Charity under candlelight for the center

B.W. COOK

The 2004 Candlelight Concert underwriters’ reception brought together

Orange County Performing Arts Center donors for dinner at Morton’s of

Chicago -- The Steakhouse in Costa Mesa.

The recent event was chaired by Sandy Segerstrom Daniels with

assistance from auction chairwoman Janice Agopian. It raised

significant funds from an intimate live auction held while guests

dined on the exceptional Morton’s buffet dinner.

“This evening is really one of the special nights on the social

calendar,” offered the very fashionable Ronnie Allumbaugh of Newport

Beach.

The well-dressed Mrs. Byron Allumbaugh, who has been very active

with the Candlelight Concert for many years, added, “This is an

evening when good friends come together enjoying a wonderful dinner

and good conversation. It really sets the proper tone for the

Candlelight Concert, which is the major fundraiser for the center

each and every year.”

The 31st annual Candlelight Concert is set for Dec. 3, followed by

the seventh annual Candlelight Encore Concert on Dec. 4. Carol Wilken

is leading the Candlelight Concert this year, with Lido Isle’s Joan

Riach handling co-chairwoman responsibilities. Pam Bender is set to

organize the encore event, working with co-chairwoman Sandy

McLaughlin.

In the crowd at the Morton’s reception were Cerise Feeley, Shari

and Harry Esayian, Jeff and Barbara Bennett, Dick and Pat Allen, Dee

and Larry Higby, Jan Landstrom, Terry Goldfarb and Terry Lee, Serena

Lam and Cecilia Lam, Suki and Randy McCardle, Cynthia Nolet, Malcolm

and Pamela Paul, and Gini and Bob Robins. Also in the crowd were

KOCE-TV’s Mel and Marcia Rogers, Joyce and Tom Tucker, Debbie Simon

and Caroline Jones.

Newport’s pretty Alexandra Robinson reports that the second annual

Christmas gala benefiting the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society will take

place at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort. The Dec. 16 black-tie event

will feature a five-course dinner in the waterfront dining room with

a fabulous auction. Tickets are $150 per person with all proceeds

going to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. For more information, please

log onto alex@poshevents.net.

Martha Harper shares that Costa Mesa’s St. Joachim’s School will

sponsor its fourth annual golf tournament Dec. 6 at Strawberry Farms

Golf Club in Irvine. A pre-tournament reception will be held at the

Newport Sports Museum in Fashion Island on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. The party

will include a golf putting tournament for St. Joachim teachers and a

live auction to help raise needed funds for the new school building.

For more information, please visit mharper1111@yahoo.com.

The Newport Dunes 11th annual “Lighting of the Bay” will take

place Dec. 10. This year, 50 blind children will be among the first

youngsters to dive into the 40 tons of snow being brought into the

Newport Dunes Resort, transforming the normally tropical playground

into a winter wonderland. Organizers are also putting together a

petting zoo filled with farm animals. Wingnuts, a Costa Mesa

restaurant, will be underwriting the children’s lunch. As the sun

sets, the Newport Dunes will celebrate as Santa arrives to flip the

giant switch that will illuminate 50 Christmas trees situated along

the Back Bay area. It will be an evening of Christmas carols for the

entire family. For more information, contact the Newport Dunes Resort

at (949) 729-3863.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.