Talk of the Town: Swiss Army knife to the rescue!

Do you carry a Swiss Army knife?

Golly, I had no idea those little compact power-packed multi-tools could be so handy! I was in a situation that called for scissors the other day and a friend just took out his Swiss Army knife and saved the day.

Generally speaking, a Swiss Army knife has a blade as well as various tools, such as screwdrivers and can openers. These attachments are stowed inside the handle of the knife through a pivot point mechanism. The handle is usually red (they now come in many colors, including tie-dyed), and features a cross and shield — usually a white cross, the emblem of Switzerland.

In 1891, Karl Elsener, then-owner of a company that made surgical equipment, discovered to his dismay that the pocket knives supplied to the Swiss army were in fact made in Germany. In that age of nationalism, Elsener set out to manufacture the knives in Switzerland itself. Elsener began working on what became the predecessor to the modern Swiss Army knife, called the “Soldier’s Knife.”

The term “Swiss Army knife” was coined by U.S. soldiers after World War II, as they couldn’t pronounce its original name, “Offiziersmesser.” Gesundheit!

The “Swiss Army” knife has been added to the collection of the New York Museum of Modern Art and Munich’s State Museum of Applied Art for its design.

The brand “Swiss Army” has arguably achieved near iconic status and is said by some to connote the best versatility, dependability, and quality—and nobody knows that better than America’s own Agnus MacGyver, played by actor Richard Dean Anderson.

The TV series revolved around MacGyver (known to his friends as MacGyver or “Mac”) who favors brain over brawn in order to solve desperate problems. MacGyver’s main asset is his practical application of scientific knowledge and inventive use of common items—along with his ever-present Swiss Army knife and duct tape. Duct tape? Now, that’s another column!

The Swiss Army knife has also been parodied in animated TV shows such as “The Simpsons” and the animated version of “The Tick,” in which a fictional Swiss Army squad carries backpack-sized versions of the knife.

In his 2002 HBO special, “Robin Williams: Live on Broadway,” comedian Robin Williams asks in regard to the Swiss Army, “How can you trust an army that has a wine opener on its knife?” (note: the knives used in the Swiss army lack the corkscrew), then impersonates a Swiss officer briefing his men before battle: “Many of you men have never opened a Chardonnay under fire. First of all you take out the wine bottle, pull out the cork, smell it, say ‘meat or fish’ and throw!”

In the movie “Naked Gun,” the character Ted Olsen shows Frank Drebin an invention of his, the “Swiss Army Shoe.” The shoe has a spring-loaded knife that can come out of the front, plus various other tools that can be pivoted off the sides of the shoe.

The Green Valley String Ensemble, consisting of six violinists, three violists, two cellists and a keyboard player, presented a diverse program of music in April, selected especially for the students at Continental School.

This special concert was coordinated by violinist Florence Johnson and Dan Lambertson, music instructor at Continental School.

Although there is as yet no string program at Continental School, six-year-old first-grader Elizabeth McGibbon set an enthusiastic example for her fellow students by taking center stage to perform a solo performance of “The Tennessee Waltz.” She is a student of Jennifer Sordyl, teacher of violin and fiddle at the Montessori Charter Schools in Tubac and Patagonia since 1997.

Members of the String Ensemble, after a demonstration of the different instruments, fielded many questions from their interested audience.

The program ended with the students clapping in rhythm to the “Radetzky March.”

The Green Valley String Ensemble, led by violinist Marya Giesy, meets each Wednesday afternoon in the rehearsal facility of the Community Performing Arts Center, which is adjacent to Pima Community College.

Still true to their original purpose of getting together for the enjoyment of making music, the group often performs in the Green Valley area. A special undertaking has been the very successful outreach programs to local schools.

The group welcomes new players of all levels of experience. Contact person is Marya Giesy at 648-7921.

Well done to Continental Theater Company at Continental School District for the recent successful performance of “The Nifty Fifties” directed by Daniel Lambertson and Judy McDermott assisted by the Spring Musical Committee, Cathy Williamson, Audrey Ives and Mary Kreuziger.

This fabulous 50s musical centers around Curtis Jackson, a rock ‘n’ roll star, paying an unlikely visit to the humble community of Green Valley. Enters a group of wacky characters, including an all-state football hero, a cheering clan of cheerleaders and loads of other kids having fun.

The show starred: Connor Fanning, Edward McTigue, Lindsey Osborn, Jonhy Rios, Elizabeth Alfing, Andrea Pardi, Hannah Cole, Daniela Gutierrez, Lauren Rayner, Grace Schmidt, Kelly Scheidegger, Stephanie Valenzuela, Sarah Stonestreet, Rachel Rheingold, Maritza Lopez, Kimberly Wallace, Briana Otanez, Victoria Dominguez, Kaytlynn Hayes, Sarah Dinkelman, Francisco Dicochea, Max Klahr, who worked as the sound technician and Cole Trevor on lights.

The performance was a collaborative effort by grades 5-8.

Earlier this week, Tubac was visited by more than 25 car enthusiasts from TC America, a club for owners of the Chrysler TC by Maserati. The cars could be seen outside and across the street from The Artist’s Daughter shop on Tubac Road where they parked in order to have lunch and visit the stores and galleries in Tubac.

Karleen Tarola, the club’s president, thanked shop owner, Ann Groves, saying that she and her fellow car club members appreciated the “wonderful hospitality” offered to them in Tubac.

The TC was a joint venture of Chrysler and Maserati, hand made in Italy and then shipped to the United States for marketing beginning in 1989. Only 7,301 TCs were made when it was cancelled in 1991.

Approaching the 30-year mark, these cars remain of interest to the collector of limited edition vehicles.

I spoke to Karleen, who told me the club was founded in 1992 and is now established as a ‘proven product’ for any owner of a TC.

Karleen explained that the goal of the club is to bring together the owners of this special vehicle to “give it the honor and distinction it deserves” as a collectible automobile.

The membership of approximately 1,000 active enthusiasts certainly proves that this goal is being achieved.

“The purpose of the club over the past 16 years has never changed, however the necessity for information about the car, parts availability, as well as maintenance and repair solutions, has certainly extended far beyond what back in 1992 seemed the basic requirements for a club,” she said. “By necessity we now think ‘repair’ instead of ‘replace’ as part availability is limited. The experiences our members and technical staff have provided over these past 16 years keeps many more cars on the road and the owners happy.”

Getting owners together across the nation to enjoy this unique automobile has been another club goal. To date, TC America has had 16 national meets.

Accompanying Karleen was her daughter, Dawn Detelj and her granddaughter, Felicia Patterson.

The club’s next stop was Tombstone.

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740