Santa Maria Sun / News

Hobnobbing With Helen

BY HELEN ANN THOMAS

Foxen Canyon soiree Jackie Brunello (left) and Larry and Diana Bell (right) enjoyed pre-dinner conversation at Marian Medical Center's annual fundraiser at Tres Hermanas Winery. Larry is on the Community Foundation board at Marian Medical Center. PHOTO BY HELEN ANN THOMAS

Saturday, Aug. 7, boasted a beautiful afternoon and evening on which to celebrate the successful completion of MMC’s “Cornerstone Campaign,” co-chaired by Georganne Ferini and Ann Foxworthy Lewellen.

These two intrepid ladies helped MMC pull in a whopping $15 million for its new building, thereby making fundraising history. The 15 mil is the largest cache of cash ever collected for a single project in North County.

Kinda makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up, doesn’t it?

In talking about the super-successful capital campaign and the excitement over the new facility, MMC president Chuck Cova proudly stated, “Marian has grown from a local hospital to a regional medical center.”

Among the 300 guests who circulated on the wide, green lawn underneath two monstrously large oak trees were MMC Chief of Staff Dr. Dennis Blackburn, Judge Jim and Ann Rigali, Stuart and Jan Bartleson, and Fran Dodd. Eric and Judy Frost were also among the crowd.

You couldn’t miss Sue Sword if you tried. This lady wore smashing gold tennis shoes that made a huge fashion splash.

Celebrating success Pictured are (left to right) Sister Louis Provo, Sister Mary Mebane, Sue Sword, and Dr. Mark Juretic. Sword is a member emeritus of the Marian Medical Center Foundation Board. Dr. Juretic is past president of the board. PHOTO BY HELEN ANN THOMAS

We arrived just in time for the ever-so-delectable hors d’oeuvres served before dinner.

Testa Catering taunted our appetites with lamb chops and shredded pork over polenta squares. These went down very smoothly with the Tres Hermanas fume blanc and cabernet sauvignon available at the hosted bar.

Guests socialized on the broad expanse of green lawn and examined descriptions of the live auction items.

Dinner included seared ahi followed by salad and stuffed, barbecued flank steak with risotto. Dessert was bananas Foster.

Ebullient auctioneer Jim Glines pried good prices out of willing hands and wallets, and the honorable Ed Murray emceed.

Tres Hermanas owners and hosts Marvin and Paulette Teixeira were very hospitable to the hospital crowd.

I shared a table with Supervisor Joe Centeno and wife Sylvia, and Fred and Connie Quigley.

Alas, hobnobbing wore me out and I did not stay for the after-auction dancing, with music by Unfinished Business.

Quatro Amigos at Tres Hermanas Dan and Peggy Blough (left) and Dr. Michael and Susan Moats (right) enjoyed the evening. PHOTO BY HELEN ANN THOMAS

This group deserves public praise for its mixer held on a recent Thursday evening. The mixer is part of the Chamber of Commerce’s regular monthly mixer series.

The job of garnering door prizes fell to Michael Corob, who clearly excels at this task. He collected a sterling silver chain, a box of fresh vegetables (from Bebe Farms), a basket of Shaklee products, several pairs of theater and concert tickets, art—the list goes on and on.

The silent auction, which featured art, ceramics, and framed photographs, attracted a respectable number of bids and happy
winners.

Skip Gibson, owner of a barbecue restaurant two doors up from the gallery, served his barbecued tri-tip and barbecued chicken and chile, and made a lot of new friends. His menu is very Santa Maria, and his prices are great.

“It was a lot of work to put this on,” said artist Hattie Stoddard

We appreciate your effort, Town Center Gallery (located in the Town Center West mall)!

If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.