The Crowd -- B.W. Cook

The third annual Aristeia Awards, presented by KOCE-TV, unfolded at

the Irvine Marriott Hotel, attracting a distinguished gathering of local

support intent on fostering the goals of public television.

More than 250 guests applauded KOCE-TV foundation board members Peggy

Goldwater Clay and Gloria Gae Gellman for their outstanding effort

chairing the gala dinner and ceremony. The two Newport Beach leading

ladies helped KOCE-TV raise an impressive $84,500, which will directly

benefit Orange County programming.

Accepting the Jo Caines Expanding Minds Award, a most prestigious

honor bestowed upon a community member by the local broadcaster, was

Harbor Island resident Mary Lyons. The eloquent and understated champion

of many Orange County causes accepted the award with dignity. Lyons was

joined by Pat Halberstadt, Ruben Smith, Frank Quevedo and Norman Watson,

all receiving 2002 Aristeia honors from KOCE-TV.

Pat Beckman, Marian and Garth Bergeson, Hildee and Gary Brahm, Shari

and Harry Esayian, Tom Harmon, Julie and Todd Hollander, Nora and Hal

Lehman, Belle and Jack Lindquist, Essie Pinsker, Donna and Ronald Phelps,

Betty Mower, Leslie Purdy, Ardelle St. George, Diane Sussman, Irv Gellman

and host Ed Arnold and his wife, Dixie, were among those joining forces

for public television. The highlight of the evening was the very

passionate address by KOCE Chairman Mel Rogers, attending the event with

his wife, Marcia.

* * *

Newport-Mesa parents and friends of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana

raised more than $200,000 at a recent benefit billed as Moonstruck

Western Roundup. More than 500 guests pitched in to make the evening a

success for the largest private Catholic school on the West Coast.

Costa Mesa’s dedicated Cheryl Law chaired the evening, along with

Denise Menichiello of Huntington Beach. A committee of 50 super

hard-working moms and dads worked with Law and Menichiello to present a

fabulous affair for the school.

Major support for the Mater Dei event came from Andrew Edwards,

Crevier BMW, South Coast Plaza, Trader Joe’s in Costa Mesa and the

William H. Hannon Foundation. Mater Dei is undergoing a major 50-year

anniversary remodel and expansion.

* * *

Northern Trust’s dynamic Mary Cook, spotted this weekend at the

super-successful Newport Beach Spring Antiques Show at the Newport Dunes,

reports that the recent Orange County Literary Society event featuring

Debora Silverman was another high point of the spring social season on

the Orange Coast.

Silverman, author of “Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Search for Sacred

Art,” explored the relationship between the two artists who met in Paris

and “sought a new form of expression.” The author is a professor of art,

culture and European history at UCLA. Her book was 10 years in the

making.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.