The ducks were back at the beach at Powerhouse Park in Del Mar on Saturday May 13, 2023. We had a great crowd to enjoy the day (despite the full-on May gray), which included games, balloon twisting by Happy Twist Balloons by Keiko, face painting and chili dogs made with Don Fipps’ award-winning IPA chili, prepared by Viewpoint Brewing Company (they also provided the beer).
Special thanks to Suzy and Karl Wagner for organizing the event and to Philippe Lamoise for the event website and management of online duck adoptions. We are grateful to the Del Mar Lifeguards for rescuing Don Fipps, launching the ducks, and for helping shepherd safely back to shore when the waves were a bit rough. We also are indebted to members of BSA Troop 713, especially William Bowen, Jayden Schaffer, and Jason Ghalla, for all their help at the event. Platinum sponsors were Janice and Matt Kurth and Mark Barry; At the Gold Level: Marty Peters, Sharon Schendel, Dan Smargon, Susan and Karl Wagner; Silver Level: Don Johnson/Walking Path Travel, Pat Caughey, Mayor Tracy Martinez and Alan Wittgrove, Steven and Jennifer McDowell; Bronze Level: Jan and Pete Grossnickle, James and Wendy Morrison, Malaeh Neary, and Pam Rudolph.
Thank you as well to all the members who attended and particularly those who took on tasks to make the event a success: Linda Saville for layout; Janice Kurth for securing rentals, Beth Davidson, Dee House, Clint McCalla, Bob Muller, Kathy Reed, Jen Segura, Walt Strangman, Karl Wagner, and Walt Strangman for a ready supply of chili dogs; Don Johnson, Toni Mecaro, Val Myers and Linda Strangman for staffing the onsite sale desk; Steven McDowell for bringing the pop-up canopies; Garrie Rhodes and Jeff Matthews for staffing the drinks tent; Brett Mattei for coordinating with the lifeguards; Don Fipps for drowning again; Joe McLeod for bringing some fun games and for the kite flying; Mark Matthess for being the MC, and Linda Groom for taking the ducks home to dry.
There are lots of pictures from the day. Click HERE to download any you like from the Google Photo album. Dee House arranged for the Del Mar Times to take some pictures. Click HERE to see the article. Last, click HERE to view video of pictures from the day and the duck release. Feeling nostalgic? Click HERE to watch video from the 2010 edition of Chili & Quackers.