Grapevine online - the Leonis Adobe Museum

ISSUE
11
Second Quarter
2012
The Leonis Adobe
GRAPEVINE
Mark Your Calendar!
New Upcoming
Event!
California Tribal
Gathering
at
Calabasas Creek Park
Sat., May 19
Celebrate the heritage of
the Chumash Indians!
(page 2)
’
10, 17, 24, 31
& 7
Feed the Animals
Live Music
Games & Crafts
Story Time
Lots of Fun Activities!
Ranch Chumash - Farming - Animals
on the Ranch - Chumash Tribal
Gathering - Cooking on the Ranch!
For more info, visit:
leonisadobemuseum.org
The Leonis Adobe Museum is proud to
introduce the “Passport 2 History” program:
a program that unites over 50 historical and
cultural venues in Southern California.
“Passport 2 History” is a new way to
introduce visitors to a wealth of historical
places, artifacts, and stories throughout the
southland. It also encourages patrons to
explore and build on the historical
connection between each location.
Visitors are issued a FREE passport at the
Leonis Adobe Museum. The passport
features a page for each participating
historical site. At each location, the visitor
can have their passport stamped with a
sticker designated to that site. Visiting a
certain number of historical venues entitles
the passport holder to special prizes from
local businesses through the Leonis Adobe.
Passport holders will also benefit from the
discounts offered by many of the historical
sites as well as their sponsors (restaurants,
hotels, shops) and gain the greatest prize
of all - a deeper love and understanding of
our past: the richly diverse history of the
Golden State.
For more information on
“Passport 2 History”,
please visit:
www passport2history.com
President’s Message
Don Adams,
President of the
Board of Directors
My message this issue is --
please read the newsletter
thoroughly. You will notice that
there is really a lot going on here at
the Leonis Adobe Museum.
Our "PASSPORT 2 HISTORY"
program promises to provide major
exposure benefits to the over fifty
historical and cultural venues who
are participating. Many thanks to
all who made this happen, especially
the staff and management of
the Leonis Adobe museum.
With Spring comes baby lambs,
this year is no exception. Come
and meet “Trooper”; he is a black
and white charmer and loves to
have his picture taken.
Have a great Spring and
Summer!
- Don
“Trooper”

Page 2 The Leonis Adobe Grapevine Issue 11
Museum Guide Spotlight:
The Leonis Adobe Museum is proud to welcome our new docents to our team.
Christine Sherman
Christine is originally from
New York but has also
lived many years in California.
After 25 years as a sole proprietor
of a NY court reporting & interpreting
business, she traveled Europe before
volunteering for 5 years at the John D.
McArthur Beach State Park in Florida. We
are very happy to have Christine onboard!
Tomo Stephens
Tomo was born in Nagoya, Japan
but grew up in California. Her
mother is Japanese and her father
is mostly French w.ith a small
percentage of American Indian. After retiring
from the Casino industry in Nevada, she
traveled and lived in Central America where
she did volunteer work. We are very happy to
have Tomo working with us at Leonis Adobe!
Terry Strimpel
After a couple visits to the
Leonis Adobe with her family,
Terry joined the Adobe as a
docent. Years ago, a stint volunteering
at a clinic in Calexico, California
led to 35 years of nursing. Now at the
Adobe, Terry enjoys sharing her love of
children and history as a docent. We are
very happy to welcome Terry to our team!
California Tribal Gathering - May 19, 2012
To showcase our new Chumash Village, the Leonis Adobe Museum is pleased
to announce a California Tribal Gathering at the Chumash Village in
Calabasas Creek Park. The event will take place on Saturday, May 19, and
runs from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. Alfred Mazza and Graywolf from the
Graywolf & Alfred Mazza
Chumash Indian Museum will be participating, as well as, Native American
singers and storytellers. There will be booths, shopping, and a taco cart - fun
for the whole family!
Admission fee for Museum members is $3 for adults, $1 for children;
non-members admission fee is $5 for adults, $3 for children: food
and beverages are not included in the admission price. Free parking
is available at the Leonis Adobe Museum parking lot for visitors.
For more information, call the Leonis Adobe Museum at (818) 222-
6511. We look forward to seeing you there!
School Tours & Bus Funds
Is there any greater joy than to see and feel a part of something amazing like the look on a child’s face when
they have an “Aha!” moment At the museum, we are in the position to see this excitement on a daily basis
when the children of southern California come through our facility for field trips. Our program
continues to grow and our outreach program, “Expedition for Education”, has touched the lives of many
students. They would not have been able to join us without a sponsored bus. We are proud to say that we
have funded 17 buses for this school year, but guess what folks
We need your help!
We are appealing to you for
donations to assist our bus program.
Our funding is strictly by private
donations. The cost of an average bus is
$350; but any amount large or small will
assist in bringing children to the Adobe.
Please consider becoming a sponsor to
help children come to the Leonis Adobe
and learn about California’s rich history.
Thank you!
Dear all at the Leonis Adobe Museum,
Thank you for letting us visit the Leonis Adobe Museum. We
were very excited to receive the bus scholarship which made the
wonderful Field Trip. My favorite part was when we fed the
lambs. I didn’t know they had butter those days. I also learned
how to make a brand. I learned a lot of history.
Sincerely,
Christopher K.

