Five members of the Elks barbecue crew turned out on Friday evening, Sept. 23, at the Veterans Community Cultural Center, to grill and serve up the most delicious chicken and top block for a very good cause: a fundraiser for Santa Maria Valley Youth Football.

This program, about which I knew nothing until the event, sponsors football programs for boys younger than high school age.

Kids 7 and 8 years old play in a Bantam League. Older kids play in the J-1, J-2, intermediate, and senior leagues.

This is serious stuff. The boys practice Tuesday through Friday nights after school, and are coached mostly by league dads. They play against teams in the same age bracket up and down the Central Coast. 

They wear helmets and shoulders pads and red jerseys that say “Rebels.” They have cheerleaders. And they love it.

According to Joanne Thompson, a football mom who was selling raffle tickets to the 160 or so attendees, her 8-year-old is over the moon about the youth football program. She showed me a picture of him in his football outfit, sporting the world’s biggest smile. 

click to enlarge Hobnobbing with Helen
PHOTO BY HELEN ANN THOMAS
A SPORTING EVENT: Amy and Lupe Meraz at the Youth Football fundraiser held on Friday evening, Sept. 23, at the Veteran’s Memorial Cultural Center. Lupe is president of the board. Amy was on the event committee.

Lupe Meraz, president of the board, told me that he is so in favor of this program because of the obvious: It gives kids an outlet, something to focus on, and hopefully, keeps them moving forward in a positive direction.

Amy Meraz told me that the money raised at this event would go for league expenses. They have to pay the school district a substantial sum every time they use a school’s football field for a game. The fees that parents pay for the kids to participate goes for insurance and essentials like helmets and shoulder pads. Annual fees for parents range from $160 to $210. 

Candidate for Congress Justin Fareed stopped by to check out the action. Tickets for the event were $100 per couple. This included an entry into the reverse raffle drawing, where the grand prize was a whopping $2,000. 

The good-natured, bantering Elks members manning the barbecue were Jim Allen, Mike Arndt, Jim Elkins, Del Signorelli, and Wayne Stahl. Thanks, fellas, for the preview of the excellent garlic bread and for some good laughs. I didn’t believe a word of what you said about the witness protection program.

Hancock fundraiser

Beginning in mid-September, my cup runneth over with hobnobbing opportunities. The social calendar is jam-packed.

One such event was super nice. Think exquisite hors d’oeuvres served by Chef Rick at the elegantly rustic Presqu’ile winery, with tastings of their latest release. 

click to enlarge Hobnobbing with Helen
PHOTO BY HELEN ANN THOMAS
SUPPORTING AGRIBUSINESS: Coast Hills CEO Jeff York with Michele York at the 10th annual Rancho Vino sponsored by the Coast Hills Community Foundation. The event was held at Presqu’ile Winery.

The 10th annual Rancho Vino sponsored by the Coast Hills Community Foundation raised money for Allan Hancock College’s Agribusiness Program, which as we all know, now includes winemaking. 

The students learn fast. Their wines are already garnering rave reviews. Rancho Vino attracted about 160 guests.

Judy Markline looked positively gobsmacked when she was announced to be the winner of the evening’s grand prize—a “stay-cation,” which includes a night at the Cliffs Resort, golf at Avila Beach Golf Resort, and meals at three very nice restaurants. 

Coast Hills CEO Jeff York, along with Michele, were among the crowd, as was Rebecca Alarcio, executive director of the foundation, Hancock president Kevin Walthers and Shannon Elliot, and Hancock Vice President for Administration Michael Black.

If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at [email protected].

Comments (0)
Add a Comment