Bob and Margye Damjanovich went to Gillette Wyoming last week Aug 9 through 15 to attend the Pyrotechnic Guild International convention. They went to seminars and watched professional pyrotechnicials impressing each other. When you see an aerial shell 24 inches in diameter, that alone is impressive. The Damjanovich’s are the folks responsible for the annual 4th of July fireworks display at Spanish Peaks Regional health center and Colorado State Veterans nursing home. They hope that next year conditions will be right for the display to take place.
The Territorial Daughters Southern Colorado Chapter held their monthly meeting in La Veta at the Nanda Ghan’s Mexican Cantina on Main Street at Noon on Sat. August 16th. The Colorado communities represented were: Alamosa, Cañon City, Colorado Springs, Del Norte, Fountain, La Veta, North Glenn, Pueblo. Walsenburg, Wetmore, Thorton, and Columbus, Georgia.
Members and guests were greeted and welcomed by La Veta’s Chamber of Commerce Chair, Steve Perkins. Attendees: Alma Kimbrel, Ann Levy, Annajo Sánchez-Bailey, Betty and Ben Duran, Betty and Gary Stephens, Carl Davidson, Catharine Rice-Gallegos, Cora P. Cardenas, Dee Davidson, Dorothy Cook, Elaine Lenzini, Fern and Ron Rice, Gayla Goss-Martinez, Jewel Geiger, JoAnn Peralta-Templeton, Louise Vigil, Lu and Larry Reed, Lula Benson, Lydia V. Castillo, Lynnell Clair Jeffryes, Margaret Clair Hetlinger, Margaret Goss, Marie, Deloras Woodson, Maria and Manuel Archuleta, Martha and Burley Hill, Mary Goss and Louis Rodier, Maxine Vigil-Pazen, Mel Estes, Mildred Estes, Peggy Goss, Ruth Huff, Peggy Martin, Robert Gallegos, Sally Bravato, Suellen Levy, and Telesfora Marie Vigil Romero.
Following a wonderful meal and stellar service by the Chef and staff at Nanda Ghan’s Mexican Cantina, the minutes were presented by the President/Secretary, Betty Stephens. The lively audience of 44 people, (ages: 40 to 94) were entertained by Jewel Geiger, keyboard, and led in song by Louise Vigil. Everyone enjoyed the sing-along of songs from yesteryear: Red River Valley, Working on the Railroad, Cielito Lindo, Home on the Range, and When Your Hair Turns to Silver. The group then walked to the Francisco Fort where they were met by Vern Story and other museum volunteers and eagerly guided the TD’s through the museum. Afterward, the crowd joined the on-going 60th wedding anniversary celebration of Mr. & Mrs. Simon Aguirre at the La Veta Community Center.
All this activity took place, in spite of the rain throughout the day on Saturday. The next Territorial Daughters’ Meeting will be in Cañon City at Dorrito′s restaurant at noon on Sept. 20.
Walsenburg native Doug Lenzini stopped in to the Huerfano Journal office not too long ago with an update for us on where he is living and what he has been doing since we have seen him last. He has been Director of Admissions and Marketing at Bridges Academy in Los Angeles (Studio City to be precise) for the past seven years.
Bridges Academy is a one-of-a-kind school in the nation, serving students (grades 6-12) who are both gifted or highly-gifted but who also have learning disabilities–ADD, AD/HD, auditory processing issues, weak executive functioning skills (organization, planning, prioritizing) and other challenges.
Lenzini has been in L.A. Since 1991. He was director of the city′s oldest Performing Arts Schools for several years, and also worked for the Sylvan Corporation. One of their divisions sets up and operates learning centers on inner-city campuses to help the kids improve their reading and math skills. He was also director of a Middle School center in Compton for two years.
He is a 1969 graduate of St. Mary′s High School and the son of Elaine Lenzini.
