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The Kiwanis Club celebrates 10 years of service to the community, Rio Circle throws a meet-your-neighbor street party, KANE honors its volunteers with an elegant tea, and an Eagle Scout-to-be builds a new kennel for the Community Services District.

Read about your neighbors here.

Kiwanis installs officers, with laughs and kazoos

Kiwanis past presidents, standing from left, Phil Fitch, Pamela Haines, Susan Sozzi, Rowland Jones, Louise Gumbinger, Joe Mazzoni and Ed Wallace. Seated is new president Ron Ruff.

By Al Dolata

It was a great night to be a Kiwanian! Some 75 Rancho Murieta club members, founding former members, their spouses and guests gathered Oct. 18 in the Terrace Lounge at the Country Club for food, frolic and festivity, all in celebration of the club's 10th anniversary and to install a new slate of officers, headed by Dr. Ron Ruff, president.

Music was by gifted violinist and keyboard artist Georgi Khokhobashvili, who gave a virtuoso performance, highlighted by a truly stirring rendition of "America the Beautiful," joined in by everyone present plus a number of onlookers in the adjoining dining room.

The salute to the flag was led by Kiwanian and Marine Officer John Holm ("once a Marine, always a Marine"). The M.C. was founding president Rowland Jones, resplendent in tuxedo with red tie and cummerbund.

Known for his wit and sense of fun, Jones did not disappoint. Reminiscing concerning his 10-years-ago decision to be the club's first president after and he and his wife, Cindy, had decided on a less active lifestyle, he recalled that Cindy had at the time prayed for patience, but not strength because she worried she might use it to murder him.

Jones called on two-time former president Susan Sozzi to present a history of the club. Sozzi recognized her fellow two-time president Pamela Haines for her determination not to permit the club to fail in its early years, but rather to show up and do the hard work -- by herself if necessary.

Also singled out for praise were Frank Hashorva, who for years served as the club's chief recruiter; stalwarts Jackie and Neil Strain, who make the KANE program go, and former presidents Ed Wallace, Joe Mazzoni and Louise Gumbinger.

After Sozzi, Jones turned the dais over to Paul Gumbinger, who presented a special "tribute" to outgoing president Phil Fitch, known for his affectionate "bear hugs."

Gumbinger claimed that the nationally marketed "Huggies" brand of disposable diapers had actually been named for Fitch, and presented him with a commemorative package. The crowd was dubious but delighted. The diapers went to new father Kevin Czarnecki, one of the club's youngest members.

Given a limited opportunity to respond to Gumbinger's gentle "roasting," Fitch used his time to thank the members who helped him have what he called a truly successful year. He especially thanked Jack Seigal, the club's super-efficient secretary; Priscilla Dunn, Rosie Blawat, the Strains and Pamela Haines. Fitch's remarks touched off a political convention style parade around the room of members singing and playing kazoos.

With that, it was time for Kiwanis Div. 44 Lt. Governor Jim Wunschel to install the new officers and directors. Along with Ron Ruff, they are Clint Souza, president- elect; Jack Seigal, secretary; Neil Strain, treasurer, and Wally Blair, Judith Embree, John Holm, and Patrick Orman, directors.

Ruff graciously accepted his new office and promised his fellow members that he would do his best. Someone in the crowd, however, could not resist remarking that it would surely be a Ruff year.

Next on the Kiwanis calendar: the Christmas parade of holiday lighted golf carts. Be on the lookout for more information.

Rio Circle gets together for an autumn block party

Some of the faces of the Rio Circle block party.

By Bill Gengler

Not since Rancho Murieta's notorious parolee and responding SWAT team members visited the backyards of Rio Circle homes this summer has there been such a big crowd gathered on the street.

The reason was the second annual Rio Circle potluck Sunday, Oct. 8. No one counted, but at least 50 residents arrived at the event with their favorite food and appetite.

Held last year at the lake, this year's streetside gathering was again designed to help neighbor meet neighbor. Circle residents Anne Gengler and Joan Campbell and their husbands set up the event with some outstanding help from their neighbors, the Littells.

"We drive by and wave at each other, but too often don't know who is on the other end of the greeting," said Gengler. "We used to party on the Circle in the early '90s, but hadn't done anything as a group until we started it up again with last year's picnic," she added.

Campbell was amazed by the amount of food and hospitality the residents brought to her driveway and the street in front of it. "I think everyone really enjoyed it, and we would like to see more of this on the Circle and throughout Rancho Murieta," she said.

Some comments overheard at the picnic: "This has been great, and a holiday get-together might even be more fun." "We have a whole bunch of nice neighbors on the street, but the pace of daily living makes it real hard for us to get to know them." "Maybe we ought to follow this up with a house-to-house Christmas party."

A tea for volunteers and those who receive help

Kiwanis Assisting Neighbors Enterprise volunteers and the residents they help celebrated together with a tea and entertainment Oct. 19 at the home of John and Lee Holm. The event was planned by committee members Judy Dolata, left, chair Louise Gumbinger, hostess Lee Holm, KANE coordinator Jackie Strain, Bronwyn Anthony and Sheila Orman. Among the services KANE offers are lunchtime meal delivery to the homebound; short-term loan of adaptive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers; transportation for medical appointments, errand-running, minor house repairs and meal preparation for residents in need of assistance, and a telephone reassurance service.

Scout honored for building a new community kennel

Troop 633 Boy Scout Drew Moore earned thanks and recognition from Security Chief Greg Remson at the October Community Services District meeting for his Eagle Scout project, a new dog kennel. Remson noted Drew and his helpers built the double kennel facility from the ground up in a new, shaded location at the CSD to replace the Security Department's dilapidated single kennel. Remson said the community's wayward canines can enjoy a "water view" – of a pond at the reclamation plant – during their stay.