Noontime Rotary did it again! Their California Dreamin’ beach-theme “fun raiser” on Saturday evening, Nov. 6, at the Fairpark was a super, smashing success and, as promised, sooo much fun.
Ticket sales chairman Scott Dunn
reported, “This is the largest crowd we’ve ever had.” It was 450 compared to last year’s 380—almost a 20 percent increase.
How to explain the upward jump? And in this economy? Events with themes are popular, Dunn explained. A whole bunch of folks arrived in attire suitable for strolling along the boardwalk or lounging on the sand: straw hats, flip-flops, big shades, Capris, and Hawaiian shirts.
Unfinished Business also impacted ticket sales: “It’s a really popular band,” Dunn commented. “People came from Bakersfield and Temecula just to hear them.”
The group’s fans got a fabulous bonus in that nationally known musician and local resident Terry Lawless played along that evening.
John and Cindy Ross, Jim and Julie Colegrove and Joni Gray and George Wittenberg were among the “surfers,” as was Fairpark manager Dennis Pearson and Minnie and Jim Andersen. Father Ed of St. Joseph High School gave the invocation.
For atmosphere in the Fairpark hall, the Rotary borrowed Patrick Ferini’s beautifully restored 1942 “woody” station wagon, an awesome icon of the ’40s beach scene. Carl Engel’s pristine 1967 VW Beetle convertible, stuffed with surfboards, likewise added to the ambience.
Craig and Jane Trapp appreciated the success of the live auction; Jane was on the auction acquisition committee. Susan Schrader of Community West Bank and Stella Martinez of Santa Lucia Bank appreciated Testa Catering’s great food.
There was a variety of really good pizza, baked on the spot, as well as the makings for burgers, hot dogs, soft pork and/or beef tacos, and a pleasing variety of salads.
Gina’s bakery at Town Center West provided the cake (one baked in the form of a surfboard). Nothing disappears faster than Gina’s cake.
A hosted bar wetted the whistles of diners and dancers. Susan Rees breezed by me with a mango margarita. I had to have one, too! Delish!
As soon as Unfinished Business pumped out its first notes, the dance floor was—abracadabra!—full and overflowing. I haven’t seen a dance floor fill up so fast in so short a time.
Blanche Fugate, in a blond wig (we knew it was you, Blanche!), danced her heart out, along with her business partners, Judy and Hardy Hearn.
Dr. Richard and Ruth Ann Ontell spent time on the dance floor, as did Tom andJani Martinez.
Auctioneer Jim Glines and emcee Drew Sugars (sheriff’s spokesman and former KCOY anchor) were the terrific conductors of the
live auction.
On a more serious note, one of the beneficiaries of the night’s proceeds will be “Eric’s Project.” As many in the community know, 19-year-old Eric Okerblom was killed in July 1990 by a distracted driver.
Noontime Rotary offered to pay for the production of a DVD that will spell out the dangers of driving while distracted. The DVD will be available to schools around the county.
Overall, the Rotary “fun-raiser” was a five-star event. For $50 a ticket, party-goers got a lot of bang for their buck.
Want to hobnob with Helen? Contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Nov 18-25, 2010.