What a lollapalooza!
The annual OASIS Spring Gala held on Saturday, March 23, at the Radisson Hotel was jam-packed with great vibes and high energy. About 250 people filled the hotel ballroom for dinner and the program. Julie Hall, OASIS staffer, told me it was a sellout.
Euphoria was in the air when this blockbuster party raised more than $50,000 for OASIS, which is planning to build a new community center in Orcutt.
Before dinner, during cocktail hour, everyone bustled about in the lobby, enjoying the melodic strains of the highly acclaimed OASIS ukulele band while perusing the silent auction tables.
For the 10th annual gala, OASIS chose to honor Orcutt's heritage, which, as we all know, is rooted in oil. In keeping with this theme, they recognized the descendants of a local oil pioneer family, the Openshaws, who came here from Idaho in the early 1900s to participate in the oil boom. Alan Openshaw was prominent in the early days of the new industry.
His three daughters—Karen Cordary, Sandy Saunders, and Deby Flynn—were honored. Those ladies are positively steeped in local history and will produce old Orcutt tales at the drop of a hat. Sitting at their table were Deby's husband, Ed Flynn, and their daughters, Shannon Verbryke and Kelly Nims, and Sandy's husband, Gary Saunders.
OASIS did a really good job of presenting Orcutt oil's past with a timetable on three large panels. Oil derricks bearing twinkling lights were table centerpieces. How cute is that!
Keith and Olivia Bugal, very active in OASIS operations, were beaming at the obvious success of the evening. Laurie Tamura, unofficial president of the Orcutt Booster Club, was also all smiles.
OASIS Executive Director Doug Dougherty was all over the place taking care of business. I couldn't pin him down for a picture. Next time, Doug!
Tina Porter and Barbara Alloway, members of the Los Padres Artist Guild, which meets and holds art shows at the OASIS Center, came to enjoy the festivities, as did Kevin Walthers and Shannon Elliot. Prudie and John Noon, representing the Woods Family Foundation, were also on hand. Among the other guests were Patrick and Jeri Ferrini, John and Karen Will, Blanche and Bert Fugate, Judy and Hardy Hearn, and Linda Smith. It was lovely to see Marci Ibsen out and about.
Mayor Alice Patino and City Councilwoman Etta Waterfield were at a table that included Jackie Brunello and Mike Gorbell.
The Dream Team of Jim Glines (auctioneer) and Steve Lavagnino (emcee) guided the evening's program.
Board member Delores Luis bought Dottie Lyon's apple pie in the ever-popular dessert auction. Dottie, your pie was delish! I must note that Darryl Freeman, the cheesecake guy, donated one of his specialties.
At the end of the evening, Joe Sheaff, chairman of OASIS's board, said to me, "This has been heartwarming. People are so generous."
I was thinking that, too. The auction could have been called "Old Maud"—it was truly a gusher.
Boys and Girls Club tea
Another event that delivered good fun was the Boys and Girls Club's annual tea, titled Bloom, held on Saturday, March 9, at their clubhouse. The gist of this afternoon event is that attendees buy raffle tickets for donated "gift baskets" and enjoy tiny sandwiches, salad, and sweets, which are prepared and served by club members.
Tables of eight or 10 can be hosted by ladies who pulled out all the stops in decorating their tables. Nancy Hight and Wanda McDonald were among the cheerful participants.
At this tea party, the term "gift basket" is a bit of an understatement. Most of the raffle items take up half of a table and could never squeeze into one basket, unless it was the size of a wine barrel.
One of the items at a "basket" overflowing with goodies was a certificate for a bingo buy-in (machine included) at the Chumash Casino. That was a fun first—I hadn't seen that before.
Ticket buyers could imagine sitting at a garden table, beside a robellini palm, enjoying a sip of wine and a view of potted plants—all donated by Carl Engle, a longtime Boys and Girls Club supporter. Apparently this purveyor of compost wants to encourage gardening. This "basket" could fill half of a truck.
Yours truly won $80 worth of lottery tickets, redeemed for $33. Not exactly a gusher.
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at [email protected].
