This high-octane fundraiser was held on Saturday evening, Oct. 2, at the Santa Maria Country Club. It was la dolce vita, Bo Cudd style. Total glamorissimo!
Miz Cudd, event chairperson, and her crew infused this annual event (which had been much in need of a makeover) with mega jolts of panache and pizzazz.
Everyone was agog at the snazzy ambience and the buzz of fun in the air.
The evening got off to a tony start as guests entered the club and heard the piano music of Jimmy Enos, while servers circulated with trays of Champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
Many of the gents arrived in black tie, looking oh-so-spiffy. Women-wise, this could have been a fashion show—the frocks were fab: long, short, beaded, strapless, frothy, sleek, sophisticated.
Mayor Larry Lavagnino’s wife Donna, clearly dazzled, was delighted at the obvious success of the event. “Next year,” she predicted, “people will be standing in line for tickets for this.”
Mayor Lavagnino’s son, Steve Lavagnino, was the comedian-emcee, and he was at the top of his game. The younger Lavagnino was very, very funny, and even more so when working with auctioneer Tony Gonzalez.
I call this the new-and-improved Mayors Ball, because some serious changes were made. It was not held at the Buellton Marriott, as it was previously. The optional dress code was abandoned. “Please dress up,” was the message on the invites.
The music was a standout. Bob Nations sang before and during dinner in the dining room. Enos and the exceptional violinist Betty Byers performed during dinner. After dinner and the auction, a band played for dancing.
One-hundred-and-fifty tickets at $125 a pop were sold.
Of course, the mayors of Buellton, Guadalupe, Santa Maria, and Solvang (and their wives) were on hand, as was the mayor of Grover Beach, John Shoals.
Helping the evening’s events unfold were City Councilpersons Mike Cordero and Hilda Zacarias. Kathy and City Council candidate Jack Boysen were there, as was former City Council candidate Dr. Michael Moats and Susan Moats.
Among the guests were Jim and Teresa Diani, Etta and Bob Waterfield, and Bob and Teresa Hatch.
Long-time UW supporter Cary Gray, conjuring shades of Fred Astaire, was a visual delight in his top hat.
The Chumash sponsored a table anchored by the tribe’s PR spokesperson Frances Snyder and Chumash PR specialist and former KCOY newshen, Nerissa Sugars.
PCPA Annual Gala—Pre-Peter Pan
PCPA, gearing up for its Peter Pan holiday show, held its annual giant fundraiser gala on Saturday evening, Oct. 9, at the Radisson Hotel. A whopping 267 tickets (at $125) were sold.
I was pleased to chat with the inimitable Erik Stein, who will play Capt. Hook (as well as Mr. Darling) in Peter Pan. Check out PCPA’s web page for a peek at the enchanting sets.
The event space was packed—it was elbow to elbow in the reception area, but you couldn’t miss the irrepressible Judy Hearn. Miz Hearn, fresh from a starring role that afternoon in the Follies at Arroyo Grande’s Clark Center, showed up in a black dress sprinkled with tiny, sparkling rhinestones. Or was it pixie dust?
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Oct 21-28, 2010.
