THE POPPY PAPER. Official Monthly Publication of the Boosters of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park A Non-Profit Organization November 2017

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THE POPPY PAPER Official Monthly Publication of the Boosters of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park A Non-Profit Organization November 2017 Old Town San Diego State Historic Park staff and

By: Amy Lew, Museum Curator I On September 28 th -30 th the Old Town San Diego Historic Quilt Guild participated in The 36th Annual San Diego Quilt Show at the San Diego Convention Center.

There were many comments from guests at the show about the Quilt Timeline that was created for the show.

1 THE POPPY PAPER Official Monthly Publication of the Boosters of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park A Non-Profit Organization November 2017 Old Town San Diego State Historic Park staff and volunteers shine at the 36 th Annual San Diego Quilt Show! By: Amy Lew, Museum Curator I On September 28 th -30 th the Old Town San Diego Historic Quilt Guild participated in The 36th Annual San Diego Quilt Show at the San Diego Convention Center. The members of the guild worked together to display historic quilts from their personal collections, as well as some from those displayed at Threads of the Past Living History Center. There were many comments from guests at the show about the Quilt Timeline that was created for the show. Another highlight of the exhibit, receiving much public attention, was the Juana Machado Quilt replica, constructed by the guild (along with park visitors) several years ago. The original Juana Machado quilt resides at the San Diego History Center where it is safely stored in a perfect climate-controlled room, free of elements that are detrimental to textiles. Currently, the guild is working on quilting a red and white Challenge Quilt. This project contains mostly hand-appliquéd blocks made by both park staff and volunteers from the guild. This quilt s frame was brought to the show and set up, just as it is in the Park. When we informed attendees at the show that all of the quilting done by the guild is by hand with no machines used at all, they were very impressed. The Old Town San Diego Historic Quilt Guild has participated in this show for many years. It is never tiresome passing on the traditions of hand quilting to the public. With so many modern conveniences in our lives, taking a step back and sharing this kind of handwork is very fulfilling. It was an honor to be able to participate with our quilters this year. I hope to be able to join them in the future. Pictured (l-r): Senior Park Aide Mary Stout, Volunteers Ginny Pence and Susan Monroe pg. 1

New Woodworking Guild Lead By Tim Downing Pat Downing is the new Woodworking Guild Lead. Many of you know Pat as one of the blacksmiths, but he, like so many others, started working in wood.

Over the years, Pat has built jewelry store showcases, a few house additions, and a workshop.

2 New Woodworking Guild Lead By Tim Downing Pat Downing is the new Woodworking Guild Lead. Many of you know Pat as one of the blacksmiths, but he, like so many others, started working in wood. Pat says he really became hooked on woodworking when he was 12 and made a toy chest in a neighbor's shop. He has been a woodworker ever since. Over the years, Pat has built jewelry store showcases, a few house additions, and a workshop. He has done many traditional woodworking projects, but what he is known most for is his contemporary band saw and treasure boxes. Pat does not use paints on his work; instead, he highlights the natural colors of the wood in his work. Many of his projects are mixed media (where he uses glass, crystals, and marbles). His boxes have been showcased in galleries and in the Design In Wood Exhibition at the Del Mar Fair. Pat is a long time member of the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association. He has taught woodworking classes on making band saw boxes at MakerPlace, and he has taught others how to turn bowls and boxes on the lathe. San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park Sunday, December 3, 2017, 11:00 am 3:00 pm By: Gregg Giacopuzzi, State Park Interpreter I San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park will present the annual Battle Day special event on the first Sunday in December. The special event commemorates the bloodiest battle fought in California during the Mexican American War, where Californio forces and the Army of the West clashed in the San Pasqual Valley on December 7, The Californios, wanting to preserve their culture and way of life, fought against the American forces, who were seeking to expand their territory westward. The skirmishes lasted a few days, and ended with both sides claiming victory. Battle Day activities will include an enlistment station, black powder demonstrations, a living history encampment, equestrian activities, raw hide leather braiding, and dramatic readings of the actual battle. Battle Day is a free event, presented by California State Parks and the San Pasqual Battlefield Volunteer Association. Volunteers, friends and family are encouraged to attend. Ample parking is available, adjacent to the San Diego Archaeological Center. For more information on the event, please Gregg Giacopuzzi at greg.giacopuzzi@parks.ca.gov, or call , ext. #3. pg. 2

Treasurer's Notes by Deanna Turton Are you ready for TWO months of financial data? Well, I thought I would have mercy on everyone and combine the months of August and September.