Page 3 The Leonis Adobe Grapevine Issue 11
Antique Grand Piano donated to the
Leonis Adobe
The Leonis Adobe is pleased to announce that
we have received a donation from Dr. Edward
J.A. Pope, of a D.L. Fry & Sons rosewood,
square grand piano, circa 1850. Fry & Sons
were known for making high end musical
instruments of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.
Due to their small scale production
and high costs, Fry & Sons pianos are quite
rare today. Dr. Pope had been watching a
rerun of Huell Howser’s show on the Leonis
Adobe recently and felt that our living room
needed a square grand piano; so he donated
one. The new piano in the Leonis Adobe living
room adds an aura of elegance and warmth to
the house. Come by and see how wonderful it
looks! Thanks again to Dr. Pope for the
generous donation of the rosewood piano.
It is recorded that Marcelina
Leonis took piano lessons
and had even gone as far as
San Francisco on a trip with
her father, Miguel, for such
lessons.
Passport 2 History
Party Launches Program!
On Feb. 29, 150 representatives from 50
participating historic sites celebrated with
the Leonis Adobe to kick-off the new
program that will help promote their historic
venues!
The event was held at the Sagebrush Cantina
in Old Town Calabasas.
Original Fireplace Pieces Returned to
the Leonis Adobe
A big “Thank you” to Gwilym and Peggy McGrew
of Woodland Hills. This March they generously
donated the fireplace grate and andirons that
were “liberated” from the Leonis Adobe during
the 1960’s, when the house sat abandoned and
empty. Several years ago, The McGrews
purchased the nearby John Shaw Ranch Estate
in Woodland Hills. They were told by the seller
that the fireplace grate and andirons had been
taken from the Leonis Adobe during the 1960’s,
and that they had been in use at the Show
Ranch house ever since.
Gwilym and Peggy have spent the last several
years restoring the
1928 Show Ranch
Estate, and were
very pleased to be
able to repatriate
the items.
The fireplace grate
and andirons have
been restored to
their original place in the Adobe dining room.
Come by and see them! Thanks again to Gwilym
and Peggy McGrew; we appreciate your
generosity.
(LEFT) Don Adams, Diane Ramadan of the Leonis Adobe
Association present a “Passport 2 History” packet to Candy
Dougherty & Sharon Whitaker (who represents the Olivas Adobe in
Ventura County).

The Leonis Adobe
Phone: (818) 222-6511
Fax: (818) 222-0862
www.leonisadobemuseum.org
Board of Directors
President
Don Adams
Vice President Camille Stoddard
Treasurer
Carol Stewart
Secretary
Brian Kahn
President Emeritus Ray Phillips
Board Member Ruth Abel
Board Member Steve Rich
Board Member Jeannette Smith
Board Member Don Sweeney
Board Member Dennis Washburn
Leonis Adobe Museum
23537 Calabasas Road
Calabasas, CA 91302
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
RMS Direct
Museum Staff Members
Museum Director Diane Ramadan
Administrative Assistant Michele Fischer
Community Liason Charlotte Stehlik
Museum Curator Michelle Covello
School Tour Supervisor Karen Cusack
Museum Hours
Wednesday - Friday, Sunday
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
General Museum Donation
$4.00 adults, $3.00 seniors
$1.00 children under 12
Leonis Adobe Museum
23537 Calabasas Road
Calabasas, CA 91302
Donate to our Bus Fund!
$___________________