribution (Century Club x 10).  They are leaving for Hawaii on Friday to celebrate!

Birthdays:  Joan Peters also came prepared and made us guess her age after she read a long list of events that occurred in the year of her birth.   (1931)

Fines:   For not wearing your Kiwanis pin or shaking the hand of Secret Greeter, Carl Christensen.

Fifty-Fifty Drawing:  guest Barbara Dawson

Master of the Cash Box:  Diane DellaValle

This Week's Editor:  Melinda Thompson

This Week's Photographer:  Jeb Long 

Webmaster and Coordinator:  Jeb Long