The Bonita High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jeff Bird, presents “The USO Salute To the Troops,” a March 2009 event that raised about $8,000 for the Bonita band program. / photo by Rhiannon Mim

by Sher Porter
photography by Rhiannon Mim

The 1940s was a time of war. World War II captured the first half of the decade; the Cold War had its start in the second half. Young men were enlisting to fight for their country. It was also the swing era, with jazz music a central part of popular culture.

On March 6, 2009, the spirit of the 1940s is rekindled at “An Evening of Jazz,” hosted by the La Verne Band Boosters Association. The annual event, which began in 1997, attracts scores of people and raises money for Bonita High School’s bands and color guard program.

Young women and men from the Bonita High School Symphonic Band dress in 1940s-style knee-length dresses and military uniforms to greet guests, sell cold drinks and post cards, and escort guests to their seats.

Students from the high school’s jazz band perform selections from the 1940s to match the theme, “USO Salute to the Troops.”

“The LVBBA hosts annual events to raise money for the BHS band department and color guard team. They need the money to pay for instructors, uniforms, trips and competitions, among other things. The Bonita Unified School District does help fund the program, but it is not enough to completely fund the program. Last year, the department received $7,000 in funding,” band parent and event publicity chair Eva Shatkin says.

As the event begins, guests are greeted with a social hour, where people have the opportunity to talk, meet and participate in more ways to help raise money for the musical cause. There are raffle tickets sold, and a silent auction. Standout raffle items include a chance to win Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game tickets, a one-hour hot tub rental, and dinner for two at Shogun and Cookie Lee jewelry. Some participate in a silent auction to bid on tickets to a Los Angeles Lakers game, a home-cooked Japanese meal or a Lake Tahoe getaway. By the end of the night, all of the items are given away.

“It was kind of nice. It shows that people are willing to give and help out in these tough times,” Cindy Kunisaki, co-chairwoman for the evening, says.

Guests are also treated to dinner, music and a film—all before the musical portion of the event begins. As guests fill their plates with food, the Backline Quartet plays jazz in the background. The Backline Quartet is comprised of three Bonita High School students, who are a part of the band program, and one former student. When the band finishes, guests are shown a film about the USO. Although the event has nothing to do directly with the USO, it is a nice tie-in to the theme. Also, LVBBA President Kathryn Le Veque says that since most of the guests are senior citizens, they enjoy it. “It’s pure nostalgia for them,” she adds.

“We listen to jazz,” Mayor Don Kendrick says. “So this is something we look forward to.” As the first note plays, people get on their feet, eager to glide to the dance floor, directly in front of the band. Some dancers are from dance classes in Claremont and Rancho Cucamonga. They have been attending the Evening of Jazz for the past three years.

The band’s repertoire of 15 songs includes instrumental solos from the band, and vocals from the Bonita High School Chamber Singers.

When the evening is over, the LVBBA raises more than $8,000 at this sold-out event. It is truly a night to remember.

The band performed a variety of songs from the 1940s and 1950s, including “Vita Bella,” “It Had To Be You” and “Fly Me To The Moon.” The evening also included a silent auction with items that included tickets to a Lakers game and a getaway to Lake Tahoe. / photo by Rhiannon Mim

The Bonita High School Jazz Band’s saxophone section performs in the “USO Salute to the Troops.” / photo by Rhiannon Mim

The last song of the night performed by the Bonita High School Jazz Band, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” filled the dance floor with people. A.J. Puntous and his wife were among those who graced the dance floor and danced in the style of swing. / photo by Rhiannon Mim

photo by Rhiannon Mim

photo by Rhiannon Mim

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Veterans await their signal to begin leading the La Verne Day parade last September at the Los Angeles County Fair. / photo by Stephanie Arellanes

by Sher Porter
photography by Stephanie Arellanes

Occasional sounds of trumpets and drums mingle with the chatter of the Bonita High School Band players as they wait at the entrance gate. Beads of sweat form on their brows, thanks to the heavy uniforms they must wear in the late-summer heat, as they wait anxiously for their cue, out of sight of the audience.

Around the corner, a crowd slowly gathers in anticipation of the parade. Veterans and reserves from the Army and Marines are ready at the front, holding flags above their heads. At 5:30 p.m., the rest of the parade members to line up behind the men and woman of the armed forces, and the La Verne Day parade is ready to begin at the Los Angeles County Fair.

After the veterans and reserves file by, the Bonita High School Band members follow in their green and white uniforms, playing a rousing march tune, while parents follow alongside in their green Bonita Band Booster polo shirts, carrying bottles of cold water for the thirsty performers.

