THE POPPY PAPER BOOT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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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 October 2013 Don Quixote (left) and Dulcinea (above) are being boarded

We want to thank BOOT for supporting the donkeys with their temporary housing situation while construction and renovations are being done to the stable area due to the Park s Accessibility Project.

1 THE POPPY PAPER Official Monthly Publication of the Boosters of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park A Non-Profit Organization October 2013 Don Quixote (left) and Dulcinea (above) are being boarded outside of the Park during ADA Renovations. We want to thank BOOT for supporting the donkeys with their temporary housing situation while construction and renovations are being done to the stable area due to the Park s Accessibility Project. The walkway along the donkey area up to the Seeley Yard is being made ADA compliant. Don and Dulce say, Hello! They want everyone to know that they are enjoying their vacation. Although they are missing their daily treat delivery by our staff members, they are enjoying the freedom, exercise and care they are receiving. They are even making some new animal friends! Thank you again! Jessica Cooper and Araceli Ortega Donkey Handlers BOOT BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Jeanne Ferrell (619) Vice President: Gary Turton (619) Secretary: Linda Jacobo Treasurer: Deanna Turton (619) BOOT Store: Mary Jones Historian: Bob Wohl Restoration Spec: Chuck Ferrell Web Master: Bob Jones Board Members: Mary Ellen Young Tom Young Cindy Furlong Chuck Ross Poppy Paper Editor: Ruth French (858) poppypapereditor@gmail.com BOOT Website: Park Website: pg. 1

2 President s Notes by Jeanne Ferrell No other way to say it I am EXCITED!!! BOOT is in negotiations with the State Park to expand our Store. We have discussed this move for a few years, and it looks like this may be the time. It is exciting, but also gives me a few butterflies about this step. However, we have a strong Board with many members putting in long hours to get this done. It is a privilege to be able to work with these dedicated people. So, stay tuned! We are starting our budget process. The deadline for requests is November 1 st. The budget should be finalized by the December BOOT Board Meeting. The Art Festival is coming up in Old Town on October 5 th and 6 th. BOOT will have a booth. Not only will we have merchandise for sale, we will also promote membership at the booth. So many volunteers have stepped up to help. Many thanks to Becky Halliburton, Becky Green, Ruth French and so many more. Thanks to Becky Halliburton for attending our Board Meeting to talk about the December Nights celebration at Balboa Park. BOOT has agreed to provide funds for the Christmas Tree Program. by Therese Muranaka, Archaeologist San Diego Coast District As you can see, Old Town is undergoing a lot of construction for better accessibility to the stores and museums. At times you will see piles of dirt around an excavation site, and sometimes glass, ceramic, shell or other artifacts are visible in the soil. We hope you will leave them where you see them or, if you are worried that someone might take them, tuck them carefully down farther into the soil. We have archaeologists monitoring the construction to find artifacts in their original locations, where the early residents left them. An archaeologist may leave artifacts in the backdirt, if they are modern or out of their original context. When the construction is all over, and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park looks beautiful again, should you see artifacts in the soil around the buildings, please continue to do the same. Like Sherlock Holmes, or the police at a crime scene, these old historic clues are best left in place to get the most meaning out of them. Of course, if you see something that you are still concerned about, please feel free to contact me at therese.muranaka@parks.ca.gov. I can easily check for you, as the District Office is just across the street. pg. 2

Treasurer's Notes by Deanna Turton August was a good month for BOOT, as we came out $6457.31 ahead after all bills were paid.

3 Treasurer's Notes by Deanna Turton August was a good month for BOOT, as we came out $ ahead after all bills were paid. Most of this income came from sales in the BOOT Store, but other lucrative sources of income were: an insurance refund - $272.86; a donation from JRK Management -$175.00; donations from the Roundup Program at Chuck Ross's restaurants - $604.28; second quarter commission sales of blacksmith items at the Rust Store - $464.40; passport donations, which are earmarked for improvements at the schoolhouse - $228.77; period attire sales - $182.63; and golf tournament donations - $ from US Bank. Although the daily average in the donation boxes was $57.71, which is surely better than last month, it is still low for one of our main summer months. Perhaps folks are buying things in the BOOT store and throwing less money in the donation boxes these days? At the top of the list of expenses were inventory in the BOOT Store - $ ; and costs for the various Stagecoach Day events - $ Other big ticket items were: supplies for the Descendants' workshops - $588.00; period attire subsidies and purchases - $358.04; and dry cleaning costs for period attire - $ In addition, there were ten other funding categories under $ Now that the summer months are past, the business in the BOOT Store has returned to its usual pace, and it is time to go fishing in the High Sierras once again. I surely hope we catch some fish this year!!! I plan to bring a good book, my gourd projects, and extra food (just in case the catch is minimal)! So as a reminder, please remember that your loyal treasurer will not be here to sign reimbursement checks in early October. Superintendent s Message by Richard Dennison, Park Superintendent September has been a great month, and the Park is looking forward to a great fall with many school children, the Schoolhouse re-opening, the Accessibility Pathways project continuing (this will really make the gateway from the Transit Center much easier for all visitors), Dia de los Muertos, Fall Festival, and more. Check out the Park Website for information. Thank you to all who made our Summer Activities and Fiestas Patrias a success. BOOT members, visitor services and interpretive staff, maintenance, volunteers, guilds, and guest presenters have been doing a super job! The visitation during August was up over 20% from 2012 it was BUSY! On a different note, if you get a chance, please check out the Parks Forward Initiative, and provide input in writing or in person. This is such an important time in State Parks right now, and persons such as you, who are involved and know the issues, should submit your opinions. Thanks, and we hope to see you in Old Town soon. POPPY PAPER DEADLINE: 20 th of each month (for the next month s issue) Park Staff and Volunteers: Please submit to your supervisor or lead person. All other submissions may be sent directly to poppypapereditor@gmail.com. Submissions that exceed 400 words are likely to be edited for length and clarity. Exceedingly longer articles may be divided and published in consecutive editions of the Paper. Inclusion of articles is on a space-available, first-come basis, and at the editor's discretion. pg. 3

