Rainbow honors past and present residents

May 21 turned out to be a bright, windy day, perfect weather for the 17th annual Rainbow Days Picnic. Sponsored by the Rainbow Property Owners Association (RPOA), the event was held at Rainbow Park while the Vallecitos School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) conducted its annual plant sale next door at the school.

Located in the center of Rainbow, the event involved people from all over the valley. While 21 area nurseries donated plants to the PTO fundraiser, the volunteer firefighters manned the barbecue, Mission Resource Conservation District staff taught conservation through games, members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church conducted health screenings, and Rainbow Valley Grange members sold baked goods to raise money for Vallecitos’ activities. For the children, Maria and Johnny Maneri and Chris Smith provided games and prizes.

For the first time, RPOA sponsored an art contest for Vallecitos’ students with cash prizes awarded to three winners; first place and $100 went to Chelsea Yanez, second place and $50 to Sophia Lopez, and third place and $25 to Sandra Ordonez.

According to Art Deming, RPOA secretary and raffle emcee, 90 items worth almost $1,400 were donated by area businesses, individuals and groups to the RPOA raffle, which is probably the most popular activity for both children and adults. The grand prize of $100 was donated by RPOA President Craig Ohlson. Proceeds fund RPOA’s community activities throughout the year.

Another new addition to the picnic this year was the announcement of the inaugural group of inductees into the RPOA’s Walk of Fame.

Bill Harding, RPOA treasurer and past president, said, “The 16 citizens, from the past and the present, have made Rainbow a better place to live. Each inductee was nominated by a civic organization in our community.”

Rainbow Community Planning Group nominated Fred Buck and Jim Anderson; Rainbow Community Church chose Lorean Armes and Curtis Crislip; Rainbow Valley Grange submitted Ruth Hitt and Ed Komski; Rainbow Fire Department honored Dick Bremseth, Loren Bremseth and Charlotte Andre; Community Service Area (CSA) 81 selected Everett Russell; Vallecitos School District recommended Chuck Wells, Michelle LaLonde and Dr. Paul Cartas; and RPOA decided on Gene Greenfield, Bernie Webster and Don Simon.

Groundbreaking on the walkway at Rainbow Park is expected to begin this year with the names of the inductees to be inscribed in stone or brick. Southwest Boulder and Stone and RPOA are sponsoring the Walk of Fame with another group of inductees to have their names added to it each year.

“RPOA will administer the ongoing project, with the help of CSA 81 and the county parks department,” said Harding. “We hope to have a special unveiling of the inaugural class of inductees at our next annual picnic.”

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