ColumnsTalk of the Town: Rob and Laura, need I say more?
By Regina FordI adored the “Dick Van Dyke Show” when I was a kid. I was in first grade when it aired on CBS back in 1961, but I recall my parents allowing me to stay up to watch it before going to bed at 6:30 p.m. Ah, those were the days! For those who have never heard of the “Dick Van Dyke Show” (you’d have to be from another planet or under the age of 25), it was an American television situation comedy that ran from 1961 to 1966. The show was created by Carl Reiner and starred Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. Totalling 158 episodes and five seasons, the show was also produced by Reiner, who wrote many episodes and played the part of Alan Brady. Reiner based the main character on himself and the Brady character on his former boss Sid Caesar. Many of the show’s plots were inspired by Reiner’s experiences as a writer for “Your Show of Shows” (which starred Caesar). A number of episodes were also performed in front of live studio audiences. Some interesting Dick Van Dyke trivia (according to the Internet Movie Database: Van Dyke was so nervous about filming the pilot that he admits he cannot recall President Kennedy being inaugurated on the same day the pilot was filmed. In the middle of rehearsals the cast and crew got the news that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The cast then decided to go ahead and film the episode, but without a studio audience present. The feeling was that no one would be in the mood to laugh at such a somber time. Up until the show’s premiere, most housewives were seen in dresses, but Moore’s explanation was that most of the housewives she knew wore pants. Because of Moore, Capri pants became a huge fashion craze in the early 1960s. As a result, the show has not become dated over time and the episodes are still as fresh as they were when they were first aired. A Japanese Rotary Group Study Exchange team is visiting Green Valley, Sahuarita and Southeast Arizona to experience the area’s culture and institutions. Three younger professionals and their Rotary group leader (Fukushima, Japan) are in the area this month to observe how their vocations are practiced here, develop personal and professional relationships and to exchange ideas. During a visit to the Titan Missile Museum recently, tri-club presidents Mark Dugan, from the Green Valley Rotary Club, Bill Grantham from the Sahuarita Rotary, and Cindy Garcia from Valle Verde Rotary Club traded club banners with the Japanese team leader, Dr. Hiroshi Saito, also a Rotarian. Hiroshi is traveling with three non-Rotarian professionals, including an environmental engineer, a Bank of Japan employee and an employee of a coal-fired thermal power generation station. Rotary International’s Group Study Exchange program pairs inbound and outbound teams in each district worldwide. The exposure to cultural opportunities and vocational interaction among peers is recognized as a once in a lifetime experience for the team members and an aid to international understanding as each team member’s first-hand experiences are taken back to their home communities. Conversely, the Rotary clubs in the Southeast Arizona Rotary District reciprocated last October when the same Japanese Rotary District hosted a Group Study Exchange team. Represented was a Tucson firefighter and EMT, a Tucson attorney and a civil engineer from Sierra Vista. Rotarian and Tucson attorney Michael Drake was the group leader. Rotary International’s Foundation provides round-trip airline tickets and the local clubs host meals, lodging and group travel within the district. Those seeking information on this program, especially entry-level non-Rotarians professionals who may consider applying for the exchange program, may contact any of the three Green Valley tri-club presidents mentioned. The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System celebrated its annual Volunteer Recognition Day and Awards banquet May 1 in the fountain courtyard at the Tucson-based VA Medical Center. More than 400 SAVAHCS volunteers were recognized at the event whose theme was, “An Evening with the Stars.” SAVACHS has more than 1,600 volunteers who contribute their time and dedicated service to SAVACHS patients, families, and visitors during the past fiscal year, according to Assistant Public Affairs Officer Pep/ Mendoza, Those honored from Green Valley included: Arthur Anderson, George Andrela, Beverly Bedsaul, Richard Biery, Wayne Boysen, Eleanor Brysacz, Rand Burgner, Vicki Burnham, Wiles Cox, John Danner, Bill Durall, Robert Eastman, James Galford Jr., Hilbert Gettler, Harold Glover, Kathleen Grimme, Ray Gross, Donald Hartje, Jolene Hartje, John Hyde, Henry Ivy, Taylor M. Jenkins, Patsy June, John Keker, Harry Kinne, Caroline Lake, Gene Langlois, Wanita Marshall, Jean Mays, Craig Nelson, Nick Nickolas, Michael Noreen and Alan Olschewski. Even more Green Valley volunteers are: Edward Orford, Francis Powers, Jennie Romero, Lawerence Romero, Alfred Ross, Carolyn Shumaker, Jack Smith, David Sweigart, Daryl Taylor, Dean Tillman, Gordon Tope, Roberto D. Valdenegro, Anthony Viola, Margaret von Kuegelgen, Edward Hutchison, Carolos Contreras, and James Rodemeyer From Sahuarita: Brit Alsop, Richard Gage, Nicole Kellermeyer, Francis MCaleer, Hank Schulman, Rayna Scott, Phyllis Soldwisch, Thomas Wolf, Eda Wright and Charles Tyzkiewicz. From Corona De Tucson and Vail: Jewel Andrews, Elizabeth Commins, W. Michael Cross, Abraham Fabela, Gene E. Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth Glass, Richard Loomis, Lena Maddux, John McWhorter, Steven Prill, Alexandra Soares-Loomis, Kathleen Szakonyi, Kathryn Underwood, and Russell Zimmerman. Volunteer Beverly Bedsaul was given a 1,000 hour award for her volunteerism. She not only volunteers here at SAVAHCS on a regular basis, but is also a member of the American Legion Post #109 Lady Phantoms which is a color guard who also participates in SAVAHCS programs. “Come Smell the Flowers,” silk, that is, at the final Green Valley Christian Women’s Connection luncheon of the season Wednesday, May 21, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Green Valley Elk’s Lodge No. 2592. Judy Rogers, owner of Silks, Etc. in the Continental Shopping Plaza, will be talking about home decor using silk creations. Special music will be provided by Peggy Burnett of Green Valley. Inspirational speaker will be Cheryl Buffington from Mesa, who present her talk, “Don’t forget to touch first base.” Reservations are a must. Call Ruth Snow at 648-5737 or Suzy Freeman at 625-9882 no later than May 14. Kudos to Barbara Best, the Women’s Connection coordinator of last month’s fashion show featuring the wonderful fashions at Nancy Pantz. rford@gvnews.com
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