From the Editor s Desk Hi, my name is Michelle Magnuson, and I started here in spring 2012. I am a Southern California native and moved to La Jolla when I was three years old.

4 From the Editor s Desk Hi, my name is Michelle Magnuson, and I started here in spring I am a Southern California native and moved to La Jolla when I was three years old. Growing up, I was often outside, riding horses and, of course, I attended the 4 th Grade Program here in Old Town. Before I started working here, I often visited the Park, but not until a conversation with the blacksmith about archaeology did it become clear that Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is a good fit with my interests. I studied Anthropology at the University of California Riverside, and I worked there for the Office of Historic Preservation. Additionally, I took ethnobotany courses at Kumeyaay Community College, where I learned about cordage, food, medicine, and native plant identification. Working in Old Town has been a wonderful opportunity to interact with the public and interpret artifacts and life ways, learn about the history of my hometown, and bring history and archaeology to life. One of my favorite activities is leading school tours. The wonder and excitement on the children s little faces is adorable! I also recently gave a special tour of the collection of historic vehicles for The West on the Move. I was thrilled to be asked to have a closer look at transportation technology from the past and share what I learned with park visitors. See you in the park soon! How time flies!!! I just realized that I have been editing The Poppy Paper for over five years now!!! It seems like only yesterday that Cindy Furlong invited me to a BOOT Board Meeting, suggesting that I might be interested in becoming a Board member. At the meeting, I mentioned that I might be able to help Jeanne Ferrell and Deanna Turton with The Poppy Paper. The very next month, I WAS the editor!!! (I think THEY tricked me into this job! ) I work in a volunteer capacity as the editor of this monthly publication, but I am NOT the author I rely on many contributors to make it happen every month. Thanks to Deanna Turton for making contributions each and every month. Without her, there would be NO Poppy Paper! And, thanks to Jeanne Ferrell and Richard Dennison despite their busy schedules, they still manage to contribute regularly. As the editor, I simply try to organize the submissions into an eye-appealing array of headlines, text boxes, and photographs. And, of course, I spend a good deal of time checking for accuracy in grammar and punctuation. So, if you don t see an article about your favorite event(s) in Old Town...that means I didn t receive one. If you don t see honors and accolades to individuals who do great works in Old Town that means nobody wrote them. If an article appears on the front page it is because it is current news, was accompanied by a photo, and was submitted on time. So, it s up to you! If you want a more interesting Poppy Paper then start writing!!! Happy Fall, Happy Halloween, and Happy Reading! Ruth French - poppypapereditor@gmail.com pg. 4

5 Thank you to the Craft Committee!!! Many thanks go to the ladies and gentleman who make all the crafts for the BOOT Store. This summer, it has been a challenge to keep the Store in handmade products. We not only met the challenge, but we also managed to fill the cupboards for the Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos) rush. Last year, we barely kept up with the fall crafts, but this year we started in the spring and kept at it all summer! Special thanks go to the following talented and hardworking volunteers: Mary Jones managing the Store, ordering and keeping track of the inventory. JoBeth Hull - cutting fabric into potholders, aprons, and coasters. (Her dining room table has been turned into a cutting room!) She also works on blending herbs for our spice and tea packets, and she helps Mary work in the Store. Dolly Wilson - hand sewing the final borders on the potholders and coasters. Every week, there has been a large sack of work stored away in the BOOT closet for her to pick up when she works in the Store two days a week. We call it Dolly's weekly present. Dolly also sews all the corn cooker pouches and helps create pin cushions, book holders, and signs. Becky Halliburton - makes a variety of handmade dolls and hair pieces. In addition, she works in the Store. Kim Baldwin - helps to package herbs and tea blends, and offers assistance wherever she can. Winnie Adams - has promised to make us more corn husk dolls and gourd Santas from her new home in Campo. Alice Epault - has already started on wonderful Christmas decorations and faithfully brings her sewing machine to second-friday craft meetings. Lucy Thorpe - works on herb and tea packets, as well as spool doll kits. Roseann Cook - helps make aprons and tortilla warmers. Zulema Franco - keeps our herb containers organized and strips herbs at home. Kim Stabley - works at home and makes catnip bags and moth bags. Deanna Turton - sews like crazy to keep up with everything! Gary Turton - helps Deanna with everything that needs power tools! DIA DE LOS MUERTOS -VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Please help us with Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on ANY or ALL of the following days: Set up altars, Tuesday-Thursday, Oct , 10am-1pm Take down altars, Tuesday-Thursday, Nov. 5-7, 10am-1pm We also need housesitters to watch over the altars during the event at La Casa de Machado y Silvas OR La Casa de Estudillo on Friday- Saturday, Nov. 1-2, 5-8pm. Please call Elena Orozco (619) to let her know of your interest to help. pg. 5