Each year, several cities in Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire are honored at the L.A. County Fair with a parade and ceremony to honor local heroes. Eighteen cities, including Diamond Bar, Glendora, Pomona and Rancho Cucamonga, are either given their own day or share a day to celebrate their city. Today is La Verne’s day.

Behind the band are a farmhouse float, a tractor and a pirate float. Miss La Verne, Jessica Ortega, rides along in a shiny red car behind them. The soon-to-be honored heroes ride along, too, waving and tossing beaded necklaces to the crowd. Classic Chevrolets and GMs cruise behind them. Girls of La Verne Community Cheer chant, “Let’s get a little bit rowdy. R-O-W-D-Y.” Finally, a disco tribute band dressed in Afro wigs, bell-bottom jeans, sunglasses and lots of gold jewelry brings up the rear.

Soon after the parade winds down, the next La Verne day event begins. About 75 people gather beneath the Budweiser tent, including La Verne City Council members Steve Johnson, Don Kendrick and Donna Nasmyth. Catherine Henley-Erickson, La Verne’s first poet laureate, opens the ceremony with “Hometown Heroes,” a poem she wrote for the occasion. “I felt very honored to be asked to help honor the accomplishments of these folks,” she says.

Mayor Jon Blickenstaff and University of La Verne President Stephen Morgan take the stage, looking a little like twins in their Hawaiian shirts. “I feel like these are the real heroes,” Blickenstaff says of the four residents about to be honored. At the beginning of each year, a letter goes out to schools, churches and other areas of the city, inviting residents to submit nominations for the next heroes. Fair Association employees and members and past heroes review the nominations and choose the honorees. Generally, one adult and one youth are chosen, but sometimes exceptions are made.

“We got four really great candidates this year, and we chose all four,” says Wendy Talarico, Fairplex communications manager.

Bruce Becker is the first to be honored for his volunteer work at Bonita High School football games and track meets, being a sports booster for the Bonita High School girls’ soccer team, and for being a volunteer coach for the Bonita High School girls’ basketball team. He is also the recipient of the Jim Scranton Pride of La Verne Award, which was created to honor Jim Scranton for his volunteer work with youth sports in La Verne. Becker and Scranton were friends before Scranton died.

“It was nice to get an award from someone I admire,” Becker says.

Next to be honored is George Borst, who is a member of the Senior Social Club, Golf Club and president of the computer club. He also volunteers at holiday events like the Winter Wonderland for Christmas and the Fourth of July.

Two heroes were unable to make the event. The first is Frances Divine who also received the Jack Huntington Pride of La Verne Award, which was named in his honor because of his volunteer service in the community. She is a member of the Senior Nutrition Program, volunteers at the La Verne Community Center and helps decorate the center during the holiday seasons.

“At the age of 87, she could put the energizing bunny to shame,” Morgan says.

The other hero, who was unable to attend because she had class, is Navya Reddy. At Bonita High School, Navya Reddy was a member of the Advanced Placement group, Spanish club, Key Club and the debate team, volunteered at the San Dimas High School and San Dimas Library as well as with the Girl Scouts, and she was part of the varsity track team. She is now a freshman studying biology at the University of California Los Angeles. “She always wants to ‘do.’ She never gets tired,” Naveen Reddy, Navya Reddy’s mother says. Since she was not there, her family accepted the award for her. Everyone honored was awarded with a certificate and a plaque from the Chamber of Commerce.

“Surprise our hero with a medal? No, I only did what anyone else would do,” another line from Henley-Erickson’s poem, says.

When the ceremony ends, the people disperse. Bonita High School band players return to their buses to change out of their sweat-drenched uniforms into some clean, dry clothes. They place their heavy instruments in their cases.

The heroes and other participants are done for the day and they can enjoy all the fair has to offer.

Jon Blickenstaff and Charlie, “Checkbook Charlie,” Tachdjian make their appearance in an antique fire truck in the parade during La Verne Day at the Los Angeles County Fair on Sept. 24, 2008. / photo by Stephanie Arellanes

Cathy Henley-Erickson, one of the community heroes of the city of La Verne, accepts her award at the Pomona Fairplex during La Verne Day at the Fair. Jon Blickensaff, then mayor of La Verne, and Stephen Morgan, president of the University of La Verne, proudly congratulate her for her outstanding efforts. / photo by Stephanie Arellanes

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Yoome Pannavalee, owner of The Book Rack, takes inventory about 10:15 a.m., just after the store is opened. The inventory includes both used books for purchase, and new books for purchase or rental. / photo by Christina Worley

by Sher Porter
photography by Christina Worley

The adventure does not begin when you open the book, it starts the moment you enter the bookstore. The variety and depth of books that are offered leave various options open to choose from. Some books will take you to another universe. Some books will introduce you to a Southern belle. Some books will help you search inside of yourself. Only you can decide which book you will read. A first step in choosing your book could be a trip to The Book Rack.