3 Treasurer's Notes by Deanna Turton Are you ready for TWO months of financial data? Well, I thought I would have mercy on everyone and combine the months of August and September. However, August was a much better month for BOOT than September, as you will see if you keep reading. In August, BOOT was $19, ahead after all bills were paid; and in September that figure was $3, This huge difference was mainly due to very good sales in The Park Store, as well as two grants that BOOT received: 1) Wells Fargo - $5, to help defray costs for the park's summer events; 2) A County of San Diego Community Enhancement Grant - $8, to help enrich this and next year s summer events. The term of this latter grant goes from July 1, 2017 to June 30, Since our summer events are mainly after July 1, we have to be careful to spend this money during the defined time period. The daily average in the park's donation boxes also reflected the same pattern - $77.16 in August and $67.02 in September. So, it appears we had more generous visitors, or perhaps there were just more visitors in August than in September,. Whatever the reason, we are grateful for all the dollar bills and loose change that are dropped into the park's donation boxes, and to BOOT Board Member Becky Halliburton who collects and counts it all! The September bank statement showed a deposit of $1, from the Round It Up America program at the restaurants owned by Chuck Ross.. BOOT is certainly grateful that Mr. Ross participates in this ongoing program. On the expense side of the ledger, spending categories over $300 were: August September $3, $1, The Park Store (inventory replacement) $ $ Craft Committee (craft supplies) $ $1, Period Attire $ $2, Fiestas Patrias And finally, I would like to add that it has been a wonderful summer! Although I could not manage to squeeze in a family wedding in Iowa, I was able to attend the Navajo womanhood ceremony for my friend's daughter in early July. Then, in late July, our granddaughter AnnaBeth came for her annual visit. Gary took her biking along the Coronado Strand, we did wave jumping at Silver Strand State Park, spent a fun day at Sea World and, of course, she walked the donkeys around the park with Grandpa. In late August, rather than take her back home on the plane, I decided to take the train and see the depths of the country. So, for three days we were wild women eating pizza at 9:30 at night! We even wrote a children's book in the observation car. I did most of the writing; AnnaBeth did the illustrations and helped with the story line. So, after three trains, and as many days and nights, we arrived safely in Washington, D.C. It was a grand trip and, on the way home, I got to ride across the country again. But, this time I had wonderful memories to review in my mind visits with cousins, who live in New Jersey and whom I had never met before; a trip to the White House with daughter-in-law Miyun and AnnaBeth; a day in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where we visited an Amish farm and took a bus tour of the area; an outing to a glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course; music lessons, basketball tryouts, and even the first day of fourth grade at AnnaBeth's school! On the last day of my visit, our son Mark turned 46. I made him many of his favorite things, and then we joined AnnaBeth at school for lunch. I whispered to her friend that it was Mark's birthday and, between the two of them, they went around to all of the tables in the cafeteria. Then on the count of three, the whole cafeteria sang the Happy Birthday song to Mark! Of course, he pretended to be embarrassed; but, I saw him later in the day, replaying the video with a big smile on his face. Like I told him, you have to celebrate your birthday with the Happy Birthday song until you are at least 102. All in all, I was gone 25 days, with 19 days in Maryland enjoying our son and his family! pg. 3

dedicated crew of volunteers. Do you buy online through Amazon? If you are like me, there are times when the only place to find what you want is by shopping online.

