VaLLEY INSIDER

It’s rubber ducky season in Palmdale. Patricia Rardon, a longtime member of Kiwanis Club of Palmdale West, is heading up the organization’s annual $1 Million Rubber Duck Race to raise funds for high schools, church groups and youth programs in the Antelope Valley. Here’s how it works: People “sponsor” a rubber duck for “five bucks a duck,” in Rardon’s words. The organization sells 10,000 sponsorships to raise $50,000. On Aug. 30, the ducks will float down Lazy River at Dry Town Water Park in Palmdale. “Of those 10,000 ducks, three are lucky ducks – they have a $1 million number on the bottom,” Rardon told Valley Insider. “If that duck goes through (the finish line) first, the sponsor wins $1 million.” Rardon, who previously worked with her husband at wealth management firm Gary Rardon & Associates, noted that the Kiwanis have an insurance policy to cover the prize money. Between 1,500 and 2,000 people turn out for the race; this year Palmdale Mayor Steve Hofbauer will serve as official Duck Plucker to fetch the toys out of the water after the race. … When not sipping wine, David Gibbs relaxes by working on vintage cars with his son. The former guitarist with punk band Gigolo Aunts owns three Valley wine bars – Augustine Wine Bar in Sherman Oaks, Mirabelle Wine Bar in Valley Village and Sushi Note in Sherman Oaks. Currently he’s restoring a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560 SL. Growing up on the East Coast, “vintage cars were hard to find because of rust and snow,” he recalled. “When I moved to L.A., they were all over the place – and cheap.” He started working on Alpha Romeos and Jaguars before exercising his mechanical skills on Mercedes. “It’s both relaxing and frustrating at the same time – frustrating because I’m not very good at it,” Gibbs told Valley Insider. When the car is finished, he doesn’t plan to sell it – unless required by his wife. “I plan to drive it,” he said. Staff Reporter Andrew Foerch contributed to Valley Insider, which is compiled by Editor Joel Russell. Send submissions to [email protected].