HELEN ANN THOMAS

It was Monday, July 2, at 4 p.m. There were tempting appetizers from Moxie Café, respectable wines for imbibing, and a group of groovy guests, not to mention an awesome venue–the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum. Yet this was my saddest hobnobbing experience ever. About 100 folks gathered to bid farewell to one of the […]

June was not exactly busting out all over with hobnobbing opportunities for moi. Social schedules were no doubt crammed with graduation and wedding dates that are not part of my world. So I was especially delighted to be able to go to a Santa Maria Noontime Rotary special occasion–the outgoing president’s step down dinner–on Tuesday […]

This has been a month chockablock full of happenings. Among them were the fifth annual Make-a-Wish Foundation Golf Tournament, the Breakfast Rotary Club’s fabled annual Luau and Barn Party, and Community Partners in Caring’s 20th Birthday Celebration. These are only three of a series of events that deserved our attention. Worthy of note were also […]

April showers bring May flowers, as well as popular and fun hobnobbing opportunities. An event that I call “Twenty Shades of Teal” was held on Saturday afternoon, April 14, at the Santa Maria Inn. The official name was the Teal Journey Ovarian Cancer Foundation third annual Fashion Show and Luncheon. The show attracted a crowd […]

Well, wasn’t this special? I’m referring to the month of March in Santa Maria. So much going on! Among the events of note were the OASIS Center’s annual fundraiser organized around the theme “Forever Rooted in Our Community.” Then there was the Minerva Club’s recently minted Furs and Spurs event. The Women’s Network’s eagerly awaited […]

Welcome to Wonderland. More precisely, welcome to the Mad Hatter’s Bash in Wonderland, a production of the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department. This dazzling and delightful evening of dinner and dancing raised money for the Special Olympics, now in its 50th year, on Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Veterans’ Memorial Center in Santa Maria. […]

What better way to start a new year than to ponder the state of one’s self. After the pondering, there is the matter of, “Am I on the right path? Is this where I want to be? What can I do to have a better life?” It is best to do this while looking into […]

There was much merriment at the Hats for Hope’s Christmas for Holly celebration held on the Sunday afternoon of Dec. 10 at the oh-so-nicely decorated Santa Maria Country Club. “Those who are here are real troupers,” said cheerful board President Diane Martino, “the smoky ash air may have kept a lot of people away.” Despite […]

Decorated trees, wreaths, and poinsettias set the stage for a festive and fun holiday luncheon meeting (Christmas Extravaganza) of the Women’s Network on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Santa Maria Country Club. Spirits were high—not a “bah humbug!” in the room—as guests bought raffle tickets for the 25 cellophane-wrapped and bow-tied raffle baskets (with a […]

Masquerade Ball. Doesn’t that sound like fun? There were masks galore at the Philharmonic Society’s annual fundraiser, held on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Radisson Hotel. This year’s theme was—you guessed it—Masquerade Ball. Imagine a roomful of gala-goers wearing the accessory du jour. There were feathered masks and masks with long, exaggerated noses, as well […]

It’s that time again. The Christmas tree raffle season opened with the noontime Altrusa Club’s Festival of Trees sponsor reception, which was also the Chamber of Commerce’s November monthly mixer. Held on Thursday evening, Nov. 16, on the lower level of Santa Maria Town Center East mall, the event attracted more than 100 people. Everyone’s […]

The annual Celebrate Philanthropy luncheon, organized by the Santa Barbara Foundation and sponsored by the Santa Maria Times (they picked up the tab for lunch), is, to moi, a social phenomenon. Extremely well attended and about 10 years old, the event is one of the hottest tickets in town. “We always sell out,” reported the […]