B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

The Toshiba Senior Golf Classic is back with style and a powerful

punch, once again managed by the folks at Hoag Hospital and the golf

staff of Newport Beach Country Club led by Jerry Anderson.

The massive, televised tournament brought in more than a million

dollars for Hoag Hospital last year, not to mention revenue galore for

local businesses and city chests. Defending champion Allen Doyle will

join local press at the Newport Beach Country Club on Jan. 22 to kick off

media day, which always begins with a lively breakfast conference

followed by a day on the greens at the club.

The Toshiba has become a Newport Beach destination event with a

volunteer effort that is unrivaled, ensuring an overall success,

especially for Hoag.

Speaking of volunteers, most, if not all of the local agencies and

nonprofit groups in our community would not make it without volunteerism.

President-elect George W. Bush has declared that 2001 should be the

year of volunteerism in America, and that philosophy begins one person,

one task at a time.

During the holiday season, the Alzheimer’s Assn. of Orange County took

time to honor volunteers, inviting more than 400 local guests, who make a

significant difference for people suffering from Alzheimer’s, to a

luncheon at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.

A few of the local notables included Tom Casey, Fay Blix, Jacqueline

DuPont, Chuck Conine and Newport Beach’s Pat Cox, who serves on the

Alzheimer’s Assn. advisory board.

A nautical theme for the luncheon was carried over into the awards

presentation. Mary Allen of Newport Beach received the “Life Preserver

Award” for her volunteer efforts associated with the Alzheimer’s Help

Line.

To make the Alzheimer’s fight one of your volunteer efforts for 2001,

call Linda Scheck at (714) 283-1984 and get involved.

* * *

A large contingent of Newport-Mesa folks joined in the celebrity

opening Thursday evening for the Walt Disney Co.’s new Downtown Disney at

the theme park in Anaheim. The premiere party opened the themed resort to

Orange County glitterati, some dressed to impress and many dressed to

stay warm and dry and still sample the delights of the new attraction.

The special evening was co-chaired by Disney Chairman Michael Eisner,

along with Disney President Bob Iger, motion picture superstar Sylvester

Stallone and his wife, Jennifer Flavin.

It was all part of Disney’s commitment to support the Elizabeth Glaser

Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Reportedly Eisner authorized the company to

pull out all the stops and make the opening one of the biggest in Disney

history.

Part of the magic of the new Downtown Disney is the incorporation of

fabulous restaurants, shops and entertainment in the concept.

Lido Isle’s Wayne and Kathy Heck have opened a Haagen-Dazs ice cream

shop there, and Costa Mesa’s star chef/restaurateur Joachim Spilchal,

founder of the Patina Group and Pinot restaurants, opened Catal

Restaurant and Uva Bar.

And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Local Margo Chamberlin handled

the public relations duties with panache, helping to bring in Orange

Coast support for the AIDS Foundation.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.