Lompoc Is Goin' To The Dogs

When I was young my Mom and Dad recited a poem about how "things were going to the dogs" originally if something was "goin' to the dogs" it was a bad thing, but for Lompoc it is a real boon. The American Kennel Club's Dog Show is at Ryon Park This Weekend. The story goes that a local Couple, who were Dog Fanciers, traveled the country to go to varies dog shows. They campaigned to bring a dog show to Lompoc. They were successful and since 1971, Lompoc has hosted a national dog show. Tonight, the Old Town Market was saluting our four-legged friends with it's own "Family Fun Dog Show" with silly catagories like smallest or largest; Best dressed and Owner/pet dress alike. Also dog owners highlighted thier pets tricks. Petsmart had samples and games to raise awareness and money for VIVA and CAPA. At the Historical Society's Table we were trying to get the word out that there is an open house at the Fabing/McKay/Spanne House,tomorrow (July 28th) from 10am to 1pm. I'll be there trying to find out who the couple were that was so instrumental in bringing the Dog Show to Lompoc and why if for 41 years the event has been held here that the Lompoc Record reported that this is 54th and 55th Annual Show? Intriguing questions to be sure; but there is no question why Lompoc is a ideal place to be if you have to wear a fur coat in July. I bet the dogs are luvin' Lompoc. You know I do.

Lompoc Agricultural Legacy

Lompoc's Old Town Market today was a salute to the agricultural heritage of the valley. The historical society's table featured a butter churn and also a seed planter that had belonged to the man who brought sweet-pea flowers to the valley. I published and distributed a little zine with Gentle Heart Farm's homemade butter recipe in it. The River Bottom Boys (nickname for the Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Assn., Inc.) were exhibiting tractor and giving hayrides at the event. My zine mentioned their amazing BBQs. I got to sample their wares at the historical society's own BBQ last June. I can attest to their reputation being well deserved.

Lompoc's Old Town Market Today!

The second of this year's Old Town Market lost it's theme - it seems that the dedication of the new clock that stands at H and Ocean had to be postponed because the Mayor was out of town this week. I was there manning the Historical Society's tables. The Cha Cha Cooking Club was just accross the way from us. Dulce Sinn wants me to mention that the delicous bread I won last week will be part of the curriculum at the up coming classes the Cha Cha Cooking Club is organizing this fall for the new Community Center. I have to say that the Irish Soda Bread was really good. My sister, Christine is handmaking butter with cream; salt; a mason jar and a marble. That on Dulce's bread - toasted was heavenly. Christine took the last of the loaf and our last egg - Tuesday morning and made french toast - no butter or syrup needed. It was that good!

Lucky Lompoc

Today was first of Lompoc's annual Old Town Market. The town has put on these events each summer since I moved here a couple of years ago. I was volunteering at historical sociey's table. The Model-T car who's home is in the historical society's carriage house was on display and attracted us some attention. Tonight's theme was cruise night. The antique and sporty automobiles were cruisn' Ocean for more than an hour. Vendor's ran out of food - the event was that well attended. I won a loaf of Irish Soda Bread from the Cha Cha Cooking club in their raffle. I had just walk up to visit with Dulce Sinn and my name was the first pulled. Just goes to prove Lompoc is lucky for me.

Why I Luv Lompoc?

I'm not from Lompoc but I luv it here. Why "Luv" and not "Love"? Because I reserve the word "Love" for God, family, country and maybe romance too. It's kinda like those I -red heart-NY T-shirts that were so popular in the late 1970s and had a resurgence after 9/11. With that little rebus you can convey enthusiasm for something without all the baggage that the L-word brings to any topic. Earlier this year Council Member Starbuck handed out little yellow buttons that said "I Like Lompoc". These buttons were replicas of the buttons distributed back in 1969 as part of a champaign that celebrated a Lompoc Baseball team that had made it to a national compitition. People wore the button to the game that was in another state to show that they were rooting for the Lompoc team. The use of the word "like" was more in the sense of gambling vernacular ie "who do you like in the 5th"(horse race). "I like ... fill in the blank. If memory serves Lompoc lost that championship. I know this because I volunteer at the historical society and came accross some newspaper clippings about that event. There was even a photo of the button. So the character and pride of Lompoc is lasting as evident of the survival of a 43 year old button that was saved, worn and copied. I like Lompoc and I have the button to prove it. But my enthusiasm exceeds "like" although it falls short of "love"; thus the name of this blog - "I Luv Lompoc". (I really do.)

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Have you heard about the project to preserve some really old newspapers which date all the way back to the late 1800s. The Lompoc Journal and the Lompoc Review's tattered and disintegrating pages are stored in the Lompoc Public Library's basement. The Library and the Lompoc Valley Historical Society are trying to raise appox. $7,200 to transfer the papers to microfilm, and then digitize them for internet access. “Most people don’t know they exist,” said Historical Society President Karen Paaske. Paaske said that the pages of the old papers are easy to tear and she estimated that they may survive only 10 to 15 years — if no one uses them. From a Lompoc Record artical dated October 16, 2011. In the past year the society has collected about a third of the money needed. I want to raise the remaining $4,000+ by October. I believe if just 10% of our population donates a dollar these precious resources can be preserved for another generation. I am going to walk around Lompoc and let people and businesses know about this worthy indeavour. I think that there are at least 4,000 of you in this town that could afford a buck for the "Perservation of our history". So Lompoc cash-in your penny jar; go through your sofa cushins; whip a greenback from your wallet or just send a check to P.O.Box 88; Lompoc, CA 93436 make sure you make it out to the Lompoc Valley Historical Society. If you need more information you can contact the Lompoc Valley Historical Society by calling (805)735-4626 or drop by the Spanne house at "L" and Walnut on a Monday or Thursday morning. The Lompoc Public Library has flyers on display by the microfilm viewer.