Clubs & Organizations section

Ramona Art Tour co-chair, Judy Nachazel, left, talks to Julie Pendray, community editor of the San Diego Union Tribune at the Ramona Art Tour, while Karen Clendenen, right, inspects some of the art exhibited on the tour. Photo By Carol Kinney

Ramona’s clubs and organizations have numerous items planned for May and took care of some notable activities during April.

The Santa Ysabel Art Gallery featured an exhibit titled “Out of the Frame” which highlighted the work of art quilt maker Dan Olfe and metal sculptor Arno Zielke. An opening reception was held April 12 and the exhibit ran through April 24. For additional information on the Santa Ysabel Art Gallery, contact Annie Rowley at (760) 765-1676.

Ramona’s Homebirth Support Group met April 20 for the topic “Birth Stories” in which women shared their labor and delivery experiences. The group meets on the third Wednesday of each month, and on May 18 the topic will be “Birth Videos”. For more information about the homebirth support group contact Karen Wallace at

(760) 787-0302.

Ramona High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Department will hold its second annual arts showcase May 21 at the Performing Arts Center of Olive Peirce Middle School. “Arts Afire” will include choral and instrumental music, swing dancing, student artwork, and dance numbers. The $25 admission tickets also include appetizers and a catered meal. To obtain tickets or for additional information call (760) 787-4105.

The San Vicente Valley Club’s April 27 meeting was a tribute to Mother’s Day, which included an “Off-Broadway Gala”. On May 7 the San Vicente Valley Club will be holding its 25th annual Home and Garden tour; in addition to the tour the event based at the San Vicente Inn also includes an arts and crafts fair, a bake shop, a flower market, a collectibles center, wine tasting, a flower show, and a silent auction. The May 25 general monthly meeting at the San Vicente Inn will include the presentation of student scholarships and the installation of the 2005-06 officers. For additional information on the tour contact Eileen Castburg at (760) 789-5803 or Mary Bonner at (760) 789-3215. Other information on the San Vicente Valley Club can be obtained by calling membership chair Pat Barker at (760) 787-8511.

Julian will have an Arts and Antiques Back-Country Faire on June 4 and is looking for crafters, artisans, antique dealers, and other vendors. The fair will be held at two locations; Santa Ysabel General Store and Antiques and Wynola Junction Antiques and Collectibles. For additional information contact Tracy Turner at (760) 787-1752.

The Olde Ramona Hotel Gallery featured local artist Lavina Stromberg and her “Two for the Yangtze” exhibit of Chinese ink sticks and art brushes April 9, which included hands-on experience by the public. In May, members of the Ramona Art Guild will have an opportunity to display works of all art genres (each member may display up to three pieces not to exceed 16 inches by 20 inches), and June will feature students of Julian artist and instructor Stan Goudy. For additional information call Loretta Alfonzi at (760) 789-3682.

The Julian Chamber of Commerce invites residents and visitors to several Julian events in May. The 12th annual Manzanita High Mountain Rendezvous will see visitors to a high mountain encampment through May 8, the Julian Wildflower Show hosted by the Julian Women’s Club will run from May 4 to May 8 at Julian’s Town Hall, Julian’s Bed and Breakfast Guild will host a Spring Bed and Breakfast Tour on May 19, the Julian Theater Company will continue to run Woody Allen’s “Play It Again Sam” for the entirety of May and through June 18, the Volcan Mountain Preserve annual benefit dinner and silent auction - which also includes a dance - will be held May 1 at Warner Hot Springs Resort, the Julian Bicycle Festival will be based at Jess Martin Park on May 15 with the

56-mile road ride and the 22-mile mountain bike ride covering other parts of the area, and the Julian Classic Motoring Show will take place May 29 at the Menghini Winery. For additional information call the Julian Chamber of Commerce at (760) 765-1857.

Grace Community Church will host a Mother’s Day Dessert Theater on May 7 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. In addition to gourmet desserts and beverages the activities include a presentation of “Footprints of a Pilgrim, the Ruth Bell Graham Story” which features the life of evangelist Billy Graham’s wife. For tickets and other information contact Bobbie Helland at (760) 789-1423.

The Ramona WomAn’s Club activities in May begin with a musical trip down memory lane May 5 at the clubhouse; folk singer and monologist Elaine Dundas will highlight that event. On May 9 the Literary Section of the Ramona Woman’s Club will meet at the clubhouse for short reviews of books they have read within the past year. On May 12 the monthly luncheon and card party will start at noon at the clubhouse. The Lady Bugs will leave the clubhouse parking lot at 10:30 a.m. on May 26 to carpool to the garden of Russell Baldwin’s residence, which was featured in San Diego Home and Garden magazine, and will visit a local restaurant for lunch after the trip to the local garden. The Ramona Woman’s Club contact is Janet Poindexter at (760) 789-4865.

Soroptimist International of Ramona members attended the Desert Coast Region Spring Conference in Anaheim April 15-17, the club’s April 20 meeting featured Tom Brammell of the Ramona Municipal Water District, and on April 30 the Soroptimists sold refreshments at the Children’s Festival at Collier Park. The Soroptimists are also reviewing scholarship applications from local high school students; the scholarships will be presented in June. The club is also reviewing applications from various non-profit organizations seeking Soroptimist sponsorship. Some of that money will be raised from a yard sale, which will be held May 21 at 805 Ramona Street. Additional information about the chapter may be obtained by calling membership director Gina Seashore at (760) 788-4315.

