August 21, 2006 - Vol.17, No. 47
News That Concerns Kiwanians and Their Families
Attendance
15 with several others in Lakeport
with “Tilly”
Invocation
Ed Merski
er Landry
Senior Members
Peter Karagianis, Ed Merski, Paul Normandin, Roger Webster, and Howard Bacon
Guests:
Vi Adrignola with Joe Adrignola
Photo by Steve Loughlin
Tilly the Titan Update
The “Corpse Flower” bloomed Monday afternoon and the excitement
was apparent as several hundred people made their way to Lakeport to see
it.
Photo by Steve Loughlin
For more pictures of this historical event, scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Publicity
Machine
The flower could not have brought the club any more publicity. Aside
from great local coverage on WMUR-TV and in the local papers, the flower
story
hit the AP wire and made it to the Boston newspapers. Also…several
NH radio stations mentioned Tilly on Friday and once it hit the wire,
all NH television/radio stations had the story available to their
news departments.
Quotable Quotes:
" I didn't do it this year because I am too fat."
John Stow on why he didn't ride his bike up Mount Washington this year
like he did last year.
On The Corpse Flower:
" It smells like my running shoes." -- Sheriff Dan Collis
" We did it in Lakeport so the smell would just blend in." --
Joe Collie
" Are you saying Lakeport smells like Dan's sneakers?" --
Don Nelson.
" The plant was grown by Gilford resident Rick Odello." --
Channel 9.
Motorcycle Update…
The bike is still at Meredith Harley. Paul Cotton reports that most
of the ‘06’s have dropped in price and now parallel our bike. It
may be time to come down more in price. The next move will be decided by the
board at the next board meeting on September 5th, in the meantime, if anyone
knows someone who may want the bike, or if you would like to make an offer,
please let President Joe Collie or Motorcycle Chair Paul Cotton know.
Schedule Reminder
Hard to believe, but in 2 weeks, it’ll be Labor Day Weekend. We will
not be meeting on Monday, September 4th, but instead we will get together
on Tuesday, September 5th. The boards will meet and NISE money will be collected.
Roger Ballantyne Update
The following is a detailed update on Roger Ballantyne’s health…in
his own words:
We met with Doctor Michael Atkins and Dr. David McDermott. They head up the clinical trials for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is the only hospital in Boston conducting these type of clinical trials. The doctors interviewed me and reviewed my medical history dating back 10 years. They have accepted me into the clinical trial - provided my heart, CAT scan and liver tests do not reveal any new abnormalities. The plan would be for me to start four weeks after my radiation treatments end. This would mean approximately the end of September.
The treatment involves my being hospitalized in Boston for one week receiving
massive doses of Interleukin-2 every eight hours. This is a chemical that
the body makes to fight cancer - only it doesn't make enough when you have
as much cancer as I do. I return home for a week only to return the next
week for a second week of in-hospital treatments. The treatments are pretty
intense and require hospitalization because of the side effects. Capillary
leak syndrome and hypotension require constant monitoring. The other side
effects include flu like symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dry heaves,
and red and dry skin that will result in skin peeling. Wonderful....it
sounds like a fun four weeks. The week at home after each in-hospital
stay is pretty
uncomfortable until the body returns to normal from the massive doses of
the Interleukin-2.
I am anxious to get the treatments started. The other options aren't
very appealing. The doctors at Beth Israel feel that I have a good
chance of
having a successful outcome. About 8% of the clinical trial participants
have complete
remission and 25% have partial remission. The 10 years between my occurrences
and the fact that I have clear cell tumors makes me a good candidate
for success. The hip replacement and reconstruction of my pelvis
went well.
I am walking with a cane and just about able to do everything except
ride the
motorcycle. I can get on it - I just can't get off of it by myself. My
pain has decreased and I am not taking oxycontin at this time. I am thankful
for
this and my quality of like has improved tremendously over this past
spring. Elizabeth has started me on my daily house chores and it
feels good to
be productive once more.
Your concern and continued prayers are appreciated.
I could not have made it this far without your support.
Roger Ballantyne
Installation 2007
The Installation dinner will be held on Monday, October 2nd. All members
and spouses are invited. We will also invite some past presidents and
members. This may also be a good event to invite prospective members
to. The evening will consist of the installation of the new treasurer,
the new first vice president and the new second vice president. Also,
new members of the board of directors will be installed and the Legion
of Honor recipients will also be recognized. The Ned Roberts Award for
Kiwanian of the Year will be handed out as well. Plans will be in the
works over the next few weeks with President Joe Collie heading them
up.
The menu at this point consists of a Prime Rib dinner. The cost will be $20
per person. More to follow…
Monday, September 25th
Open
Monday, September 18th
A representative from the Special Olympics will speak.
