PDP/PPM Books Contest, week 6: Helen!

On a recent airline trip to see the in-laws, John and I were honored to be seated next to a past president of the Tournament of Roses Association. He was on a public relations/scouting trip to visit universities--their football teams and especially their marching bands. Until I met this gentleman, I had no idea that a Tournament of Roses president first serves for years in other capacities before becoming president. Example: Lance M. Tibbet, a Tournament volunteer for the past thirty years, was recently elected to the Executive Committee. It's preordained that he will be president in 2018.

The dedication of these folks is unprecedented. That's why nobody else gets to wear a ring like this one, from 2004.

So which past president of the Tournament of Roses Association did John and I have the pleasure of meeting?

That's today's contest question. It's a fitting one because it's time to kick off the holiday season and because in Pasadena the holidays culminate with the Tournament of Roses. It's also fitting because of today's prize.

Contest rules:

1. Email the answer to the contest question to me. (This one's a little tougher than in weeks past, but I've given you all the information you need to Google it.) There's a link to my email in my profile at the upper left. You have until midnight tonight, Pasadena (Pacific) time. Answers in the comments section will be rudely ignored but probably not deleted.

2. That's all you have to do.

3. I'll put all the correct answers into a hat and tomorrow I'll find a willing stranger to draw the winning name. I'll announce the winner in Sunday's post.

4. PRIZES!
Oh baby! I know some of you have been waiting for today. I'm giving away my one and only, brand new copy of Prospect Park Media's Helen of Pasadena by local Satellite Sister, Lian Dolan. Whet your Helen appetite--and find out why today's contest question fits today's prize--by reading chapter one here.

And come back next Friday because I'll be giving away a copy of At Home Pasadena, the lovely, hardcover coffee table book about beautiful living in our beautiful town.

Big thanks to Colleen Dunn Bates and everyone at Prospect Park Media!

PS. Several bloggers have contributed to Karin Bugge's piece about pet adoption today on Altadena Patch. I have a little blurb in there about Boz, which will be continued here tomorrow.

PDP/PPM Books Contest, week 5

Hey! I've just found out that my newest piece is up at South Pasadena Patch. It's a short history of the Cawston Ostrich Farm, one of the most unusual places ever. I loved finding out about it, and searching out traces of where it once stood.

Now, on to today's important business, about a fascinating place that is very much still standing: What famous San Marino institution just received a $100 million gift?

That's this week's contest question, and in that sentence there's enough information to Google the answer. You might also recognize the institution in today's photo.

Why are we having a contest, you ask? Because it's the holiday season and you need books to give as presents. Because Colleen Dunn Bates, publisher at Prospect Park Media, gave me books to give to you as presents. Because why not?

Here's how we do it:

1. Email the contest question answer to me. There's a link to my email in my profile at the upper left. You have until midnight tonight, Pasadena (Pacific) time. Answers received after that time will be discarded (I got two late ones last week.) Answers in the comments section will be rudely ignored.

2. That's all you have to do.

3. Tomorrow I'll ask--well, whomever's wandering around my neighborhood, to draw the winning name from a hat. I'll announce the winner in Sunday's post.

4. PRIZES!
Today I'm giving away my last copy of Hometown Pasadena 2009-2010.
Next week we're going to give away my one and only copy of Prospect Park Media's first foray into novel publishing, Helen of Pasadena by our very own local Satellite Sister, Lian Dolan. Whet your Helen appetite by reading chapter one here and check out Lian's list of appearances here. Go get her to sign your book!

More giveaways after that, believe it or not, because we have a copy of At Home Pasadena, the lovely, hardcover coffee table book about beautiful living in our beautiful town.

Big thanks to Colleen, Lian and everyone at Prospect Park Media!