Culver City Garden Club members, while celebrating the success of their 2013 Show, were saddened to hear of the passing of one of their longtime members and one for whom their 2010 Show had been dedicated. Emma Drozdowski, a first generation American, was an avid gardener and an ardent plant lover. Her entries won many Blue Ribbons over the years. Even in declining health, with hearing and vision loss, Emma went to the 2012 Show to volunteer, taking a chair at the Plant Sale booth because that’s where the action was! According to past president Larry Ebner, “As Emma’s health declined recently, her garden suffered neglect and badly needed watering. (Her daughter) Ingrid visited it following her Mom’s passing. Awaiting her were three different species of orchid in full bloom – and they were all yellow, Emma’s favorite color. It was as if Emma was saying it was all right, everything will be OK.” CCGC members will miss her.
Youth Basketball is storming the Culver-Palms Family YMCA, as Jr. Lakers and Jr. Sparks 2013 leagues get underway. There may still be room for your young hoopster to join in the Saturday fun, starting this Saturday, July 13 at Culver Middle School and The Willows Gym. Call Lamondo Greer at the CPFYMCA, (213)639-7522, or register in person at 4500 So. Sepulveda Blvd. so that your youngster’s skills can be evaluated and he/she can be put in the right division.
Harry Culver’s dream will be celebrated next Saturday, July 20 when the Culver City Historical Society honors its 100th anniversary at the California Club, where it all happened. Non-members of the CCHS are also invited: There will be a breakfast, raffle, and Mr. Culver’s speech reenactment will be done by Culver City Council member Jim Clarke. All this takes place ($50.00 per person for members; $60.00 for non-members) at the venerable California Club, 538 So. Flower Street in the other downtown – Los Angeles. The price includes a breakfast, and raffles. Reservations are due by this Monday, July 15 – call (310) 253-6941 or visit [email protected].
Speaking of centennials, don’t forget the Culver City Julian Dixon Library’s 100th anniversary will be coming up in 2014, and the Culver City Friends of the Library are currently accepting donations that will complete its renovation. Checks can be made payable to the CCFOL, 4975 Overland Ave. (P. S.– they’ve already raised over $200,000 and need a little more to complete the purchase of a number of beautiful, comfortable furniture pieces to make visitors feel even more welcome.)
Funeral services were held at Holy Cross last Monday for Edward Helwick, much-beloved teacher at Culver City High School for more than 30 years, who passed away May 26 at the age of 96. Following a prayerful tribute to Mr. Helwick’s life in the chapel, attendees moved into the Reception Hall where the mood lightened considerably via warm and loving tributes from family members, former students and fellow faculty members. With help from a Culver High yearbook brought by Ann Wright, those present were pretty much able to identify each other, some having not seen each other for 30-50 years! Culver High grads came from near and far to honor Mr. Helwick, including Gary Smith, Marsha (Traub) Miller, Al Rosenblum, Don Seligman, Maureen (Mo) O’Conner, Richard Walden, Tom Boyd, Erick (Rick) Weingarten, Darlene Imazu, Jerry Klein, Disa Lindgren, Shirley Klein, and more (whom we we may have not recognized!). It was a pleasure to visit with Mr. Helwick’s faculty colleagues Hank Blunt, Allen Boodnik, and Bob Johnson as well.
Yay – let’s hear it for the Boulevard Music Summer Festival, opening this Thursday eve (July 11) with The Mighty Echoes (a capella Doo Wop) plus acoustic guitar blues by Doug McLeod. Now in its 17th year (and we’ve been there annually), the Festival promises something for everyone – rockabilly, Afro-Cuban, jazz, country, rock, blues, and more. There will be six concerts, all free, and the “doors” open at 6:00 p.m. The concerts start at 7:00 p.m. Park underneath city hall or in the many parking structures nearby – eat at a local restaurant (you can hear great from any of the patio restaurants just across the street) or bring over a takeout or a picnic supper. Enjoy!
The Grace Lutheran Church “Grace Kids Musical Theatre Camp” has been going on for the last three weeks and will culminate this weekend with two performances of “The Wizard of Oz.” On Saturday, July 13 the curtains will open at 7:00 p.m. and on Sunday, July 14 the tornado will fly through the sanctuary at 1:00 p.m. The church is located at 4427 Overland Avenue and admission is by a voluntary donation (proceeds go to support the children’s art camps at Grace). Other camps coming up this summer: Art Camp (July 15-19); Science Camp (July 22-26); Camp Counselor Training (July 29-August 2); Vacation Bible Camp (August 5-9); and Mini Musical (Dr. Seussical) and Camp Rock (August 12-16), with a performance on August 18. For details, call the church office at (310) 559-1027.
If you love music and don’t mind heading down to the beach (and who wouldn’t in this weather??) head down to Hinano’s this Friday eve, July 12 and enjoy Hound Dog Dave & the Mel Tones’ American Roots and Blues Quartet, featuring Jerry on guitar for this show. They’ll be performing 5:30pm-9:30pm at 15 Washington Blvd. Come for the music–stay for the popcorn, the beer, and the burgers!
Summer birthday celebrants include Linda Thieben, Kyle Jones, William Sick, Hayden O’Brien, Kiri Swenson, David Olson, Joshua Rayner, Colin Tidwell, Doris MacGregor, MJ Petersen, Dariya Stenshoel, Michael Berry, Ben Schwartz, Jacqueline Aispiro, Joseph Beachy, Cottalango Leon, Fatima Mamsa-Shavers, Caroline Olney Alfred Reyes, Jeanne Tyson, Brian Held, Shizuki Takagi, Jannete Villeda, Cynthia Leavitt, Lorette Herman, Melina Castilhos, Gary Bethel, Petra Luber, Erik Matsubayashi, Lisette Rabinow-Palley, Lindy Smith, and Stephanie Taylor. If you’d like to have your (or a friend’s, neighbor’s or family member’s) birthday noted here, send the info to [email protected].com and we’ll post it!
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