4 Boosters of Old Town Your Online Purchases Can Help Old Town! By Susan Hector, BOOT Board Member GARDEN VIEWS Even though Garden Committee lead Deanna Turton was out of town for much of the summer, the gardens in the park are looking beautiful, thanks to her dedicated crew of volunteers. Do you buy online through Amazon? If you are like me, there are times when the only place to find what you want is by shopping online. Amazon has a program called AmazonSmile, where they donate cash to a charity for every purchase that is made. It costs you nothing extra. Amazon is making the donation through their own charitable foundation. The web portal is When you log in with your regular Amazon password and user name, you can designate Boosters of Old Town as your charity to receive donations. Every donation to BOOT benefits the park directly. This is an easy, painless way to support the park. Please join me in designating BOOT as your AmazonSmile charity. Thank you, it is a pleasure to be part of the Old Town family! Since Deanna s return, the crew remains busy. A big THANK YOU goes out to Bob Jones who brought a truckload of compost; and to David St. Onge, James Hull, Gary Turton, and State Park Staff Mike Toral and Ethan Edwards who loaded wheelbarrows and spread the compost. According to Deanna, We did it all in 45 minutes, so everyone worked hard! Standing (l-r): Stephen Hoag, JP Gendron, Deanna Turton and Rachel Alaniz. Seated: David St. Onge Old Town Native Plant Landscape Work Party November Old Town Planting Is Postponed Due to Hepatitis-A Risk: The annual November planting in our lovely Old Town Native Plant Landscape (NPL) is postponed. Since there are no 24-hour public restrooms near the NPL, it is being used as a latrine. Hepatitis-A virus can survive two months in soil. We don t want to risk our volunteers coming into contact with contaminated materials. If you are not yet vaccinated and want to volunteer here, or in other urban parks, vaccination is easy, safe, and cheap. Vaccinated volunteers who want to join a planting party on Saturday December 11, please me by the end of November. We will scale the planting to fit the size of the vaccinated planting team. Please, also contact your city council member and tell them it is time for our taxes to be used to build and staff restrooms, including at the Old Town MTS station, to protect our, the public taxpayers' health. For more information, please contact Kay Stewart oldtownlandscape@cnpssd.org. pg. 4

By: Amy Lew, Museum Curator I Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, in conjunction with Wells Fargo History Museum, hosted a Fall Festival on October 14, 2017.

5 By: Amy Lew, Museum Curator I Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, in conjunction with Wells Fargo History Museum, hosted a Fall Festival on October 14, Fall decorations were added to the park throughout the week prior to the event by the Museum Collections staff consisting of Janette Alvarez, Jeff Smith, and Conner Rothwell, as well as Mary Stout from Interpretation. Casey Gill, Museum Curator from Wells Fargo, and Liam Richards coordinated with the park team to unload straw and lots of beautiful pumpkins, gourds, and chrysanthemums, which were used throughout the park to create a festive atmosphere. There was even a pumpkin patch, accompanied by a festive scarecrow this year! On the day of the event, the smell of cinnamon and apples wafted through the air as the Cooking Guild, led by Mary Stout, made applesauce in cast iron pots over an open fire. Guild volunteers Steve Holcomb, Clare, Cate and Patty Rogers stepped up to the plate to chop the apples and keep the fire burning throughout the day. There were many exciting autumn activities for children, led by Casey Gill of Wells Fargo Bank. All the participants from Wells Fargo looked so great in their period attire. Gwen Annese from Fiesta de Reyes, in lovely period attire, reeled in lots of young ones with peanut butter coated corncob bird feeders. Liam Richards from Wells Fargo led the cornhusk doll making activity, where all had a grand time. Cris Sanchez and Scott Thiel showed the children how to shuck dried corn, as well as plant beans and corn in front of Wells Fargo. Interpreter Gregg Giacopuzzi (pictured above with park visitors), guided the little ones through creative seed art. There was also a face painter on hand to add an extra bit of flare to the harvest look! It was wonderful to see park employees, concessionaires, and volunteers working together to create an engaging and efficiently run event an event visitors to the park will not soon forget. pg. 5

CRAFT COMMITTEE NEWS BOOT s booth at the annual Old Town Arts and Craft Fair on September 30-October 1 was once again a great hit!

Kim Baldwin, Jobeth Hull, and Becky Halliburton gathered all of the items to stock the booth the day before the event.

Jeanne Ferrell, of course, was there to make sure the group had everything they needed. As usual, the top selling items were Day of the Dead merchandise.

The morning will be devoted to making Christmas decorations for the park. Many guilds are also working together on this project. Period attire is not required, and everyone is welcome!

