Poway Gives Back: Poway Days Campfire, Kiwanis & Low-Cost Groceries

By Bill Stoudenmire

POWAY DAYS CONTINUES

It started with the Poway Days parade and 5K on Sept. 7 and Poway Days events will continue through early October. This Friday, Oct. 11, it's the Hobo Campfire Sing-A-Long and Rendezvous.

Sing songs and enjoy stories around the campfire Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Old Poway Park on the banks of Rattlesnake Creek, located at 14134 Midland Rd. The Hobo Campfire Sing-A-Long features The Poway Folk Circle and storyteller Charles Johnson entertaining while you make smores over the campfire. It's free. On Saturday and Sunday, it's Rendezvous In Poway with music, dancing, crafts, historical re-enactments, panning for gold and more. Rendezvous runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. And if you're up for some boot-scootin', come back Saturday evening for the annual Poway Barn Dance, which begins at 7. The weekend events are also free.

Wrapping up Poway Days just in time for Halloween, there are two things you should put on your calendar. First is Hoot, Howl and Prowl, where you can discover the creatures of the night. It's at Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, 16275 Espola Rd., Saturday, Oct. 26 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Every 15 minutes, another group of guests will go on a one-mile after dark hike through the reserve. Costumes are encouraged. Registration is required and the cost of $5 includes a cup of hot chocolate at the end. Call Annie at 858-668-4781 or register at poway.org.

The second item is the sixth annual Once Upon a Halloween. It's Sunday, Oct. 27 in Old Poway Park. Free family fun with carnival games and crafts, spooky stories from storyteller Charles Johnson, the Halloween Express train will be on hand as will the Thriller Dancers. It all begins at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Poway! What a fun place to live!

KIWANIANS HAVE A NEW LEADER

But he's not a new face. Longtime club member Jeff Wilson has stepped up again, having served as president in 2001-2. He returns with many ideas on how Poway Kiwanis can serve the community. He calls his year “a year of participation.” He'd like the club to adopt a park, or part of a park, and with the help of the city install playground equipment. Kiwanis International's mission is to serve the children of the world. Poway Kiwanis supports the Poway Boys and Girls Club, San Diego Children's Hospital, Voices For Children, Special Olympics, American Little League, various projects in the schools and more. Jeff's goal is to continue the club's growth of members so they can do more community projects. A Navy Veteran, he's lived in Poway since the east end of Poway Road was dirt. Congratulations on your new year and to another successful Tour De Poway.

LOW-COST GROCERIES 

The Poway Share Food Program supplies low-cost groceries once/month and you can reserve food packages ranging from $9 to $37. There are no requirements for participation. Place orders between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. weekdays until Oct. 17 at the Poway Senior Center, 13094 Civic Center Dr., or on line at powaysharefoods.com  Food will be distributed on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Center between 8 and 9 a.m. Call Vicki at 858-229-6875 or email powaysharefoods@cox.net.