THE CROWD:

There are 347 PBS television stations in America. Our own KOCE ranks sixth in the top 10 behind the major markets of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia.

KOCE has a larger viewership than KQED in San Francisco, KLCS in Los Angeles, KERA in Dallas and even WGBH in Boston. With 6 million viewers, this public broadcasting service gathered its major supporters for a 35th anniversary celebration gala at the Island Hotel, Newport Beach.

Surviving years of turmoil and controversy over the ownership of the station, KOCE-TV has emerged as a strong partner in the Orange County communications base. The evening honoring this community connection was fronted by Ed Arnold and Ann Police, co-hosts of the broadcast known as “Real Orange.”

Mel Rogers, president of KOCE-TV, addressed the crowd, speaking on the evolution of the station calling it, “A virtual electronic town hall serving 34 very diverse cities within Orange County.” Rogers added with enthusiasm, “KOCE-TV is a valuable extended member of every Orange County family.”

In addition, he paid tribute to Fred De Marco, former chief executive of the board of directors for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting overseeing the nation’s public television service.

De Marco was instrumental in saving the station from being sold to private entities. Sitting front and center in the Island ballroom with family and associates, De Marco, now retired, stood and accepted the applause of some 500 dedicated supporters.

The party was both elegant and lively, led by the co-chairmanship of two of the region’s most celebrated businesswomen.

Betty Mower Potalivo, president of the highly respected Northern Trust Bank in Newport Beach, and Lee Ann Canady, one of Orange County’s most successful real estate agents, joined forces to preside over the gala that would welcome such distinguished honorees as Newport’s much-loved Jack Lindquist, former president of Disneyland and his charming wife, Belle, who chose to wear a very special evening jacket over her gown.

“Michael Eisner had this made for me when Jack retired from Disneyland,“ she shared, showing off a spectacular one-of-a-kind beaded and sequined formal jacket emblazoned with the image of none other than Mickey Mouse himself.

In addition to warm recognition for Lindquist’s lifetime service entertaining not only the Orange County community but the rest of the world, the KOCE-TV committee also honored the Orange County Register and the Orangewood Children’s Foundation for their contributions to the education and enlightenment of the greater Orange County citizenry.

Another celebrated Newport citizen Jo Ellen Allen, chairwoman of KOCE-TV’s Foundation board, raised the temperature of the crowd by asking, “How many of you out there in the ballroom love the O.C.?”

A rousing response followed with cheers and applause as Allen, another highly respected Orange County businesswoman, who is also the director of public affairs for Southern California Edison, shared with the guests the historic benchmarks of public television.

The evening began with a reception featuring Ketel One Vodka and a room full of silent auction bidding. Mary and Phil Lyons, major underwriters of the evening, joined with fellow donors Kristina and Larry Dodge, representing their company American Sterling Group.

Also on hand were Teddie and Michael Ray, Deborah and Larry Bridges, Paul and Daranne Folino, Joann Leatherby and Greg Bates, Marybelle and Paul Musco, Ardelle Saint George and Don Carnegie, and Potalivo and her husband, Ken Potalivo, mingling with enthusiastic supporters.

As the J. Sterling Band played, the ballroom doors were opened for dinner service, which began with a lettuce wrap filled with cucumber, pear tomato and onion compote dressed in lemon basil vinaigrette.

The main course featured truffle-roasted Cornish game hen, and for dessert a Washington State apple tart drizzled with buttery caramel sauce and topped with vanilla bean ice cream.

Others deserving kudos for their support of the gala were designer and producer Michael Mora, who created a spectacular setting using Lucite tables under lit with alternating pastel-colored lights which came up and illuminated vases filled with stems of white orchids.

Peggy Goldwater Clay and her husband, Bob, joined Barbara and Kyle Eidson and auction co-chairwomen Judi Garfi-Partridge and Camille Dixon helping to create a magical night.

The feeling in the crowd was unanimous as toasts were made, “To another fabulous 35 years of public television in Orange County.”

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.