The Friday night “Dinners With a Slice of History” at the International Women’s Air and Space Museum at Burke Lakefront Airport are very enjoyable.
I attended the June 29 dinner, where I had the opportunity to speak with two women who kicked the chocks out of the masculine world of male aviation mechanics. Patty Hange and Mary Feik are both Charles Taylor Master Mechanics. The FAA award signifies 50 years of continuous licensed mechanical expertise.
Hange grew up in Willoughby around aircraft. As a teenager, she got a job at Cook Cleland’s Euclid Avenue Airport. Hange got her hands dirty on the three Corsairs that Cleland had purchased to race in the Cleveland National Air Races in the 1940s. The aircraft brought home several air race trophies and a speed record or two.
She received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award in 2000.
Feik, of Maryland, is also a Taylor Award recipient. She began her mechanical career after being told she would not be accepted into engineering school.
It wasn’t because her grades were poor. She wasn’t being accepted because she was a girl.
Feik overhauled her first automobile engine at age 13 in her father’s automobile garage. By the time she was 18, she was teaching aircraft maintenance to crew chiefs and mechanics for the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
Feik is credited with developing the Captivair flight-training simulator. The simulator allows full-size aircraft to be used as trainers in a stationary position without incurring any damage.
The evening was full of great food and wonderful speakers, at a cost that is affordable for everyone. Check out the museum website at www.iwasm.org for information about the programs offered.
AMVETS dinners on Friday evening
AMVETS Post 109, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake, is serving steak dinners 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays at the post home. Hamburgers are also available. For details, call 440-257-9217.
Free food for the Red, White and Blue
The Ladies Auxiliary, Men’s Auxiliary and Junior Girls Unit of Painesville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2595 will host a Red, White and Blue Hot Dog and Hamburger Special from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the post home, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville.
A free hot dog or hamburger will be served to veterans or anyone wearing red, white and blue. The post also will offer a free second year membership to any new member signed up at this patriotic holiday. For details, call 440-354-9040.
Chinese Auction at Chardon VFW
The Ladies Auxiliary of Chardon VFW Post 6519, 752 Water St. in Chardon, will host a Chinese auction from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the post home. For details, call the post at 440-285-3699.
Fisher House Poker Run Saturday
Leathernecks Nation MC Gold Star Chapter will host the Fisher House Poker Run, beginning and ending at The Boneyard, 5900 Mayfield Road in Mayfield Heights. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with the first bike out at 11. Donation is $20 per rider and $10 per passenger.
All proceeds go toward the construction of a Fisher House at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Wade Park.
Annual air show July 14-15
Gathering of Eagles Air Show will return to Willoughby Lost Nation Airport July 14 and 15. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. See what the planes were like, speak to the pilots flying them now and some of the pilots and crew that flew them during the war years. For details visit www.usam.us
Gunny’s Hall serves dinner
The Col. Justice M. Chambers Foundation Gunny’s Hall, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor, will host a chicken and steak dinner at 6 p.m. July 14. The dinner will be served only with a reservation, so call the hall at 440-974-9380 to reserve your dinner. Donation is $12 for the chicken dinner and $15 for the steak dinner.
Collection helps USO and Troops
Andover Bank will be collecting food, toiletries and monetary donations for the USO through July 14.The USO (United Services Organization) is a private nonprofit organization that provides morale and recreational services to our military personnel.
The USO is also in need of monetary donations to help defray the cost of postage to send the items to the troops. Items can be dropped off at any Andover Banking Center. The Madison Banking Center is located at 6611 North Ridge Road in Madison.
To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, Attn.: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094; fax to 440-975-2293; or via email to LGaler@News-Herald.com.