Dave da Handyman’s legacy is strong at Frazier Mountain Park

  • Children lined up in the park waiting for Alice Assaly and the Easter Bunny to give the countdown for the hunt to begin. It was all over within 120 seconds.

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    Children lined up in the park waiting for Alice Assaly and the Easter Bunny to give the countdown for the hunt to begin. It was all over within 120 seconds.

  • Children exchanged their plastic eggs for selections from an endless garden of bright toys donated from the community.

    Image 2 of 3
    Children exchanged their plastic eggs for selections from an endless garden of bright toys donated from the community.

  • These Mountain Community residents and &quotFriends of Dave" help to put together the 12th Annual Easter Egg Hunt and BBQ at Frazier Mountain Park: (back ) McKenna and Michaela Soursa, Rachel Jardin, Madison Marasa, Pamela Plouffe as Easter Bunny, Jerry Mays; (middle ) Gigi Nommensen, Karen Pavoni, John Stodola, Bob Anderson, Barbara Briggs, Alice Assaly, Eli Pavoni, Madeline Campbell, Larri Marasa, Jeri Johnson, Pam Sturdevant, Joan Kotnik; (front ) Eliana and Jerry Parker. Not pictured: Doug Campbell, Sherry Dill, Guy Brasmer and Shannon Schnur. [Kuepper photo]

    Image 3 of 3
    These Mountain Community residents and "Friends of Dave" help to put together the 12th Annual Easter Egg Hunt and BBQ at Frazier Mountain Park: (back ) McKenna and Michaela Soursa, Rachel Jardin, Madison Marasa, Pamela Plouffe as Easter Bunny, Jerry Mays; (middle ) Gigi Nommensen, Karen Pavoni, John Stodola, Bob Anderson, Barbara Briggs, Alice Assaly, Eli Pavoni, Madeline Campbell, Larri Marasa, Jeri Johnson, Pam Sturdevant, Joan Kotnik; (front ) Eliana and Jerry Parker. Not pictured: Doug Campbell, Sherry Dill, Guy Brasmer and Shannon Schnur. [Kuepper photo]

It seemed impossible at first. How could a whacky, impractical creation of Dave ‘da Handyman’ Giniewicz—invented solely to make children’s eyes sparkle—survive without Dave? Who would step up to help put on a big party in Frazier Mountain Park at Easter time, with no money? How could this 11-year tradition continue after Dave’s death? But last weekend it did. The 12th Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Community BBQ picnic was a triumph.

Hundreds of people showedthat there is still something very special about a community coming together to celebrate each other and their children with a whimsical tradition.

The people shown above worked to set things up for the day. Alice Assaly (Giniewicz’ wife of 23 years, who runs Alice’s Attic in Lebec and is keeping the Name Your Price Thrift Store alive with community volunteers) used the loudspeaker to start the egg hunt, and paid for the barbecue fixings. Doing honors at the grill were Eli Pavoni (Dave’s longtime friend and former business partner in L.A.), Jerry Mays and Bob Anderson.

The VFW Auxiliary helped to collect and prepare toys. Peter Bogdanoff of Chatterpillar Toys & Gifts gave out balloons. Alive Boutique of Frazier Park sent over a colorful ‘Happy Easter’ sheet cake. Ace Hardware donated the use of a barbecue and Don’s Liquor provided ice. Volunteers from the Name Your Price Thrift Store gave tireless help, as did Pam Plouffe from the Pine Mountain Village Merchants’ Association and Shannon Schnur.

Joan Kotnik, with Pam Sturdevant of The Mountain Enterprise and mastermind Madeline Campbell, plus many other volunteers created two fields for egg hunting, an endless garden of cuddly toys for the children to choose from, a table of kits and toy bags for older kids and a barbecue of hot dogs and hamburgers, cookies and beverages. Many who attended made donations to help cover expenses. —P. Hedlund

 

This is part of the March 29, 2013 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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