The Valley Line: The bingo barbecue and our float

It has become a community tradition since our first La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association New Year’s Day float that a Bingo Barbecue would be one of two major fund-raisers to insure that our float will make its way down Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard each Jan. 1.

This year marks the 29th Bingo Barbecue event and it drew more than 150 supporters. It is always such a joyful crowd, with many members wearing Western-inspired duds. The event was held at the La Cañada Thursday Club.

The co-chairs for the event were Sue Beatty and Joan McGee. What a fabulous job they did, with a team of incredible volunteers to help the evening run smoothly.

Folks sidled up to the bar set up on the outdoor patio for something to wet their whistles before they got down to the serious business of watching their bingo cards. Each guest received one complimentary bingo card. More could be purchased for $1 each. Some people had an impressive array of multiple bingo cards to keep track of.

Just some of the volunteers helping to make the evening such a success were Jim Geoghegan, bingo equipment maestro; Joe Thompson, emcee; and bingo callers Jean Spomer, Michael Davitt, John Landrum, Tom Slaughter, Sarah Marshall, Jerry Martin, Geoff Baum and Peggy Hotaling.

The tables in the clubhouse were covered with red-and-white-checkered tablecloths and centered with geranium plants. There were baskets of popcorn sitting around to munch on while the social hour and community news-gathering took place.

When the dinner bell sounded, there was a rush for the buffet table, which was loaded with mighty fine vittles like barbecued beef, chicken, assorted vegetables and salads, and dessert. “Simply Perfect Catering” did the food and it was outstanding.

And before the bingo games started there were silent-auction tables loaded with great items to bid on — another way to make money so our float will make it down Colorado Boulevard.

Bingo winners included Cindy Loaney, Adene Misamore, Chuck McGee, Margaret Quinn, Betty McMurray, Diane Landrum, Sharlyn French, Pat Anderson, Sherrill Carbonetti, Phyllis Manley, Lynne Thompson, Jim Carbonetti, Cindy Slaughter, Jim Misamore, Mary Gant, Bill Imbriale and Nancy Walizer.

Especially excited about his winning bingo card was Jim Misamore. It was the first time in having attended nearly all 29 Bingo Barbecue evenings that he possessed a winning card. Needless to say, he was over moon about that.

LCFTRA asked me to note their appreciation to the following people and businesses for their generous support of the event: Adene Sweet-Misamore, Adobe Design, A Noise Within, Ann and Bob Neilson, Aquarium of the Pacific, Autry National Center, Beckham Grill & Crown Bar, Betty Jones, Bronson Photography, Campbell’s Automotive Services, Carol and Bill Imbriale, Chuck Hughes and family, Claire Slaughter, Daryal and Mary Gant, Dave Moffett, Descanso Gardens Guild, Jane Bird of Design Imports, Dish Restaurant, Dragon Thrift Shop, Tom Slaughter of Earth Oasis Computers, Eremita and Larry Andreason, Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeehouse, Gloria Winkley, Green Street Restaurant, In Style Hair, Jim Geoghegan, Joan McGee, Joey and Dave Mitchell, John and Faye Therrien, John Wells Golf Shops and Julie Unamuno of Arroyo Canyon Stable.

Thanks also to La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce, La Cañada Flintridge Country Club, La Cañada Thursday Club, La Cañada Valley Sun, La Crescenta Nursery, Lanterman House, Los Gringos Locos, Lynne and Joe Thompson, Magpie’s Grill, Margie Nelson, Mayfield and Sarah Marshall, McVicker Travel, Merle Norman - Montrose, Merv and Lee Johnson, Mike O’Connor, Nancy Fraines, Nuccia Perotta, Nuccio’s Nursery, Nymia Cucueco, Oakmont Country Club, Ocean View Bistro, Frank Ruiz of Paco’s Barber Shop, Pam Wiedenbeck, Peggy Hotaling, Penelope’s Café, Kathy D’Zurilla of Personal Services, Radiance Medical Group, Rosemary Hook, Pat and Otis Hutchins, Sharlyn French, Sherrill and Jim Carbonetti, Sue Beatty, Susan Ratliff, The Apple Cart, The Theatre at Boston Court and Trader Joe’s.

LCFTRA appreciates the efforts of association members who planned and executed the event, from reservations through cleanup, and is very grateful to all the attendees for their support of its 2012 float.

It takes a lot of money to create our float, which is lovingly self-built and supported by LCFTRA memberships and donations throughout the year. Officials with our all-volunteer group say it gets harder and harder each year to raise the funds.

It would be so sad if our city would not have a float one day. Maybe this year we all can dig a little deeper to come up with funds to insure that our float will be made. Even if each La Cañada Flintridge family could find an extra $25 that would be given to support our float, we all could truly say, “This is our float and we helped in creating it.”