Hundreds beat the heat at ice-cream social at RBV Adobe

By: ALEXANDRA DELUCA - For the North County Times | Saturday, July 29, 2006 6:32 PM PDT ∞

VISTA ---- The promise of icy cold ice-cream sundaes and refreshing root bear floats lured more than 100 people to "the birthplace of Vista" for the third annual Bluegrass and Ice Cream Social held on Sunday, July 23.

Young and old lined up in the courtyard of the historical Rancho Buena Vista Adobe for vanilla sundaes topped with caramel, chocolate sauce and nuts or fizzy root beer floats topped with a heaping helping of vanilla ice cream scooped by docents and other volunteers.

Bluegrass band 117 West, back by popular demand for the third year in a row, entertained the attendees, who were in good spirits despite what seemed to be 117-degree weather. Many attendees sat in the shade under the awning of the adobe, or sat at tables set up in the courtyard which were decorated with purple tablecloths and shaded by large umbrellas adorned with streaming ribbons. Ý

Throughout the afternoon, docents led tours of the adobe, which is more than 150 years old. Pat Fellows, a longtime docent who has served as chairman of the ice-cream social since its inception, said she hoped attendees would take the time to explore the adobe and come back again.

"The adobe is a wonderful place we want people to become accustomed to and acquainted with," said Fellows.

Other members of the ice-cream social committee are Barbara Berg, Diane Buran, Paul Crawford, Lynn Fellows, Judy Pantazo and Peggy Zachary. Attendees included Diane Nygaard, president of Preserve Calavera; Shelley Hayes Caron, owner of the Marron Adobe in Carlsbad; and RoseMarie Reno, Tri-City Hospital board member.

The ice-cream social was sponsored by the Friends of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe, a nonprofit group committed to helping safeguard and share Vista's heritage, foster civic pride and promote educational activities for all ages. All proceeds of the event will benefit the adobe and its programs, which include guided tours, field trips for school children, a holiday camp and a holiday home tour. The adobe is also home to the "La Tiendita" gift store and an art gallery, which features rotating installments by local and regional artists. Ý

The Rancho Buena Vista Adobe is at 651 East Vista Drive in Vista. For more information, call (760) 639-6164.

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