Tend the Wetland at the Old Town Native Plant Landscape Saturday October 12, 2013, 1:00-3:00 pm We'll tend the wetlands native plants by pulling crabgrass and other weeds out of the cattails, yerba

6 Tend the Wetland at the Old Town Native Plant Landscape Saturday October 12, 2013, 1:00-3:00 pm We'll tend the wetlands native plants by pulling crabgrass and other weeds out of the cattails, yerba mansa, and bullrushes. In the upland area we will deadhead the robust gumplants and save some seed. We will also rake in other useful native seeds in a few places in the landscape. If you have a metal rake, please bring it! The rest of the garden will be in pretty good shape, resting and waiting for the rains to come. The Native Plant Landscape illustrates some of the many useful plants that were part of the Native American daily life before the arrival of Europeans in the late 1700's. Weavers' rush and deergrass continue to thrive, so a basketry workshop is on the distant horizon. Shaw's agave and narrow-leaf milkweed are spreading and growing, too. Perhaps by next summer we can harvest some of each and learn how to craft twine from their fiber. The Landscape is at the far west end of Old Town State Historic Park, at the corner of Taylor and Congress Streets, opposite the trolley/train/bus station. If you come by public transit just cross the street; or if you drive, park for free in the shady CalTrans lot across Taylor Street from the Old Town Landscape: enter the lot at Taylor and Juan Street, park, then recross and walk toward the transit station. Turn left at the adobe sign and look for us under the trees. Have sun protection and bring bottled water, gloves, and hand tools - especially hand pruners and rakes - if you have any. If not, we have some tools to share. Questions? contact Kay at fieldtrips@cnpssd.org JOIN BOOT TODAY AND CELEBRATE 150 YEARS OF CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS!!! A big thanks to the following individuals who supported BOOT in the past two months Annual Membership Renewals: Jack Cannon, Geoffrey Mogilner, Charlotte Perry, Lucy Thorpe New Members: Thanks to associate member Alice Epault for giving the gift of BOOT membership to her husband Ed, and her mother Evelyn Reams. Welcome Ed and Evelyn! 2014 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: Help us promote the educational, cultural and interpretive activities at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park by joining our non-profit organization, Boosters of Old Town (BOOT). Your minimal annual contribution helps provide financial support for the many programs that are enjoyed by our San Diego community and the guests who visit our Park. Starting this month, new and renewing members will receive a gift certificate for a commemorative gift, celebrating the 150 th Anniversary of California State Parks, as well as a serving of ice cream from Cold Stone in Old Town. (Thanks to Jeanne Ferrell for her generous annual commitment to supporting our membership with her gift of ice cream treats!!!) Current members will receive a renewal reminder in the mail. However, if you are not currently a member, an application is located on the cover of this publication. Don t miss this opportunity to join us AND to celebrate the 150 th Anniversary of California State Parks! We appreciate your support OUR MEMBERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! pg. 6

7 THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE MEMBERS! More Corporate Supporters of Boosters of Old Town (BOOT): Old Town Market Old Town Trolley Cosmopolitan Restaurant Write Out Loud Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) pg. 7

8 BOOSTERS OF OLD TOWN San Diego State Historic Park 4002 Wallace Street San Diego, CA NOTICE: If you have a friend who would like to learn more about San Diego History, enjoys meeting people, and likes to have a good time, give him/her this application form to fill out and send in. New members are always welcome. And, if you have forgotten to renew your membership it s never too late to send it in. We miss you! MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION $ Single Supporting Member $ Corporate Membership* $ Family (2 or more individuals) (includes business card sized ad in the Poppy Paper $ Senior (62+ years)/student Single and on our website for one month) $ Senior Couple (62+ years) $ Enhanced Corporate Membership* $ Life Member (62+ years) (includes business card sized ad in the Poppy Paper and on our website for 12 months) *Corporate Applications Only: Please enclose a business card or corporate logo with your payment. NAME(S) ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP PHONE I belong to the following group(s): Docent Military Descendants Californios I am also interested in volunteer opportunities, please contact me! Make your check out to BOOT and mail to: BOOT Membership Committee, 4002 Wallace Street, San Diego, CA pg. 8

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