Fundraiser turns into a pumpkin

When dealt lemons make lemonade. When dealt pumpkins…make pumpkin pie?

Southwestern College's baseball team lost a pile of money and gained a pile of pumpkins thanks to the October wildfires which forced the closure of the campus as well as the Jaguar Pumpkin Station. Located on SWC's corner lot, the pumpkin sale is operated by Pinery Christmas Trees Inc., which shares proceeds with the baseball team.

Charlie Boghosian, one of the managers of the business, said the timing could not have been worse.

"Last 10 days in October are our money days," he said. "Had the fires been earlier in the month, it would have been a lot less devastating."

Boghosian estimated losses at approximately $4,000, but a company estimate put the losses between $6,000 to $8,000.

Jaguar Pumpkin Station losses were minimal compared to the company's Rancho Bernardo patch, which was destroyed by fire Oct. 22. The company may have lost $450,000 at its six pumpkin patches and nine Christmas tree outlets.

Volunteers from the college's baseball team help to run the pumpkin patch and Christmas tree outlet on the corner lot. Through the sales they are able to raise money for traveling expenses. SWC Baseball Coach Jerry Bartow said the team lost about $2,000 due to the Pumpkin Station's four-day shutdown.

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