By Pamela Dozois
Contributing Writer
The Los Alamos Senior Center was filled with the delightful aroma of barbecue, the sweet smell of spring flowers and the joy of friends and neighbors gathered to enjoy a feast. Members of the Santa Barbara County Cattle Women’s Association were in the kitchen preparing to feed more than 50 people.
As guests filed in from all over Los Alamos, they were warmly greeted by Kathy Christoferson.
Plates filled with tri-tip, salsa, macaroni salad and carrots were served to each of the guests seated at brightly covered tables, followed by brownies and ice cream for dessert.
Pictured from left are Senior Center Vice President Carole Bloom, Susie Snow, Sherry Musgrove, Brandy Branquinho, Sharla Branquinho and Gail Knight.
The five volunteers from the Cattlewomen’s Association, Susie Snow, Sherry Musgrove, Brandy Branquinho, Sharla Branquinho and Gail Knight, were each given a yellow rose in appreciation of their generosity and hard work, along with a thank-you card signed by all who attended.
Brandy Branquinho, president of the Cattlewomen’s Association, then asked if any of the guests had a “cow” story they would like to share.
Sheryl Woods, president of the Los Alamos Valley Senior Center, spoke about going to a farm when she was a child and playing with the calves, and bottle-feeding them. Overwhelmed by their “cuteness,” she said, she pleaded desperately but unsuccessfully with her father to allow her to take one or more of them home with her.
Doug Taub told a story of his grandparents, who were from Lithuania and had a farm in Detroit. During the depression they would invite anyone who wanted to come to the farm to help out. One day while he and his parents were visiting the farm, his parents lost track of him. After searching high and low they found him over the fence, with the cows, licking a salt block.
Linda Gabrielson recalled the day that six of the neighbor’s cows got into their chicken coop, eating the chicken feed. The farmer eventually arrived with bread in hand and the cows came running to him. The cows then followed him back home, which was two miles away.
Each received a small door prize for sharing their amusing stories.
“I saw people here tonight who usually don’t get out much,” said Stephen Webb. “Even though I’m not a senior yet,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “I’m glad I came. It makes my community existence complete.”
“Everyone here are wonderful people,” said Doug Clark. “My wife Nancy and I accidentally stumbled into Los Alamos from Utah five years ago, looking for a home to rent on the Central Coast. We were wonderfully surprised at the generosity and kindness we found in this community. We decided to stay and get involved with volunteering at the Los Alamos Valley Senior Center, and we love it here.”
After dinner, Woods reminded everyone of the upcoming Los Alamos Town-wide Garage Sale that is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 18.
For a list of garage sale addresses and a town map, visit the Los Alamos Post Office at 497 Bell St. between 3:30 and 5 p.m. Friday, May 17, and on the day of the sale.
The objective of the Santa Barbara County Cattle Women’s Association is to promote the beef industry and to educate people about California beef. They also fund scholarships and offer support to local 4-H and Future Farmers of America groups.
For more information on the Town-Wide Garage Sale, call Kathy Christoferson at 805-344-1931 or 805-878-7909.
