Blanket raffle effort pays off

By: JEFF FRANK - Staff Writer | Tuesday, September 11, 2007 8:32 PM PDT ∞

Mary-Lee Jiles wanted the giant handmade quilt raffled off at Saturday's Blue Star Ball, and she got it.

The mother of Kathryn Hood, president of the North County chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America, bought $200 in raffle tickets for the king-size quilt by Sharon Graham, which features an 1876 U.S. Centennial pattern.

The big buy paid off when her ticket was drawn. Jiles wasn't alone in desiring the quilt.

"People were buying tickets by the hundreds. The big jar was just loaded with tickets," said Lori Smith, event coordinator. "Everybody wanted that thing."

Another winner was Escondido Realtor Glenn Brush, who purchased a golf weekend in Palm Springs, then gave it away to Ben Finkelstein, one of the Marines at the event.

Hot as blazes: Grant softball bragging rights for the next year to the Escondido Fire Department.

Led by Station 2's Greg Jenkins, who smacked seven home runs in four tournament games, the firefighters won their "grudge matches" with the Escondido Police Department and San Marcos Fire Department at Saturday's 9/11 Memorial Softball Tournament at Kit Carson Park.

The firefighters beat the police, 27-12, and their San Marcos counterparts, 11-7, before falling in the tourney championship game to the California Department of Forestry, 23-11.

One of fire department manager Terry Ryan's players, new paramedic-firefighter Travis Johnson, was pretty familiar to Ryan. Johnson once played on a Little League team coached by Ryan.

"It's like having one of your kids grow up," Ryan said.

RB pioneer: Rancho Bernardo's 45th birthday party on Saturday brought out 200-plus celebrants, including one of the community's first citizens. Priscilla Rowlen closed escrow June 28, 1963, on her Bernardo Oaks Drive home. Rowlen's escrow agent told her at the time that she was the 100th person to close escrow in Rancho Bernardo. Cost of the home was $22,000. Bet that's doubled by now. Also recognized were winners of the student essay contest, who speculated on what RB would be like in 2050. Winners were Brian Contratto of Rancho Bernardo High and Laura Martin of Bernardo Heights Middle School.

Tasty invitation: Aegis Living wants to dispel negative impressions about the quality of food at senior residences. So it is inviting the community to see for itself. A Taste of Aegis will feature culinary delicacies prepared by several of the company's chefs. Soup's on from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Aegis of Escondido, 3012 Bear Valley Parkway. Admission is free. Music, champagne and lots of food are promised by Barbara Rollins, Aegis marketing director.

Correction: Timothy Ward was incorrectly identified in Tuesday's column. He is the son of Suzanne Ward Baker. My apologies.

-- Contact staff columnist Jeff Frank at (760) 740-5419 or jfrank@nctimes.com.

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