Leona Valley Sertoma

Making A Difference through Service To Mankind

Leona Valley

Wildfire Preparedness Presentation

Wildfire Preparedness Presentation

Join the American Red Cross in bringing preparedness education to your community. A team of well-trained volunteers and staff will present information on checking & installing smoke alarms, assembling preparedness kits, creating an evacuation & communication plan, creating a safety plan, and teach you how to do hands-only CPR.

Saturday, September 10 10:00AM – 12:00PM

8367 Elizabeth Lake Road, Leona Valley
RSVP to: Jan Clark (661-270-9268) or Amanda Morita (310-710-9687)
Leona Valley Sertoma

Leona Valley Improvement Association (LVIA)

leona-valley-red-cross-event-for-9-10-22

2022 Sertoman of the Year Award Recipient

2022 Sertoman of the Year Award

The 2022 Sertoman of the Year Award represents one of two awards presented annually by Leona Valley Sertoma. The second is the Service To Mankind Award presented to a worthy individual in our Lakes and Valleys communities. For more about these awards we encourage you to visit Sertoma International website.

Dave joined Leona Valley Sertoma around 2007 and has since been an active in our mission of “Service to Mankind”. He is a loyal Sertoman and is always available to lend a helping hand and we are eternally grateful for his service. His many years of personal, physical and monetary sponsorship, when organizing fundraising events makes Dave more than worthy of the  2022 Sertoman of the Year Award.

As the 2022 Sertoman of the Year Award recipient, Dave Millard joins a stellar group of dedicated Leona Valley Sertomans.  Check out past recipients of the Sertoman of the Year Award at: Leona Valley Sertoman of the Year Recipients.

Dave Millard, 2022 Sertoman of the Year Award Recipient

Dave was born in Northridge, CA and grew up in the San Fernando Valley with two siblings. His mother was a race car driver and his father worked on the space shuttle engines for Rocketdyne. David met his high school sweetheart, Laurie in 1976, graduating Sylmar High School in 1977 and in 1978, they married.

Dave Millard, 2022 Sertoman of the Year Award recipient
Dave Millard, 2022 Sertoman of the Year Award recipient

Dave went to work for Air King and the decision to leave family and friends, and move to Portland, Oregon, in 1979 with the company. In Portland, he also worked as a cook at Denny’s. They welcomed their first child, Brianna Brandy Millard on October 6, 1980, followed on January 14, 1983, by the birth of their second daughter, Jessica.

They moved back to California 1984 to help Laurie’s parents when Laurie’s 17 year old brother died. He and Laurie lived in San Fernando and eventually divorced in 1991 and Dave moved to Nevada where he worked as a cook for the Indian Casinos.

In 1993, Dave moved back to California and started his greatest adventure called AC Dave Heating and Air. Spending a lot of “family time” with their two daughters led to Dave and Laurie reuniting and they remarried on November 27, 1999. Their daughters Brianna and Jessica served as bridesmaids. In 2002, his Jessica gave birth to his first grandson, Dean, who became Papa David’s buddy.

Sertoman of the Year Award recipient, AC Dave shown in 2015, as he contributes $300 for turkey fund.
(l to r): Dave Millard, Juanita Kirkpatrick, treasurer, and Cathy Toso, president.

In 2005, while living in Valencia, Dave’s business tools were  stolen. This led them to sell their home and, in 2006, move to Lake Elizabeth, where Dave opened AC Dave Heating and Air serving the Lakes and Valley communities. On November 24, 2007 his second grandson, Daniel Christopher was born to Brianna. Daniel is affected with autism leading Brianna face many struggles of her own. Sadly, on March 30, 2014, Brianna lost her life on Hwy. 138 near Llano. Members of Sertoma at the time of their loss, Dave and Laurie are very thankful for the support of their Sertoma family.

Around 2016, the Millard’s started a non-profit called “Brianna Brandy Millard Smith’s Happy Children Memorial Fund” to honor their daughter’s memory with the goal of helping families in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Dave and Laurie have been able to help 14 families and remain dedicated to honoring Daniel’s mother.

 

A Cookbook, A Train, and That’s Entertainment!

All Aboard! The Chili Express Cookbook

Working On The Railroad

Are you ready for an adventure? “All Aboard! The Chili Express”, where once upon a time, I was the co-owner of the Fillmore & Western Railway, which served as a movie, excursion and dinner train. My jobs included arranging the concessions and bar area, hiring entertainment and catering, and setting up the gift shop for each afternoon excursion… AND so much more. Visit the Fillmore & Western Railway to learn more about their available excursions and events. (Note: the F&W is currently non-operational. – Jan)

I decided to publish my own unique cookbook, which I titled, “Main Line Recipes”, to include “old timers” railroad terminology, along with recipes, of course. This led to my traveling to many states selling my book to other excursion railroads and to the fun and excitement of book signings. Not to brag, but my cookbook was not only sold to excursion train gift shops, but found its way into train hobby shops and railroad museums.

Leona Valley and Sertoma

people eating dinner at the murder mystery dinner theater
Dinner and Murder Mystery at the Leona Valley Community Building. A recipe for success.

