On the evening of Saturday, Oct. 8, the annual United Way Mayors’ Ball at the Santa Maria Country Club attracted more than 200 people for a landmark anniversary celebration.
This fundraising event was the brainchild of Eddie Taylor more than a decade ago, shortly after he came on board as the CEO of the organization. To the credit of Eddie and his colleagues, the ball has morphed into a can’t-miss party.
This year’s format followed the pattern of the past: complimentary sparkling wine served in the foyer and bar, photos by Heidi Gruetzemacher, gorgeous floral arrangements and centerpieces by Joe Guggia, the popular Heads and Tails exercise (which nets the winner a large-screen TV), dinner, and dancing.
Among the guests, of course, were Mayor Alice and John Patino, for whom the event was also a family get-together. She invited her two sons, Dominic and John, and their families.
Buellton Mayor Ed Andrisek, Lompoc Mayor Bob Lingl, and Solvang City Councilman Neill Zimmerman attended the gala, as well.
For this special occasion, United Way had promised pleasant surprises, about which they were quite correct. At each table setting, in a small white envelope, there was a card good for $50 worth of free play at the Chumash Casino.
At each place setting, there was also a small turquoise box—similar to what you might get at Tiffany’s when you buy a diamond ring—with Hershey’s chocolate candy kisses. The boxes were tied with a white satin ribbon. Visually, the small boxes dotted all over the tablecloths made a lovely—as well as tasty—presentation.
It was my pleasure, as a history buff, to meet Jeanne Orcutt. Yes, she is one of those Orcutts, great-granddaughter of William Orcutt, a pioneer in Santa Maria’s oil biz.
The Chumash’s government and legal specialist, Sam Cohen, and Trea Newman were at one of the Chumash’s two tables.
Trent Benedetti; candidate for Congress Justin Fareed; United Way board member (and City Council candidate) Mike Cordero with civic activist wife Linda; George and Tere Reilly; and the Chamber of Commerce’s Glenn and Shannon Morris were among the guests.
Robert and Sandra Dickerson, Jed and Diane Beebe, Bonnie Royster, and Karen Cordary shared a table.
Dinner choices were vegetarian or filet mignon covered with fried onion strips, accompanied by shrimp scampi, mashed potatoes jazzed up with red pepper sauce (which made them look very autumny, like sweet potatoes), and fresh asparagus.
Dessert was a serve-yourself deal at the dessert table in the bar area, where coffee was also available. Cheesecake squares, chocolate cake with mousse squares, and mini–creampuffs were the choices.
Event committee and board members Marisol Cruz and Austin Petty were seen circulating in the crowd.
Altrusa’s Leona Doidge and Diane and Larry Stevens assisted with check-in (and maybe check-out).
It is great fun to run into Jack Garvin at events. With his tailcoat, derby, vest, and two-tone shoes, Jack makes an awesome fashion statement and raises the sartorial bar for gents. Inge Garvin told me that friends call the couple “Flapper and Dapper.”
In the line for photographs, a grinning Jack advised me, “Keep on hobnobbing.”
Back atcha, fella.
If you want to hobnob with Helen you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Oct 13-20, 2016.