Wine auction raises money for needy children

The Speech and Language Development Center for neurologically

handicapped children sponsored a fine wine auction at South Coast

Plaza Village attracting a large contingent of the local crowd for a

Sunday evening soiree. Antonello Ristorante hosted the wine affair

starring Vince Ferragamo and co-chair Dennis Foley. Foley is a

respected fine wine auctioneer who handled the formal festivities.

Wine lovers with paddles bid for exclusive bottles of the fruit of

the vine, raising money for the Speech and Language Development

Center’s capital campaign to repair its Orange County campus. Founded

in 1955, the 47-year-old center serves more than 300 special

education students with speech and other handicaps. The young

students come from more than 40 school districts in the region.

Dedicated locals involved with the event were Jim Harker, Chuck

Gonzalez, Ray Bell and Loren Blackwood.

The 20th annual Newport Coast Concours d’ Elegance produced by the

Assessment Treatment Services Center and presented by Lincoln Motor

Cars will unfold on Oct. 6 in Irvine. The daylong event, which begins

at 10 a.m. takes place at Hidden Valley Park and will feature a

special presentation of this years’ honored marque, the Aston Martin

Motor Car. The auto show will also be a celebration of Corvette’s

50th anniversary. A display of Bonneville Land Speed Racers is

included to delight the crowd. Painter Bill Motta, a renowned

automotive artist, will have an exhibition of his work, including the

2002 Concours poster which he created for the event. The assessment

center of Newport Beach and Tustin has been serving the Orange County

community for more than 28 years, providing counseling service to

troubled teens and their families. Tim Allen, executive director,

said, “85% of all the revenue from the Concours goes directly to the

family counseling services.” The Concours is expected to generate

excitement among Lincoln enthusiasts as the company debuts newly

designed vehicles, including the new Towncar, which is a magnificent

redesign capturing the nostalgia of the early 1960’s Lincoln

Continental with suicide doors.

The Los Angeles Times recently bestowed a $10,000 grant upon the

Assistance League of Newport-Mesa, earmarked to support “Operation

School Bell.” The project supplies school clothes and materials for

needy children in the Newport Mesa school district. Penny Reveley,

president of the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa, accepted the

generous gift at a recent reception.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.