Friday, Jun. 12, 2009

Kiwanis bring Father's Day celebration to Los Banos

The Los Baños Kiwanis Club is finally doing something to honor the fathers in town. While their annual partnership for Mother’s Day in the Park has continued to be a success for many years, the club has decided to take the feedback from the community to celebrate Father’s Day in true Los Baños fashion.

Pacheco Park will once again be transformed into a clebratory event on June 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the first annual Father’s Day Cookout.

“We’ve had Mother’s Day (in the Park) forever,” Gloria Mendonca, club member, said. “And people were wondering ‘how come the moms get everything.’ So, we started brainstorming and we thought we’re going to start celebrating Father’s Day.

“We’ll give ourselves a good shot for two years and I think we’ve got it in the bag,” she said.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the club will serve hotdogs, beans, chips and a beverage. Adults are $5; children are $3.

There will also be a community talent show from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., as well as a raffle.

Jim Valentine, also a club member, agreed and said the club has committed to two years of hosting the event.

“I’ve been in the club since 1981 and I’m curious to see how it turns out,” Valentine said. “It’s something new, something different and we do all this fun stuff together; if you come up with money in the pocket after its all done, that’s fun, also.”

Mendonca said with the community support the event has received thus far, she’s sure it will be another successful event sponsored by the club.

“The community is really interested in having this day for dads,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of people volunteer to make it work. We’re quite excited.” Valentine added, “It should be an enjoyable day.”

Enterprise reporter Samantha Salas can be reached by phone at (209)388-6562 or by e-mail at ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com