REMEMBER EARLIER RE: THE PAINTED TURTLE?

Well, The NBA Lakers were instrumental in helping

fund different aspects of this camp at Lake Hughes, CA.

They are now sponsoring a de Tour Turtle Bike Ride.

It is scheduled for October 19 to ride through the

beautiful Angles National Forest. For additional information

please call Julie Helmes at #310-451-1353 ext. 112.

This camp is especially for children with serious

health conditions and is a year-round camp.

To register you can go to www.teamseriousfun.org/

tourdeturtle13. The riders will be going on fully

supported routes: 62, 36,or 18 miles.

May 28 Hall of Famer Jerry West (NBA) just turned 75.

Remember Ron Artest? He changed his name to:

Metta World Peace. He plays basketball with our

NBA Lakers team and was in the news recently for

having written some childrens books. His latest one

is "Metta's Bedtime Stories". It is a 34-page illustrated

book geared for 4-10 year olds. It sells for $12.95 (soft

cover) and $14.95 (hard cover). A portion of those

proceeds benefit the World Peace Foundation. Xcel

University which is noted for raising monies to help

support various mental health charities and programs.

Metta sometimes goes to visit local schools or UCLA's

Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital. He is 33 years old

and is often very much the child himself so is really

enjoying the ability to write for the younger set.

Lakers legend, Elgin Baylor, Hall of Famer, is now

auctioning off some of his momentos for various

charities. The prized items bring back so many

memories of his playing during 1971-72 when he

received the Championship ring that rests behind

a glass cage. His Lakers warm-up jacket rests on

a rack on one side of the memorabilia room. He 

has agreed now to auction them off. Even the

wooden chair Baylor sat on when the Lakers

honored him on March 22, 1969. That night

was dubbed "Elgin Baylor Night" at the Forum.

He even has his NBA Rookie of the Year Plaque

for sale. Baylor first started playing for the

Lakers in Minneapolis, Minnesota before they

headed west to play in L.A. Baylor became

one of nine Lakers to have their jersey retired. 

He made 11 NBA All-Star game appearances.

Warm weather here in Southern California

right now and finally drastic winds have abated.

Our thoughts and prayers though go out to

Oklahoma where another set of tornadoes

have touched down. May God give the residents

some strength to endure all of this hardship.

Babs Wells