Walk through their door and you’ll discover new worlds. The store is filled with rows and rows of books—thick books, skinny books, tall books and colorful books, standing side-by-side in the bookshelves. Soothing classical music plays throughout the small store and pictures of countrysides, bridges and women adorn the walls.

Once you enter, you are greeted by a warm smile. “We’re really like a community-based business,” says Yoome Pannavalee, who’s owned the store for two years. Although The Book Rack may seem like any other bookstore at first glance, it has some unique qualities. Except for one section that has new books, all of the books are used. Customers hand in their old books and the store gives them store credit for one-fourth of the book’s original cost. All books must be in good condition. That credit can only used for the genre of book that is turned in. If a customer wants to exchange their mystery book, the store credit can only be used for books in the mystery section. The only exception to the rule is science-fiction or Western books because they are hard to keep in stock. When customers are done exploring a new world through the book, they can either keep it or return it for more store credit. The store credit is kept on file for years.

“There are people who have hundreds of dollars of credit because they just keep bringing books in,” Pannavalee says. All used books are half-priced, so the store credit helps slash the price even more. There are also new, hardcover books offered that can be rented for $3.50 per week or $5 for two weeks. “It’s a good bargain if you’re an avid reader,” Pannavalee says. Each book that arrives is cleaned before it is shelved and inspected to make sure it is in good condition.

Pannavalee says most of her customers are elderly men and women who have been coming for years. “I can go through a book in like three of four days,” says customer Maggie Curtin. She has been coming to The Book Rack for three or four years.

The Book Rack is also a helpful store for high school students. The store carries a collection of books by Mark Twain. They also carry “Brave New World,” and “Beowulf,” among other books that high school students often are required to read. Pannavalee tries to keep these books in stock so they’re available when students come in. The store also has a school fund for customers who wish to donate their credit, so teachers can buy the books for their students. “I’ve had students tell me, ‘Oh, I went out to The Book Rack today and bought this,’” says Erin Peters, an English teacher at Bonita High School. Peters encourages students to buy books from The Book Rack if they want their own copy to take notes in.

The Book Rack in La Verne has been in operation for 15 years, even though it is not a very well known store. Pannavalee, the newest owner, has tried to advertise the store more, but she finds that word-of-mouth advertisement is better. She does not want the store to have a big name because she likes the community feel of the store. “It really isn’t worth the trouble or the cost,” Pannavalee says of advertising.

“I think what makes a successful business in this day and age is how you manage it,” says Mike Buglio, who became head of the bookstore franchise recently.

Many of the customers have grown up going to the store. Employees know their names, their families and their interests because they take time to get to know each customer. “It’s a lot of fun because you build relationships with them,” manager Debbie Midgley says. Midgley is an avid reader who enjoys romance novels. She has been working at The Book Rack for six years. “They know me on sight because I come here often enough,” Maggie Curtin says.

The idea for The Book Rack came from Virginia Darnell, who opened the first Book Rack in Tennessee during the 1960s with the idea of having customers trade in their books for store credit to buy more books. The business was a success, so in the late ’60s she decided to franchise the business. Her son Fred Darnell eventually took over the business, and today Buglio is the new head of the franchise.

Today, after more than 40 years, The Book Rack has about 100 stores nationwide and one store in Canada. Most of the stores are on the East Coast. Pannavalee believes that the West Coast has fewer stores because there are other forms of entertainment to distract people from reading. Buglio says that most of the stores are in Florida, Tennessee, Alabama and other surrounding states because the franchise began in Tennessee. Buglio also has his own store in Arlington, Massachusetts. Anyone interested in joining the franchise can call him at 1-877-926-6579. “You have to love it because you don’t get rich,” Pannavalee says.

The Book Rack, located at 1405 Foothill Blvd., is tucked back among a row of shops in the CVS shopping center at the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Wheeler Avenue. And, while it is inviting and cozy inside, enter at your own risk, because once you begin paging through the books, you’re bound to be transported to another world.

Debbie Tucker, left, assists a customer at The Book Rack. / photo by Christina Worley

The Book Rack is home to roughly 10,000 new and used books. About 90 percent of them are used paperbacks, mostly brought in by customers. New books are discounted 20 percent to all customers. / photo by Christina Worley

photo by Christina Worley

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