After selling the Fillmore & Western Railway to another railroad enthusiast, I moved to Leona Valley. There I was introduced to the Leona Valley Sertoma and the beginning of a whole new adventure. In this next chapter of my life, I found a new calling and quickly moved up the leadership ladder. I have had the opportunity to meet some great people and have been involved with coordinating fundraising events with the group since 2006.

As I mentioned earlier, part of my job with the Fillmore & Western Railway  included booking entertainment and this experience comes in handy as a member of Leona Valley Sertoma.  What better way to raise funds than through entertaining an audience? This has resulted in booking the same murder mystery troupe who performed on those train excursions, to perform in Leona Valley. The concept was a huge “sell out” success, resulting in five different performances. Thus, our Lakes and Valleys community residents have enjoyed five different Murder Mystery dinner performances with the funds raised going to support things like our Scholarship Program. Hopefully, in the post-pandemic times ahead we can bring more entertainment to our Lakes and Valleys residents.

Let me close by encouraging all you readers to get involved in your communities and be a part of “making a difference”. For those living in the Leona Valley area, I  invite you to come see what Leona Valley Sertoma is all about. We hold breakfast meetings  at 8am,on the first and third Saturday of each month, at Jack’s Place, in Leona Valley.  For details email Jan at – 1grannyjanny@att.net

I suppose I could have shared so much more of my past railroading and more recipes from my cookbook, but, maybe I save that for another time. I’ll close with one of the recipes from my cookbook. I hope you like it.

— Jan Clark – Sertoma Member

From My Cookbook: Main Line Recipe to Include Railroad “Lingo” Language
By: Jan Clark

Educational and Tasteful ~~ “Doubleheader” Chili Meaning: A train hauled by two locomotives, especially in mountain areas, snow and where heavy trains are involved.

Ingredients:

1Lb. sweet Italian sausage / casing removed 1Lb. lean ground beef 2 C. finely chopped onion 1C. ea. chopped red and yellow bell pepper 3 cloves fresh garlic minced ¼ C. flour 2 Tbs. chili powder 2 Tsp. ea. cumin seed, basil and oregano leaves 1 Tsp salt and pepper 3 cans (28 oz. ea.) Italian tomatoes chopped & undrained 1 sm. can tomato paste 1 can ea. butter beans & dark red kidney beans undrained 1 can black beans drained 3 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce 1 ¼ Tsp. hot pepper sauce (optional or to taste) add a little water if necessary.

Directions:

In a large pot, cook both meats with onions , peppers and garlic until veggies are tender and drain off fat. Add flour, salt, pepper and dry seasonings. Stir in all beans and sauces… Simmer for 1 hour.

Optional: You can spoon chili over cooked rice or small – cooked macaroni pasta

Garnish Optional: chopping all black olives, long green onions, bell peppers, seedless tomatoes and shredded cheese of choice.
Serves: 6

– Bon Appetit, Jan Clark

 

Make A Difference
With (Leona Valley) Sertoma

Last week, I wrote about John Seymour and his efforts to make a difference. (Remembering John Seymour) There is no way to talk about John and not mention Leona Valley Sertoma. John was a charter member and believed strongly in its mission statement. In the video, John shared his thoughts on Leona Valley Sertoma, its members, and how they impact the communities they serve.

John Seymour, St. Pat's 2015I also wrote about Sertoma, and, in particular, Leona Valley Sertoma,  and how the members “Make A Difference” in their communities through service to others. They seek out opportunities to help their neighbors in need and their fundraisers bring people together.  Friends and neighbors are entertained, enjoy fellowship, and they make new friends and get to know each other better. These things strengthen the bonds between neighbors and isn’t that what makes a community a community? I know firsthand how Leona Valley Sertoma helped me get to know my neighbors and make friends.

The video of John was from a DVD, titled “Getting Involved With Leona Valley Sertoma”, created by Leona Valley Sertoma. The members used it to share what Sertoma is to prospective members. The video below is from the DVD, as well.  It has more about the history of Sertoma International and of Leona Valley Sertoma. It’s fifteen years old, but the message and the mission of Leona Valley Sertoma has not changed. I hope you find it helpful and I hope you will have a better appreciation for Leona Valley Sertoma after you watch it. The accomplishments of the members over the past twenty-three years are impressive, but there is always opportunities to do more. I hope you consider becoming a member and join in making a difference in your community.

It’s likely you know a member, so I hope you will reach out to him, or her, and learn more. I need to update the Officers and Boards listings, but you might check it for a name you know: Officers & Board members -Tom

Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship Program 2020

Leona Valley Sertoma
Scholarship Program 2020

The Scholarship Applications for 2020 are here!

In recognition of the importance of education the Leona Valley Sertoma established the Leona Valley SERTOMA Scholarship Program to identify and reward local students who have shown personal and intellectual qualities through academic achievement, as well as participation and leadership in extracurricular and community activities. Leona Valley Sertoma has given out almost $50,000.00, in scholarships since 1999. The goal of the program is to serve the needs of local graduating seniors and those community college students transferring to continue their education.

Scholarship consideration is also open to students attending Community college who live in Leona Valley, Green Valley, Lake Hughes, Three Points and Lake Elizabeth, who are transferring to a 4-year college.

For more information you can read the Graduating Senior and Transfer Student scholarship program information sheets at Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship Program  where you can also download both the information sheet and the scholarship application as Adobe PDF files.