Monday, September 11th
A representative from the Victim’s Restitution Fund will speak.
Monday, September 4th
No meeting. Labor Day. We meet Tuesday, September 5th. Boards meet, NISE collected.
Monday, August 28th
Expect a wrap on the Corpse Flower Fundraiser.
A pictorial reveiw of the "Corpse Flower"
By: W. Stephen Loughlin
The writer had the opportunity to follow the progress of Tilly the Titan over the last two weeks. During that time I took over 600 pictures of Tilly and many of the people who worked so hard to make this presentation possible. The following are a few of the pictures taken of this special event.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Thursday August 17, 2006 AM.
Kiwanis Past President Joe Adrignola makes opening comments to the media. From l to r: Eileen Cabanel, Laconia City Manager, Suzanne Stiles, LRGHealthcare, Joe Adrignola, Suzanne Rountree, media correspondant.
Suzanne Stiles makes comments to the media. From l to r: Suzanne Stiles, LRGHealthcare VP Administration & Supply Services, Eileen Cabanel, Laconia City Manager, Lou Ricciardiello, Joe Adrignola, Michael Kitch, Daily Sun reporter, Suzanne Rountree, media correspondent.
Lou Ricciardiello (blue shirt and white hat) makes his comments to the media.
THE MOVE FROM THE GREENHOUSE
Thursday August 17, 2006 PM
Tilly the Titan is secured for the move from the greenhouse in Gilford to the Lakeport Fire Station. l to r: Bob Abbott, Dennis Whitcher, Roger Landry, Pam Landry.
Workers look out of the greenhouse thorough the section of the wall that was removed. L to R: David DiMuzio, Gary Drake, Roger Landry.
Roger Landry gently lifts Tilly.
Roger Landry moves Tilly toward the pick up truck waiting
outside the greenhouse. Lou Ricciardiello looks on (blue shirt and white
hat).
Roger Landry lifts Tilly into the pickup truck.
Tilly is safely placed in the pickup truck. Gary Drake (standing
on rear of forklift) supervises.
Dennis Whitcher screws on the rear wall of the specially constructed compartment that houses Tilly. Bob Abbot watches from inside.
An additional wall is secured in place. Lou Ricciardiello records
the event.
The greenhouse walls are reinstalled and the final wall is placed on the compartment that houses Tilly.
At 1:04 p.m., Sheriff Dan Collis begins the procession from Gilford to Laconia.
At 1:20 p.m., the procession crosses Stark Street on to Union
Ave.
At 1:23 p.m., Tilly safely arrived at the Lakeport firehouse.
The walls are removed from Tilly’s traveling house.
Tilly is carefully moved into the firehouse as Bob Abbot looks on.
Roger Landry assists in guiding the forklift into the firehouse.
Sheriff Dan Collis smiles as the mission has been successfully completed.
THE VIEWING
Thursday August 17th through Wednesday August 23rd
The crowds trickled in during the first four days of the viewing. Then, on Monday August 21, the crowds grew larger as the flower began to open.
The sign outside the firehouse advised the public that Tilly was blooming.
Joe Adrignola makes calls to advise his associates of the BIG event.
Joe Adrignola and his family demonstrate their pleasure on seeing Tilly at her best.
The crowd observes Tilly’s bloom.
Tilly is a crowd pleaser.
Kevin Sperl, of The Citizen, takes a closeup of Tilly’s leaves.
Close up of Tilly’s leaves.
Looking down into the flower are from l to r: Lou Ricciardiello, Sandy Marshall, and Gary Drake.
Tilly’s interior.
Sandy Marshall, LRGH Community Affairs and Volunteer Service Coordinator, is interviewed by WMUR TV news anchor, Scott Spradling.
This picture was taken of the hole that was cut into the base of the flower after it bloomed. Deep inside the flower, the male and female flowers are separate, with the females clustered at the bottom. Once they are ready, the males above them release pollen.
Pictures by W. Stephen Loughlin
Joe Collie
Editor
Kiwanis Kronikle is a weekly publication of the Kiwanis Club of Laconia, N.H., P.O. Box 757, Laconia, N.H. 03247-0757. We meet Mondays at 6:15 p.m. at the Pheasant Ridge Country Club, Country Club Rd., Gilford, N.H. Please call your President or Secretary about any Member or family member in case of illness. Email: Joe Collie or Steve Loughlin
In Memory of Max Chertok, Charter Member - Normandin, Cheney, & O'Neil - Byse Agency - Baron's Major Brands - Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home - Decorative Interiors - Laconia Savings Bank - Meredith Village Savings Bank - Martin, Lord & Osman, P.A. - Hart's Turkey Farm Restaurant - Quik Laundry & Cleaners - Stafford Oil Company, Inc. - The Home Beautiful - Cantin Chevrolet/Cadillac