OUR LAGUNA: Making the scene with hats and wine

Heads were well-dressed at the South Coast Medical Center’s Women’s Advisory Council and Auxiliary fashion show April 25.

Their show at Laguna Cliffs Marriott hotel in Dana Point raised more than $25,000 to buy new equipment for the hospital and make renovations to the campus.

“In addition, it also gives our supporters the chance to connect with the hospital in a relaxed setting,” said Julie Christian, event co-chair and wife of hospital President Bruce Christian.

Guests at “Steppin’ into Spring” were encouraged to wear their favorite chapeaus to the event, which included a contest for the “best bonnet,” won by South Coast Medical Center employee Sharon Niederhaus, Marianna Kovacs, wife of longtime Laguna Beach physician Dr. Gabor Kovacs and Norma Bradt, who electrified the room with her lighted hat.

The sold-out event also featured the sale of hats created by Elise Massey, a silent auction, opportunity prizes and menu of penne pasta with garlic chicken with a mélange of vegetables, finishing off with strawberry garnished cheesecake.

Opportunity drawings were a big hit. Prizes included 10 suite tickets to an Anaheim Ducks hockey game, courtesy of Kimco Staffing Services, Inc. and Tom and Zada Megonigal; a week in Kauai, donated by Francine and Daniel Scinto; and a custom designed sterling silver, circle pendant, thanks to Lawrence Hart Milari.

Helen Simpson, director of Auxiliary Services, and Karen Smith, president of the center auxiliary, called out the winning names.

But the fashion show was the main attraction. Dana Point Mayor Joel Bishop served as master of ceremonies for the show, which featured fashions from Monarch Silks and Fullers for Men, both in Dana Point.

“Fundraisers such as this fashion show are important for South Coast Medical Center,” Bishop said. “I’m glad to be supporting this hospital, which has done so much for the community.”

The medical center serves the cities of Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, west San Clemente and Aliso Viejo.

It opened in 1959, constructed on donated land and funded by residents and businesses following the death of a Laguna Beach police officer who died on the way to a distant hospital.

The names of the original donors are memorialized on a wall in the hospital lobby.

And it was donors of time who made the center’s 13th annual fashion show such a success.

The 2008 committee, co-chaired by Christian and Kate Mullins-Buda, assistant executive director of the South Coast Medical Center Foundation, included Marje Adams, Wendy Allen, City Clerk Martha Anderson, Anne Berry, Amy Blackburn, former Mayor Kathleen Blackburn, Judy Brandmeier, Minette Carter, Sybil Carey, Anne Casey, Cyndi Elders, Shirley Eramo, Margaret Estep, Leanna Harrison, caterer Maggie Hempen, Carol Israel, Mara James, Kay Kearney,Gillian Kirkpatrick, Thelma Machlin, Bonnie MacMillan, Festival of Arts board member Anita Mangels, Zada Megonigal, Michelle Moreno, Bonnie Moore, Susan Morrison, Jeanne Olenicoff, Laguna Beach Vistors Bureau President Karyn Philippsen, Laguna Beach Woman’s Club past Woman of the Year Cheryl Post, Kat Quinn, Pat Randel, Carol Richards, Sara Sands, Ann Sherwood, Helen Simpson, Karen Smith, Wanda Stuart, foundation patient outreach coordinator Kate Tschudin, former staff member and volunteer Ellen Turnbull and foundation executive director Elizabeth Schneider.

“This year was special because we included some of our doctors, nurse and employees as models and I think people enjoyed that,” Schneider said.

Models included Drs. Red Alinsod, Nicole Carlberg, Michael Coccia, Jacob Cornett, Owrang Dastmalchi, Glenn Goldberg, Kenneth James, Elizabeth Lyster, Arian Mowlavi, Christopher Vanley, and Kovacs; Dana Point City Councilwoman Diane Harkey, County Treasurer Chriss Street and his wife, Victoria, and Hopalong Cassidy’s widow, Gracie Boyd.

Hospital chief operating and chief nurse officer Andrea Kofl gave the invocations and hospital employee Michell Metzler sang “God Bless America.” Tyler Murray provided the show music.

Almost 300 people attended the luncheon, including the Fabulous Fifth Supervisor Pat Bates, Laguna Beach City Council member Cheryl Kinsman (stylin’ in a baseball cap), Friends of the Library and Laguna Beach Taxpayers Assn. President Martha Lydick, Pat Thomas and Mimi Buffington.

  GRAPES FOR GRADS

The Chamber of Commerce and Rotary’s fundraiser for graduating students at Laguna Beach High School and the Laguna School of Art & Design, was held Sunday at Tivoli Too. Attendees had to be 21 or older.

“Grapes for Grads III” included tastes from 18 wineries and raised more than $20,000, committee member Steve Dotoratos said.

“It was a beautiful day and we raised a lot of money,” said past chamber President Dave Sanford, who personally sold 27 tickets. “This was the third year and the best one ever. Next year will be even better.”

Chamber President Jeff Redeker chaired the fundraiser. His committee included John L. Campbell, Maggie Hempen (busy lady), Jerry Immel, Janine Navarrro, Tracy Otto and Tom Simpson. Veronica Nice and Kerri Redeker organized the silent auction.

The event also included live music by the April Spain Quartet, which used to entertain at the Cedar Creek Inn, a silent auction, an exhibit of student art, and a painting demonstration. Montage Resort & Spa donated a two-night stay for an opportunity drawing.

“There was more of everything this year,” Dotoratos said. “We raised the most money ever, had more wineries and more people — about 300.”

Also more sunshine — which meant some emergency trips to the super markets for ice.

“I cleaned out all of Ralphs and Pavilions 20-pound bags of ice,” Dotoratos said. “We used more than 800 pounds, twice as much as last year — to keep the wines at the best serving temperature.”

Tasters included Michelle and City Councilman Kelly Boyd (talk about “a busman’s holiday” for the Marine Room Tavern owner), publicist Joan Gladstone, the Visitors Bureau’s Karyn Philippsen (another busy lady)and Judy Bijlani, Rotary President Jan Herkelrath, chamber Executive Director Rose Hancock, Gregg and Kathleen Abel, Peggy and Assistant City Manager John Pietig, Friendship Shelter board member Jill Edwards, LCAD’s Patsee Ober and college President Dennis Power, minus wife Lesley who has our best wished for a speedy recovery from a serious bicycling accident.

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 Suite 22 in the Lumberyard, 384 Forest Ave.; call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.