THE CROWD:Reno fields Parkinson’s questions

Former U.S. Atty. Gen. Janet Reno, who served during the Clinton administration, was the guest of honor at an event held last Friday at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort in Newport Beach. The Orange County Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation joined Hoag Hospital Presbyterian and its Parkinson Care Center as the event’s sponsors. It was the 14th annual Parkinson Wellness Symposium, which began with a VIP reception Friday evening and continued on Saturday with a weekend conference attended by 80 guests, including a number of experts in the field.

In 1995, Reno revealed that she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. As the country’s 78th attorney general and one of the most recognized women in the political strata, Reno was the first woman to lead the nation’s largest law enforcement office. Reno served an eight-year term under former President Clinton.

Addressing the crowd on the day-to-day struggle of living with Parkinson’s disease, Reno participated in a panel question-and-answer session as her audience of some 400 local guests, including Parkinson’s caregivers, healthcare professionals, and individuals living in the community and fighting Parkinson’s disease, opened up and shared personal stories with the former attorney general. Health officials estimate that there are approximately 9,000 people fighting the disease in Orange County.

For more information on the Orange County Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation, please call (949) 764-6998. April is National Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

The Junior League of Orange County raised approximately $30,000 at the organization’s annual golf tournament by the sea. The funds will benefit a variety of local charities served by the league. The second annual golf event unfolded at the Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point and was chaired by Mara Hampton.

Perfect weather and expansive ocean views made for a spectacular day sponsored by the Panera Bread Bakery and Cafe of Newport Beach along with a host of other generous Newport-Mesa businesses, including the popular French’s Cupcake Bakery on 17th Street, Taco Bell Corporation, Pavilion’s market, Foster’s Wine Estate, the Pepsi Bottling Group, B2 Beverage Company, and more.

The golf day ended at Club XIX with an Italian buffet dinner and reception. Michael Joseph, chief executive of Dacor, the title sponsor of the golf event, was honored for his underwriting support of the Junior League of Orange County. Live auction items brought in additional funds and included trips to Hawaii and dining experiences galore. Supporting the league were Jena Schuster, Dave Kinney, Mike Salmon, the Rowe family, the Vaccariello family, and a host of other corporate sponsors and businesses, including the Daily Pilot.

Some of the charities benefiting from the proceeds of the golf tournament were Girls Inc., YMCA of Orange County, Casa Teresa, and the Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center. The Junior League has also been a longtime sponsor of Orangewood Children’s Home and the Volunteer Center of Orange County. To learn more about the league please call (949) 261-0823.

The much-anticipated Philharmonic House of Design opened recently to rave reviews.

This year’s House of Design is in the hills of Tustin and is created around the theme of a Hampton’s beach house. The shingled residence, reminiscent of late 19th century summer colony homes, occupies a promontory with a sweeping view of Orange County and includes a boutique vineyard, tennis courts and a swimming pool.

The month-long celebration opened Saturday with a gala reception and tour, which tantalized hundreds of guests taking a first peek at the major facelift created by 19 designers from the American Society of Interior Design.

The more than 200 guests enjoyed dinner catered by Jay’s Catering, served on the tennis court under a large white tent. The talented Ron Kobayashi trio entertained, inviting the dinner guests up on the dance floor. The gala was chaired by Kim Weddon and a committee that included Terry Brick and Sabra Bordas of Newport Beach, as well as House of Design benefit Chairwoman Cindy Kornhaber, Karen Watkins, and a host of additional dedicated Philharmonic Society volunteers.

The 2007 House of Design is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays with the last entry set at 4 p.m. Special extended hours will be offered until 9 p.m., in addition to a selection of special lectures taking place during the run of the show. Go to www.philharmonicsociety.org for more information and a daily schedule of events.

runs Thursdays and Saturdays.