Orinda 4th of July Parade

July 4th, 2015

By:  Karen Hefter
Photos by:  Karen Hefter

The Fourth of July was a beautiful day, perfect for a parade.  The weather was warm, but a cool breeze kept us from overheating.  Spirits were high as we decorated our float with bunting, flags, signs, etc.  Bob Ehrhorn brought a sound system so that we could hear Betty better this year.  This was a big help!  The parade is always a fun event and it is great to see all of the smiling faces along the street.  People make lots of eye contact with us and cheer and clap along to our music.   Our players were:  Guy Black, Betty David, Clyde Dedmon, Bob Ehrhorn, Don Granberg, John Greitzer, Karen Hefter, Bob Malucelli, Diane Malucelli, Dina Melamed, Linda Myers, and Phil Myers.  Kat and David Hefter joined us on the float and threw candy for the kids along the parade route.  Dina wore a special, star spangled 4th of July hat that she created herself, complete with an eagle, for the occasion.

A big thank you goes to Bobbie Landers for arranging this playout for us year after year and for coordinating the hay and truck logistics.  Extra thanks go to Bob and Diane Malucelli, who brought coffee and donuts for the float decorators.  They also brought all of the signs, decorations, etc, as well as the all important ladder needed to get on and off the float!  They are kind enough to store all of these items for the club all year long.

Orinda Masonic Crab Feed Playout

February 27, 2015

By:  Diane Malucelli
Photos by:  Bob Nelson

We had a  playout on Friday, February 27 from 7pm – 8pm at the Orinda Masonic Temple at 9 Altarinda Road.  It was their annual crab feed and we estimated about 140 people were there, including guests, cooks, and servers.

We were on a low stage and it was a challenge to fit 14 people and the equipment on the stage.  Betty David was our lead player and Guy Black was on bass.  The rest of the players were Tom Brunetti, Clyde Dedmon, Don Granberg, Harry Higgins, Ardie Jarrett, Garry Kerr, Bob Malucelli, Diane Malucelli, Dina Melamed, Kit Nelson, Larry Risner, and Danielle Torres.  Red Higgins, Diane Risner, Kasey Torres and Bob Nelson were in the audience to support us.

Danielle started off singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and Red joined her for “Bill Bailey” and the “Crawdad Song,” which was such fun.  Kit sang “Nobody’s Sweetheart Now,” “Give My Regards to Broadway,” and “This Land is Your Land.”  Don Granberg sang “Oh Susanna” and “Five Foot Two.”  Red also sang “Darktown Strutter’s Ball.”  Danielle closed out our performance by singing “South.”

It was a fun playout and our sound system seemed to work really well for the vocals.  The audience appreciated the music and songs.