A host of generous people

BARBARA DIAMOND

Laguna’s hosts have the most heart, the most community involvement

and the most fun. Just a sample:

Dave Sanford and Stephen Dotoratos hosted a dinner Saturday night

for 23 guests who opened their wallets to benefit Friendship Shelter.

“I feel guilty that I had so much fun,” Dotoratos said.

Dinner was fun, the cause was serious.

Funds raised benefit the shelter’s programs, which include

housing, food, and counseling for single adults who are trying to put

back together their lives.

“We help get them back on track,” Sanford told his guests. “Just

by coming here means you have great hearts and here’s to you.”

The shelter doesn’t claim to solve all the desperate needs of the

homeless. They cite Loren Eiseley’s “The Star Thrower:”

“A man went walking along the beach one morning after a storm. As

far as the eye could see, the sand was littered with starfish, the

pounding waves had left stranded. They were sure to die in the hot

sun.

“Then the man saw a boy walking slowly down the beach, picking up

starfish and tossing them back into the life-giving surf. When he

approached the man asked, ‘Son, why are you doing this? There must be

thousands of starfish out there. You can only save a few -- what

difference does it make?”

The boy tossed another starfish back into the life-giving water,

then paused and said, “It’s going to make a lot of difference to that

one.”

More than 3,000 homeless men and women have been provided with

basic support services at Friendship Shelter, including a telephone

number and address, which is essential for getting a job, as well as

training in job-hunting skills, financial management and self-esteem.

“Many leave the shelter with money saved, a job, some practical

life skills and a sense of personal worth,” shelter Executive

Director Janet Larkley said.

Other dinners will be held.

Typically, dinners were held on one night, which gave the

fund-raisers its name: Dinners Across Laguna.

Hosts invite guests and/or donations. Local businesses help.

The guest list at the Mystic Hills home of Sanford and Dotoratos

included Chamber President Dennis Junka; Chad Conley; Sheila

Kurbatoff; Bill and Cecelia Pasqualino; Lee Greene, AIDS Services

Foundation and Splash founders Al Roberts and Ken Jillson; Calvin

Smith; Bree Cox; Robin Curtis; Joe Hudylik; Steve Wong; Nick, Toby

and Kanya Lindheim; and chamber board member Tom Simpson and his wife

Pam. Some were repeaters. Some were new.

“Ken and Al have always sent donations, but this is the first time

they have come to the dinner,” Dotoratos said.

Donors who could not attend this year included Jeffrey and Nancy

Stevens, Frank Ricchiazzi and Bordon Moller.

Aperitifs and appetizers were served on the heated deck with city

lights only slightly hazed by cloudy skies. Three tables were set up

in the living room, which had been swept of most of the furniture

except for a chest and a small, antique side table that belonged to

Dotoratos’ grandmother -- “probably the best piece of furniture in

the house.”

The tables were set with Fiesta Ware that Sanford and Dotoratos

have collected for about 10 years. Bread and butter and dessert

plates also were heirlooms from Dotoratos’ grandmother. An oil

painting of her is hung in pride of place in the entryway to the

home.

Except for 1-month-old Vance Simpson, who attended the dinner but

didn’t partake, guests paid $125 each to dine on satay provided at a

discount by Sam Tila of Royal Thai; soup and entre by Mark Jacobi of

Sundried Tomato; and hors d’oeuvres and desserts by John Secretan of

Zinc Cafe. Sanford picked up the rest of the tab. Eliseo Hernandez

supervised the kitchen and waited on the tables.

Len’s Wine Site provided wine and glasses. Floral Too created the

centerpieces.

“Dinners Across Laguna is the shelter’s major fund-raiser,”

Dotoratos said. “This was the most fabulous one we have had.”

STILL SERVING

American Legion Post 222 hosted a dinner Jan. 20 at Tivoli Too to

honor members who continue to serve the community, state and country

after leaving the military.

Post Commander Richard Moore and Adjutant/Finance Officer Jim Law

presented certificates of recognition to firefighters Eugene

D’Isabella and John Luna; Police Chief James Spreine, Reserve Officer

Ben Teschner; police department volunteers Dave Connell, Les Thomas;

post auxiliary member Marilyn Thomas; Earl Vannoy; Tony Dallendorfer;

and Hal Werthe.

“It was Jim’s idea,” said Law’s wife, Jean, secretary/treasurer of

the auxiliary. “He just realized how many in the post are still

serving the city.”

Also honored, but unable to attend: Judge David O. Carter, Police

Captain Paul Workman, Reserve Officer Tom Wall and Cop on the Street

volunteer Bob Moore.

SWEET THINGS

The Laguna Beach Woman’s Club will host the annual Outgoing

Mayor’s Luncheon and Dessert Contest Feb. 4.

“We are delighted to honor past mayor and club member Cheryl

Kinsman,” said International Chair Anne Johnson.

To sign up to speak at the luncheon or to make required

reservations, call (949) 497-1200.

Former Mayor Kathleen Blackburn will present her popular Top Ten

Peeves -- no doubt some of them gleaned from the 2004 election.

Past club President Veronica Nice is chairing the event. Kimberly

Salter, also a past club president is chairing the Dessert Contest.

No sign-up is required for the contest. There two categories:

Chocolate and All Others. Contestants should just bring their entries

to the luncheon.

Bobby Fader of Tivoli Terrance will cater the luncheon.

Admission is $15. The luncheon will begin with a reception at

11:30 a.m.

Feb. 1 is the deadline to make reservations.

* 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.