By Robin GOLDSWORTHY

Wow! What a phenomenal weekend! Saturday started out overcast as the CV Weekly crew and over 120 vintage, classic and exotic automobiles made our way to Crescenta Valley Park for the dual anniversary celebrations of the Early Rodders and the CV Weekly … the Rodders marking 10 years and the paper two.

Dwight Sityar, one of the organizers of the celebration, was early on scene, guiding and directing the cars as they made their way onto the lawn of the park. By the time I arrived, Mary O’Keefe had already come and gone, setting up our pop-up and arranging tables provided by Bonners Equipment Rentals. Our sales gal Lisa Yeghiayan was arranging the royal blue tablecloths and the beautiful floral arrangements by Eiji’s Flowers while Scott Mekelburg, a former Marine and current husband of another of our sales team, Kim Mekelburg, was hanging our banners.

Before we knew it, the sun broke through the clouds, folks started to arrive, the band struck up and it was time to party! Students from Crescenta Valley High School’s Prom Plus Club were working the kitchen, selling water and soda. The robot from the Robotics Club was on display. Food trucks pulled up to feed the hungry and live doo-wop music could be heard. For the adventurous, dance lessons were offered and folks could be seen doing the Electric Slide and Cha-Cha on a dance floor brought in by L.A. County Parks and Rec.

Over at our booth, around 11 a.m. Nick from Leon’s Cake Studio brought cakes that were the talk of the day and we ended up handing out more than 300 slices! At noon, my husband Steve, who was flying a Robinson 44 helicopter, buzzed the park causing visitors to look up and wave.

Hundreds of people stopped by our booth to wish us well, thank us for the paper and to pick up their rewards card. It was very humbling to hear from so many of our readers who are so pleased with the paper and eager to financially support us with a check for home delivery. Thank you.

For those who haven’t yet received their card, we’ll be inserting them in your paper over the next couple of weeks. If you don’t want to wait, feel free to stop by the office and pick yours up.

On Sunday, Steve and I headed over to Memorial Park for the 9^th Annual Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting hosted by Kiwanis Club of La Cañada, Le Petit Vendome, La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation Endowment Fund, La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and the Verdugo Hills HHospital Foundation. There were tents dotting the lawn holding representatives of dozens of wineries and local eateries. It didn’t take long before we had our fill and made our way home.

Definitely a fun weekend. For pictures, visit page 14.

And the fun isn’t over yet.

This weekend is the annual Montrose Oktoberfest hosted by the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce. More than 20,000 folks are expected to converge on Honolulu Avenue from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Schreiner’s Fine Sausages are probably already preparing the bratwurst, the oompah bands are tuning up and lederhosen is being dusted off. With temperatures expected in the low 80s, it’s going to be a perfect weekend to get your German on.

Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend, but I look forward to seeing the expert photos of our intrepid photographer Leonard Coutin.

But for those who do go, I say viel spass!