At 2:30 in the afternoon on July 13, Karen Cordary, arms full of raffle ticket rolls and supplies, waltzed into the Addamo tasting room on Clark Avenue in old Orcutt.
For the past eight weeks, Karen has been part of a crew that raised money for and awareness of the local Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life marathon walkathon. This big, 24-hour event, as most know, took place at the Elks/Unocal Center off of Highway 101. Hundreds attended.
Before the stellar “main event,” however, Relay Chairperson Debbie Jeffers orchestrated a series of mini-events with the help and blessing of her boss, Liz Addamo. Liz made it possible for Debbie’s fund-raising peers to hold pleasant Sunday afternoon gatherings (3 to 7 p.m.) at the tasting room, where folks could eat, drink, socialize, and have 10 percent of the tab go to the cause. Waitresses volunteered to contribute their tips to the pot.
Additional contributions came from the sale of raffle tickets and half-and-half tickets. Over the course of eight Sundays, about $5,000 was realized.
About 100 people drifted in and out during the afternoon of the 13th. The star servers and guest hosts were former Santa Maria Police Chief John Sterling and former radio talk show host Tony Gonzales. Sterling showed up in black tie and looked like a proper headwaiter. Gonzales manned the bar, while Sterling circulated on the tasting room floor.
Sterling has been involved with Relay for Life for more than five years. He belongs to two teams in Lompoc, where he lives.
“There isn’t one person in this room,” Sterling noted, “who doesn’t know someone who has cancer, who has died from cancer, or who has survived cancer. Cancer touches all of us in one way or another.”
During our group talks, it came up that Sterling has not one, but two children serving in Iraq. Service to country is another topic on which he expounds with passion.
Insurance agent and Kiwanis member Libby Kelly praised the Righetti Key Club for their participation in the marathon: “They organized great teams,” Libby said. “They are awesome.”
Key Clubs, as everyone knows, are high school service organizations sponsored by the Kiwanis. After she bought a fistful of raffle tickets, Libby kept threatening to leave—she had somewhere to go—but the spirited conversation at our small table thankfully kept her in her seat!
Roy Allen, coordinator for the local Alzheimer’s group, kept us entertained and informed. He greeted everyone with a warm handshake and the question, “How’s your memory?” Roy is getting ready for his group’s annual Alzheimer’s Memory Walk, which will have a July 21 kick-off at Magnolia, a new Alzheimer’s care center.
Jerri Akins (remembered for her involvement with the now-defunct Economic Development Association), Susan Klucker (civic activist), Karen Cordary, Sterling, and moi had a grand time exchanging strong opinions while sampling various irresistible Addamo menu items.
Debbie Jeffers is finishing up her two-year term as chair of Relay for Life. Deb is about to pass the leadership torch to another. As for Karen, well, I think she just keeps truckin’! That girl goes everywhere.
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Jul 17-24, 2008.
