The Valley Line: Pizza served during float group’s Happy Hour
It was a sultry evening when folks arrived at the Commonwealth Avenue home of Elysa and Steve Del Guercio for the monthly La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn. Happy Hour. Throughout the event, local folk shared community news and talked about our 2016 float, “Up a Creek.”
Greeting guests along with the Del Guercios was Bill Pounders, president of the float association. As always, association supporters arrived with an array of hors d’oeuvres to nibble. Behind the bar Joel Smith and Bob Wallace poured refreshing beverages.
Adding to the gourmet festivities of the event, the Del Guercios created exotic pizzas that they baked in their patio pizza oven — a real treat, for sure!
Among those attending this fun evening were Mary and Daryal Gant, Chuck Hughes, Joey Mitchell, Art Johnson, Bud and Pamela Carney, Joe and Lynne Thompson, Peggy Hotaling, Mike and Nancy Leininger, Chuck Terhune, Sharlyn French, Barbie Eland, Alison and Michael Davitt, Sue Beatty, Bob and Liz Craven, Caroline Craven, Becky and Chuck Gelhaar, Bobbie and Clyde Hemphill, Nancy Wyman, Ellen and Anthony Portantino, Gloria and Terry Beyer, Harriet Hammons, Eremita Miranda, Larry Andreason, Ann and Bob Neilson, Bob Wallace, Craig Witt, Joel Peterson, Nana and Joel Smith, Jacky Hollingsworth, Dave Spence, Cindy Crane, Maureen Bond, Andy Spence, Steve Spence, Pat Foltyn, Vicki Schwartz, Jenna Schwartz, John and Dian Landrum, Cathy and Pete Palermo, Steph and Jim Kambe, Jennifer and Steve Hronek, Lillian and Roy Olofson and John Burrows.
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My sister “Nubby,” who lives in San Clemente, drove up last week to come play with me. It is always fun to have a sister to giggle with.
One night we visited a favorite local restaurant. It was one of those serendipitous happenings when two couples sitting nearby were celebrating a birthday with a cupcake topped with a candle. Of course they started singing the birthday song and we joined their song.
They loved that we were celebrating with them. Even though we didn’t know them, it didn’t take much encouragement on their part to convince me that I should pull up my chair at their table. My first question to them was, “Do you live in La Cañada?”
The quick answer was “No.” However the caveat was that the two women are sisters, Tamera “Tammy” Kuhn and Laurel Landstrom, who grew up here in town. They were dining with their husbands, Buddy Kuhn and John Landstrom. The women are the daughters of James Cox and Rebecca Bird.
The foursome were not only celebrating a birthday, but were also having a bit of a farewell party at the same time, as the Landstroms were poised to move to Portland, Ore. They seemed very excited to be making this big lifestyle change. They said that after the moving truck left with all of their belongings, they were ready to follow behind in their car, along with their 18-year-old beagle, who will probably be loving all the new sniffs and sounds of the great Northwest.
Days later, I received a note from Laurel Landstrom, who said their drive to the Portland area was a safe and scenic one. She said they decided to move because John’s sister and family live there and they love the natural beauty of Portland and the slower lifestyle.
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JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Cañada Flintridge social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@aol.com with news of your special event.