Sister Janet Corcoran is to Santa Maria what Peyton Manning is to Denver: an icon.
Like Manning, Sister Janet watches to see if the ball is dropped in important plays, which—in Sister Janet’s case—are any activities that serve humanity.
To that end, she frequently calls countywide decision-makers to prod them to do the right thing.
Long a champion for social justice, Sister Janet has had an amazing impact on this community and the health ministry she’s served at Marian Medical Center for the past 30 some years.
Her life’s work was celebrated at a reception on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Mussel Senior Center.
The event attracted between 220 and 240 people, with standing room only for the last arrivals.
Honestly, there were so many notables on the scene, a red carpet would have been in order.
U.S. Rep. Lois Capps, state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, and Santa Barbara County Supervisor Salud Carbajal drove up from Santa Barbara. Jackson emceed the event. She and Capps made much ado about Sister Janet’s proclivity for making calls at 9:30 on Saturday nights to lobby for her projects.
The celebration was sponsored by the Fund for Santa Barbara, which is, according to their website, “a nonprofit community foundation that supports grassroots organizations working for social, economic, environmental, and political change in Santa Barbara County.”
Capps, Jackson, Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino, Santa Barbarba County Sheriff Bill Brown, county Supervisor Steve Lavagnino, and Ed Murray gave tribute to Sister Janet’s passion for helping people.
Father Ed of St. Joseph High School and Reverend Judy Mackey gave blessings.
Among the crowd were the former county supervisor Tom Urbanske, former Santa Maria mayor Larry Lavagnino, and all current members of the Santa Maria City Council.
Celebrating an icon requires sustenance, which was supplied by a buffet table featuring two large cakes, cookies, grapes, and cheese and crackers. Ken Hough tended the wine bar, while Jeanne Sparks Hough made the rounds with her camera.
Joyce Howerton, who works with the Fund for Santa Barbara, was on the planning committee.
Sue Sword, Margaret Paden, Nancy Stewart, and Shirley Contreras were in the crowd, as was Nanny Wilkins of Lompoc. Of course, several nuns from Sister Janet’s order were also present.
A musician played “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” which made Sister Janet smile. She is, as all know, of Irish extraction.
Christmas trees at the Elks Club
As Sister Janet’s fete was winding down, 672 ticket holders were traipsing into the Elks Club at the other end of town for the nighttime Altrusa Club annual frenzy, the Christmas Tree Extravaganza, where 53 handsomely decorated trees, complete with gifts, were raffled off.
Tickets to attend the always-a-sellout event were $50 each and included a chicken dinner.
This fundraiser is a guaranteed madhouse. There were endless lines to stand in to view the trees and their bounty. Gifts under the tree included five crisp $100 bills, bicycles, cases of beer and wine, television sets, gift certificates, and 30 pounds of chocolate-—mostly from See’s.
Club president Dawn Young looked festive and glamorous in her long red dress.
The morning Altrusa and the noontime Altrusa opened their Christmas tree displays and raffles on Thursday, Nov. 20, in the downtown mall and the mall at Stowell and Broadway, respectively.
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 3, 2014.