Tarnished Treasure brings in the funds for the needy

BARBARA DIAMOND

The Laguna Beach Woman’s Club will make the holidays a lot merrier

for some local families.

Proceeds from the annual Tarnished Treasures luncheon and silent

auction helped fund the club’s annual holiday party, held today, at

which low-income and special-needs families “Christmas shop” free

from donated and new items.

“We raised about $1,425 at the luncheon,” said Gayle Waite, who

chaired the event with Anita Mangels. “It was a record amount with a

significantly larger turnout than last year.”

The auction raised about $800 of the total.

Highest bid was for Bev Hine’s donation of “The Wizard of Oz”

memorabilia, a book and dolls. The bidder was Hine, who had donated

the book because her daughter, Lisa Morrice, didn’t want it. But

Morrice changed her mind at the luncheon and mom came through.

Hine also donated a copy of “Little Women” and dolls. Anne Johnson

was the high bidder.

The club’s 2004 Woman of the Year, Marsha Bode, will be doing some

stargazing through the telescope she scooped up in the auction.

Amy Larson donated two tickets to the Laguna Playhouse for the

auction, and Festival of Arts Marketing Director Sharbie Higuchi

arranged for two tickets to the 2005 Pageant of the Masters. June

Neptune and Bobby Fader contributed a gift certificate for dinner at

Tivoli Terrace during Festival Season.

Waite took home the leaded glass window donated by Nadine

Nordstrom, also bid on by incoming Mayor Elizabeth Pearson.

“We were going to have a short board meeting today, but we are

having too much fun so we postponed it to February,” club President

Peggy Ford announced.

Club members work overtime to make the season bright for the less

fortunate. They will provide three families with prime rib dinners.

Skipper Lynn is making Christmas dinner for 60 seniors who have no

place to go. Each will be given a gift.

“All Even Start kids will have their pictures taken with Santa

Claus,” club Women’s Resource Director Sande St. John said. “So will

the kids sent to us by the Community Clinic.”

Planning Commissioner Linda Dietrich contributed $50 to the

picture project.

The club is also making a $500 donation to the widow and son of a

40-year-old man who died suddenly leaving his family destitute and in

shock.

A special dessert was prepared for outgoing Mayor Cheryl Kinsman:

a birthday cake. Carol Reynolds played a rousing chorus of “Happy

Birthday” and “For She’s A Jolly Good Fellow” on piano.

Among those who attended the luncheon: Anne Wood, who greeted

guests at the door, Design Review Task Force member Marion Jacobs,

Nikki Ford, Veronica Nice, Cossie Mechling, Marthann Newton, Lisa

Stewart, Birgitta Schoen, Joan Trivett, among the first of the club

volunteers to arrive and among the last to leave, and husband, Don

Black, who should be made an honorary member of the club.

REALTORS’ FESTIVITIES

The Laguna Board of Realtors held its annual Christmas Breakfast

on Monday at the Surf and Sand.

Gayle Waite, of Coldwell Banker’s North Laguna office, was named

Realtor of the Year. Rick Cirelli of RTC Mortgage was named Affiliate

of the Year.

Almost 200 attended the breakfast, which included the installation

and retirement of board officers and directors.

Les Jenison of Prudential Downtown on Broadway was elected

president for 2005.

No Square Theatre entertained.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

It’s not easy to keep a secret from Barbara Painter, but daughter

Wendy Potter pulled it off.

About 70 guests attended a surprise party for Painter to celebrate

her 70th birthday.

“She was really surprised, which was just amazing,” said Painter’s

son, Rob.

“Wendy did a great a great job.”

Large bulletin boards were covered with pictures of Painter, her

parents, her children, friends and family.

“Look how sexy I was,” Painter said, perusing a snapshot of her in

a sheer blouse.

Another picture was of Painter at a school dance.

“My date at the dance was Lawrence Packenham and he’s here,”

Painter said. “Can you believe that?”

Samatha Ferri, 12, gala in a velvet dress, greeted guests at the

door of the party, held at Ben Brown’s Aliso Creek Inn.

Carol and dentist Norm Browne were among the guests.

“My daughter Wendy and their daughter Stephanie -- we called her

Stevie -- played together before they even went to school,” Painter

said.

“When they started kindergarten, I got to the bus stop to find

Carol in tears -- I was jumping up and down for joy.”

Each morning before school the girls called one another to discuss

what clothes they were would wear that day, Norm Browne said.

The Sandies presented Painter with a poster they made for her,

using candy bars for words. Sweet thought.

Sandy Thornton first met Painter in 1981.

“Barbara was on the founding board of SchoolPower and I was the

executive director,” Thornton said.

Painter also started the fundraising for the girls’ volleyball

team at Laguna Beach High School. Both her children were active in

school sports.

“Wendy was on the team and there was no money for the girls, so

Barbara raised it,” Thornton said.

Potter was freshman cheerleader when the boys’ water polo team

went to the CIF championships in her brother’s senior year.

“He was named MVP and he got a scholarship for water polo to UC

Santa Barbara,” Potter said.

Heidi Burkhardt, who graduated with him in 1975 and has stayed in

touch all these years, was a guest at the party.

Also on the guest list: Ben and Gigi Bount, Jeff and Linda

Jahraus, Walter and Jacqueline O’Hara, Diane Brashier, Skip Lowe,

Jerry and Renee Hornbeak, Cedar Creek Inn’s Lisa and Larry Ayres,

chiropractors Lisa and Gary Arthur, Painter’s cousin Mark Wilson from

Seattle and his wife, Ann Muenchow, and Painter’s grandniece, Kristin

Lieper.

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652; hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.