World War II veteran recognized with "honor flight" and St. Francis Parish School celebrates 100 years

* ... HONOR FLIGHT: An old cycling friend of mine, Dwayne Daniel, wrote to tell me about a very special group of people who got together to honor his father, World War II veteran Van Austion Daniel. His father served in the Pacific as an infantryman and driver and was awarded the Bronze Star. He will turn 88 years old in May and hasn't flown commercially in over 60 years. But now he is being flown to Washington, D.C., to visit the WW II monument as part of Honor Flight, which recognizes veterans for their service with free trips. The American Legion Post 26 has set up transportation and accommodations at LAX the night before the flight, and some 50 motorcycle riders will escort his father to the base of the Grapevine on their way down, and on their return trip. Dwayne cited Bob "Boomer" and Vicky Montgomery of the American Legion Post for helping make it all happen. Dwayne will accompany his father on this special trip.

 * ... HEADED TO PENN: Ryan Marschang, son of local attorney Linda Monje, is headed to the Ivy League and the University of Pennsylvania. It turns out that he was only one of 43 kids accepted to a joint degree program (engineering and economics) at Penn's prestigious Wharton School of Business. He was also accepted at Harvard, UC Berkeley, Texas A and M, Northwestern, Duke and the Air Force Academy. Thanks to local attorney Richard Monje, Linda's husband, for passing this along. Another local kid making us all proud.

* ... ST. FRANCIS: The folks over at St. Francis Parish School are gearing up for a huge 100th anniversary celebration the weekend of April 24-25. Some of our community's most prominent members are part of the St. Francis family and the dinner-dance on Saturday night promises to be quite the event. Tickets are $25. Those interested should call Judy Jacobs at the church office at 661-327-4734. There will be a 9 a.m. mass celebrated by Bishop John Steinbock on Sunday. Apparently almost 700 people have already confirmed for the weekend, so get your tickets now.

 * .... BIOLA GRANDMA: Doris Winham wrote to say she attended a "Grandparent's Day" down at Biola University where granddaughter Taylor Witcher-Page is a freshman. "There were about 450 other proud grandparents from 20 different states. It was great to tour the campus, attend seminars and take part in a day in their lives."  Taylor's mother is Brenda Witcher-Page of Bakersfield and her father is Edward Page of Midlothian, Va. This is the first I have heard of a "grandparents" day at a college or university, but makes sense to get the whole family involved.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You know you're from Bakersfield when "you do your spring shopping at White Forest Nursery and South Kern Machinery."