Monday, November 10, 2008

Buck Shaffer Community Clock


All photos by Esther Avila

Saturday was such a bittersweet day for me - very emotional, and yes - along with many others - I cried.

Anyway -- It is official. The beautiful Buck Shaffer Community Clock is definitely up.

If you are in, or anywhere near, Porterville, stop by and take a look and you can probably agree with me and say that it is striking.

An added surprise that we kept secret is the sculpture of Buck- directing the band - that stands on top of the clock.


Saturday was a beautiful day - and, I am very biased, and have to say that listening to Jim Kusserow and the Fabulous Studio Band rated right up there with the unveiling of the clock. What a treat.


REMINDER - Don't forget, if you are in the area, meet at the clock before the parade -- 9 a.m. Tuesday, November 11 -- for the dedication of the clock to the city of Porterville. It will be short and sweet.



The parade starts at 10 a.m. And the Buck Shaffer Band-A-Rama at 2 p.m. - with preshow at 1:15 p.m. at PC's Jamison Stadium.

Hope to see some of you there,

Esther Avila
Class of 1976

I wrote two stories on Saturday's event -- if you missed them, here are the links




Buck Shaffer Community Clock unveiled
Porterville Recorder, CA - 22 hours agoBy ESTHER AVILA
Thousands of community members gathered at the plaza at Centennial Park at noon Saturday with one thing in mind — to see the unveiling of the city's new Buck Shaffer Community Clock.
“A year ago, I was standing here looking at a vacant piece of land, saying ‘The clock will be here,’” Felipe Martinez, a City Council member who is also on the committee that spearheaded the project, said. “Porterville is a community that gives and gives. Buck Shaffer’s soul is here. It’s an amazing feat to come together and do this.” ......click on link to read full story.

Music marches on in Porterville
Porterville Recorder, CA - 23 hours agoBy ESTHER AVILA
Somewhere up in heaven, Frank "Buck" Shaffer is smiling. That’s because music was flowing down Main Street Saturday during the Fabulous Music Jam II, an all-day music festival at the plaza at Centennial Park in downtown Porterville. And because one of the last wishes of his life was made real.

The celebration of sound took place in conjunction with the unveiling of the Buck Shaffer Community Clock, a monument in honor of the late Frank “Buck” Shaffer, Porterville’s musical icon and former Porterville High School band director. ....click on link to read entire story.