The Ramona Trails Association’s April 6 meeting featured a guest speaker representing Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and the May 4 meeting will feature Poway trails coordinator Dan Cannon. On April 16 some members of the trails group participated in the County of San Diego’s March of Dimes ride originating at Sycamore Canyon. The group is working with Ryland Homes about the likelihood of maintaining the trails to San Diego Country Estates after the Ryland project is built, and other projects in the organizing phases include a non-motorized trail between Ramona and San Diego Country Estates along San Vicente Road. The trails group will also be handling parking at Ramona’s annual rodeo May 20-22. The Ramona Trails Association contact is Cheryl Wegner at (760) 788-0354.

The Ramona Rotary Club’s April speakers included Dr. Charles Fraley April 5 on osteoporosis, San Dieguito River Park Foundation executive director Craig Smith on April 12, and motivational expert Gina Seashore on April 26. The April 12 meeting also included a visit from nearly a dozen members of the Tijuana Oeste club. On May 3 the speaker will be Dale Wallenius, the director of development for the Business Administration College at Cal State University San Marcos. Former chapter member David Mitchell, who was with Ramona National Bank before becoming a consultant, will return May 10 for a speech about banking relationships. The May 17 speaker will discuss the Pan-American Institute in Tijuana, which allows children there with no other opportunities to attend school. Civil War re-enactor Nelson Hughes will be the May 24 featured guest. The final meeting of May will take place May 31 and will feature Al Grenier of SkyWind, who will discuss the wind energy project. The club will also host some exchange students from Afghanistan on May 21, and the Afghan students will see that night’s rodeo performance. Further Rotary information can be obtained from president Chuck Demund at (760) 788-1011.

The Ramona Kiwanis Club activities in April included the election of new officers who will be installed in October. Bob Hailey is the incoming president, Darrell Beck will become the immediate past president, Eddie Bacorn will be president-elect for 2006-07 and also has a spot on the Board of Directors, Mary Halliday will be the new secretary, Peter Casalegno will serve as treasurer, and Charles Teachert Jr., Martha Lough, and Dotty Cronin will join Bacorn on the Board of Directors. On April 11 an interclub visit took them to Rancho Penasquitos, and the Kiwani Cats harmonica band entertained at the Ramona Food and Clothes Closet Antique Fair April 24 and Pioneer Days April 30. The May interclub meeting will take them to the Escondido Country Club on May 12, and on May 21 the Kiwanis chapter will assist with the setup and takedown for the Ramona library book sale. Until the installation of new officers is effective Darrell Beck is the President of Ramona’s Kiwanis chapter and can be reached at (760) 789-2534.

The Ramona Women’s Connection met April 20 to hear Margaret Esther, the children’s librarian for the Ramona Library, speak on keeping children cyber-safe and to hear speaker Marilyn Dronenberg share “Making Your Love Story a Masterpiece”. A high tea May 18 at Ramona’s Sizzler will include “Over the Teacups”, a presentation by Charlotte Rowett who will explain the process of hostessing one’s own Victorian tea. Rowett will also be sharing her personal story titled “A Guidebook for the Rough Road”. Reservations and other information may be obtained by calling Francine Abbott at 789-1526 or Carol Miles at (760) 788-1348.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church will hold its first — and hopefully first annual — Old Time Country Fair from June 3 through June 5 at the church grounds on E Street. The fair will include games, rides, crafts, food, live entertainment, and a silent auction along with Friday and Saturday dinners. For additional information contact Linda Asti at (760) 789-0583.

The Ramona Country Faire The Ramona Country Fair Parade will take place August 8. The Ramona Chamber of Commerce is now seeking entrants and accepting entry forms. For additional information about entries or other parade aspects contact parade chair Bill Jenkin at (760) 788-1181.

The Ramona Stars 4-H Club activities, some of which took place outside of Ramona as countywide events, included County Fair Presentation Day on April 9, Art and Design Day on April 12, and a judging explanation presentation April 23. Beth Prinz, the community leader of the Ramona Stars 4-H Chapter, was in charge of Art and Design Day at the Rancho Bernardo Swim and Tennis Club, and both County Fair Presentation Day and Art and Design Day produced a chapter winner in the Fashion Review category who will now compete in the nine-county sectionals. May activities will include the East County Fair in Lakeside and election of chapter officers, and club members are in the process of raising animals for the San Diego County Fair, which will run from June 10 to July 4. Potential new members as well as other interested citizens can contact Beth Prinz at (760) 788-8991 for additional information.

Coldwell Banker Associates Realty, located at 2130 Main Street, will be holding its 4th Annual Art Show, Saturday, June 4. Many local artists, encompassing many medias, will have their work on display and available for purchase. As in previous years, there will be oil paintings, pastels, pottery, jewelry, watercolors, and other works of creativity. Come by to view completed works of art, as well as demonstrations of those in progress. The show will be held from 4 – 7 p.m. For additional details, please call (760) 789-2110.