January 26 - We will need to work like crazy to get the store back up to snuff!

There are loads of activities to be enjoyed by young and old, alike. In fact, relatives from Arizona were just here this past weekend.

6 CRAFT COMMITTEE NEWS BOOT s booth at the annual Old Town Arts and Craft Fair on September 30-October 1 was once again a great hit! Many thanks to the crafters for their never-ending commitment to making all of the handcrafted items in The Park Store, and attending special events like this. Kim Baldwin, Jobeth Hull, and Becky Halliburton gathered all of the items to stock the booth the day before the event. On Saturday Kim, Becky and Deanna Turton managed the booth; on Sunday it was Becky, JoBeth, Mary Jones and Linda Jacobo with her granddaughter. Jeanne Ferrell, of course, was there to make sure the group had everything they needed. As usual, the top selling items were Day of the Dead merchandise. Here s a small sample of the items (which also are available in The Park Store): Mark Your Calendars: The Craft Committee will meet on Friday, November 10, at 9:00 a.m. behind the Robinson-Rose Visitor Center. The morning will be devoted to making Christmas decorations for the park. Many guilds are also working together on this project. Period attire is not required, and everyone is welcome! (photos courtesy of Kim Baldwin) NO CRAFT MEETING IN DECEMBER Happy Holidays! January 12 No crafting, as we will be taking inventory. January 26 - We will need to work like crazy to get the store back up to snuff!!! From the Editor s Desk Crisper, cooler days are upon us and this is the perfect time of year to visit Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. There are loads of activities to be enjoyed by young and old, alike. In fact, relatives from Arizona were just here this past weekend. Look at the happy face that came home after a day in Old Town our great-granddaughter, Ella! She and her parents enjoyed fabulous food and festive entertainment during the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) activities. (She really hated to wash her face before bed!!!) Coming soon are Holiday in the Park activities December 2-17, with Las Posadas on December 10. So, plan on visiting Old Town San Diego for some fun festivities! For more information, please visit: or Happy Veteran s Day, Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Reading! Ruth French, Editor, poppypapereditor@gmail.com (Deadline for submissions is the 20 th of each month pg. 6

$\\\\\\\\ THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE$ BOOT BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Jeanne

Deanna Turton (619) 222-0047 BOOT Store:

Members: Susan Hector Cindy Furlong Becky

7 \\\\\\\\ THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE MEMBERS! BOOT BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Jeanne Ferrell (619) Vice President: Gary Turton (619) Secretary: Linda Jacobo (619) Treasurer: Deanna Turton (619) BOOT Store: Mary Jones Historian/Grants: Bob Wohl Restoration Spec: Chuck Ferrell Web Master: Bob Jones Membership: Board Members: Susan Hector Cindy Furlong Becky Halliburton Tom Young Poppy Paper Editor: BOOT Website: Park Website: Ruth French pg. 7 pg. 7

8 BOOSTERS OF OLD TOWN San Diego State Historic Park 4002 Wallace Street San Diego, CA **************************************************************************** Membership Application or Renewal $20.00 Senior (62 yrs. or older)/single Student $25.00 Single Supporting Member $30.00 Senior Couple (62 yrs. or older) $40.00 Family (2 or more individuals) $ Life Member (62 yrs. or older) $55.00 Corporate Basic Membership* (includes window decal and 1 month business card sized ad in The Poppy Paper) $ Corporate Enhanced Membership* (includes window decal and 1 year business card sized ad in The Poppy Paper) Donation Enclosed (Or Gift in Honor of: ) *Corporate applicants only: Please enclose a business card or logo for inclusion in The Poppy Paper. NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP PHONE # TO USE A CHARGE CARD: VISA MasterCard Exp Date: Month Year M M Y Y Y Y Card Number: CSC/CVC: Three numbers Signature: pg. 8 Send to: BOOT Membership Committee, 4002 Wallace Street, San Diego, CA 92110

THE POPPY PAPER. For more information, visit

THE POPPY PAPER. For more information, visit THE POPPY PAPER Official Monthly Publication of the Boosters of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park A Non-Profit Organization July 2016 Stagecoach Days is one of the cornerstone annual events in Old