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 Women of Excellence awards dinner jump-started the month’s social calendar on Thursday, March 1, at the Santa Maria Country Club.
This dinner recognizes women who have contributed their time and talents to the community in a significant way. Everyone was pleased to see Diane Aleman-Stevens, Diane Beebe, Maggie Daane, and Chris Slaughter honored this time around.
Living in an OASIS
The OASIS Center’s Annual Spring Gala could not have been better or more fun. Held on Friday night, March 23, at the Radisson Hotel in Santa Maria, the event attracted about 150 guests.
Auctioneer Jim Glines and emcee (and 5th District County Supervisor) Steve Lavagnino were in fine fettle, at the top of their game, engaging in banter that was ever so entertaining.
Before dinner, guests enjoyed a social hour during which the Oasis Center’s legendary ukulele band played, and everyone perused the silent auction tables, which were laden with enticements.
There was lots of hobnobbing with the likes of Sheriff Bill Brown, Linda Smith, Jody Kennison, Jan Bartleson, Laurie Tamura, Diane and Larry Aleman-Stevens, and Tony Gonzalez.
The attire of the evening was a mixed bag. Some of the ladies heard the word “gala” and thought, “Oh, that means dress up.” Several looked sensational. There were a few long dresses and some serious bling. Men hear the word “gala” and think business casual. But as long as you wear a smile, who cares?
Bob Frias, thank you for a good laugh. By the way, I am drooling over the “wild game dinner for eight” that you and your wife Lori along with Dennis and Mary Ellen Pazenkratz donated to the live auction. The menu, patterned after one at the Cucina Italiana, in Portovenere, Italy, sounds simply scrumptious.
One of the features of nonprofit auctions as of late is the popular dessert auction. Wonderful donated (mostly homemade) desserts—cakes, pies, and cookies—are sold to the highest bidder. Some noontime Kiwanis who shared a table chipped in and bought one of the offerings. As I passed by the table and saw a few slices still standing, cheeky me asked for a sample.
“This is courtesy of the noontime Kiwanis,” said Steven Funkhouser as Rudy Gutiérrez handed me a piece of wonderful lemon-filled sponge cake, slathered in whipped cream (donated by George Bell).
“It’s really good,” Rudy said.
It really was. Thank you, noontime Kiwanis!
Another decadent delight was Darryl Freeman’s cheesecake that he decorated with strawberries and blueberries. Darryl told me before the auction that “it will probably bring about $50.” He was off by $450. Get thee back to the kitchen, Darryl, and start baking!
OASIS executive director Doug Dougherty was coming off a high—he had just organized Orcutt’s first St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which was a roaring success and perhaps the start of a tradition.
Julie Hall and the Spring Gala Committee deserve a big hand for a terrific job.
Furs and Spurs
The very next evening (Saturday, March 24), the Minerva Club hosted its Furs and Spurs fundraiser. Money raised goes into the preservation fund for their charming, historically important clubhouse (designed by the famed Julia Morgan) on Boone Street.
The event’s chair persons, Dottie Lyons and Kathy Brown, had to have been pleased as punch over the results.
The event was a two-parter: a VIP reception at the Santa Maria Inn at 4 p.m., where 50 ticket holders enjoyed classy Chandon sparkling wine and appetizers followed by a top block barbecue dinner for about 90 at the clubhouse.
I was glad to see Chuck Halsell looking so chipper after a string of medical challenges. He was there with a full entourage: his wife Margie, sons Joe and Paul, and daughters-in-law Candace and Larisa.
The event attracted Judy and Hardy Hearn as well as Santa Maria City Councilmember Etta Waterfield and her husband, Buck, Jim Bray, and Franzitska Shepard.
Jim Glines and Steve Lavagnino again did the auction program honors. Delores and Jerry Luis, Bo and Dennis Prescott, Jackie Brunello, Linda McCollister, Margaret Cooper, and Don and Angie Engelbrecht were among those who enjoyed the warm, fuzzy vibes in the room.
We want to give a shout out to the cheerful and capable wine pourers (Minerva member husbands): John Ransome, Erik Frost, and Tildon McGill. Guys, you did great!
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you can reach her at column151@gmail.com.
This article appears in Mar 29 – Apr 5, 2018.
