The great pumpkin patch is coming to Riverside! According to the Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan, patrons can start picking up pumpkins Sunday, Oct. 18, at Riverside United Methodist Church, 82 Woodside Road. The pumpkin patch will be in operation daily until Friday, Oct. 31 (Halloween, or “All Hallows Eve”).

Members of the Riverside United Methodist Church will offer not only pumpkins and gourds of all sizes and varieties, but little kids will enjoy story telling, family Halloween movies and lots of stuff to keep the kids happy and keep the ghosts away.

The pumpkins and gourds are grown on a Navajo Reservation in Farmington, N.M. The reservation’s agricultural fields, a part of the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry, are orange as far as the eye can see. The Pumpkin Patch program thus reaches both the Riverside United Methodist Church and the people of the Navajo Nation. Please, folks, no “Walking Pumpkins”!

For information on church activities, check out the RUMC Web site for a full calendar of events at www.umcriverside.org or call (708) 447-1750.

AAUW’s 60th anniversary

The Riverside Branch of the American Association of University Women is celebrating its 60th anniversary at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. The Diamond Anniversary will be in a Riverside National Landmark home. Robin Benoy and Roberta Gates co-chair this Anniversary Committee, consisting of Jill Corwin, Jeanne Eichorst, Colleen Kadlec, Sue MacDonald, Katherine Sahlas and Christine Zogas.

You are invited to relive the year 1948 with a postwar presentation by Roberta Gates. Julie Moore will review the Branch’s 60-year history. Past President Lolita Unger will install the new officers: President Christine Zogas; President-elect Nancy Scott; Branch Secretary Colleen Kadlec; and Board Secretary Mary Kitzberger.

The mission of the AAUW is to be a “friend to education.” The Riverside branch provides local scholarships and sponsors educational programs and activities that support the intellectual and personal development of its members and the community, with particular emphasis on women and girls.

The Riverside Branch of the AAUW promotes special interest groups and participates in fundraisers during the year, including Jewel Food Stores’ “Shop & Share” program and the annual “Aunt Diana’s Fudge Sale.”

Founded in 1881, the AAUW is open to all graduates who hold an associate’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university. For information about the Riverside Branch of the AAUW, call (708) 373-9173.

Seguin honors Harast

Ralph Harast of Riverside was honored Sept. 12 for his 11 years of dedication to Seguin Services, serving as Board Vice President for the past four years. For much of his tenure, Ralph served as chairman of the Board’s Development Committee. In his honor, the home at 82 Lincoln Ave., Riverside, was named Harast House. This facility has been in existence since 1997 and is home to three disabled people and one caregiver.

Approximately 70 friends and officials of Seguin Services attended the testimonial dinner at the house that included presentation of a watercolor rendering of the home to Harast.

Among those who praised Harast for his longtime support of the adults and children served by the organization was Seguin President, John Voit.

“Ralph has been of great value to Seguin Services because of his substantial background with the local community, his assistance in fundraising and his knowledge of real estate. He has assisted us in our relationships with elected officials and has been an advocate concerning Seguin’s philanthropic needs.

“When he came to us, we were able to raise about $700,000. His enthusiasm and professionalism has assisted us in increasing that figure to over $2 million.”

“We will always feel free to access Ralph, even though he is officially retired from his work as Seguin School member of the board,” Voit said.

Accolades for Harast expressed by Seguin’s Senior Vice President, Jim Haptonstahl included, “It has been Ralph’s passion, his infectious enthusiasm for the Seguin cause, for the adults and children with developmental disabilities and other special needs, that has been the hallmark of his years of service to Seguin.”