B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

Barbara Glabman has always had a rather regal air about her. As the

chairwoman of the upcoming American Red Cross Clara Barton Spectrum

Awards, the Glabman style will be put to very good use as Orange County

welcomes Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands as both

guest of honor and featured speaker at the ceremony.

The eighth annual event pays tribute to outstanding women in the

community from a diverse arena of professional and personal pursuits. The

honorees will be introduced at the luncheon event co-chaired by Marlene

Hammontree.

The organizing committee includes a power list of locals such as

Marsha Anderson, Hyla Bertea, Sarah Corrigan, Olivia Johnson, Donna

Phelps, Judith Sweeney, Noddie Weltner and Carol Wilken to name only a

select few.

Princess Margriet, the wife of Pieter van Vollenhoven and the mother

of four adult sons, is the president of the Standing Commission of the

Red Cross and the Red Cross Crescent societies. She also serves as vice

president of the Dutch Red Cross.

As a trained and qualified nurse with first class credentials, the

princess clearly considers her involvement with Red Cross endeavors far

more serious than ceremonial. The event unfolds Oct. 5 at the Hyatt

Regency Hotel, Irvine. For reservations and information call Gayle

Maehara at the Orange County Red Cross, (714) 481-5366.

* * *

Yet another local powerhouse organization, The Harvesters, are busy

preparing for their eighth annual harvest luncheon and fashion show on

behalf of the Food Bank of Orange County.

This strong cadre of 50 women expect a turnout of up to, and perhaps

over, 800 guests overflowing the capacity of the swank Four Seasons Hotel

Ballroom, Newport Beach.

Set for Oct. 17, the full-day event commences at 10:30 a.m. with one

of biggest silent auctions on the Orange Coast.

This year organizers have created a feeling of the New York Fashion

Week on 7th Avenue as Harvester guests will move from the silent auction

into the main ballroom for the luncheon and the fashion show produced by

South Coast Plaza.

“South Coast Plaza will dazzle us with the most sophisticated and

exciting runway show possible,” says Harvester Ann Smyth.”There will be

considerable attitude and edge with this production.”

Founded by Jennifer Van Bergh and Jill Johnson-Tucker, the Harvesters

have raised millions of dollars and have helped feed countless tens of

thousands of local citizens.

“Our job unfortunately has not diminished,” Van Bergh says. ‘We must

keep working and growing to meet the need out there. This year, our

annual event is being chaired by Jeri McKenna and let me tell you, she is

doing one fabulous job. We are so grateful for Jeri, and we can all be

proud of what we accomplish.”

For more information on the upcoming event, call the Harvesters office

at (714) 771-1343.

* * *

And speaking of fashion, Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza will present

its second annual “Spotlight on Gowns” Sept. 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on

the third floor of the South Coast Plaza store.

The fashion evening is part of the fall presentation of happenings

associated with Candlelight Concert 2000, benefiting the Orange County

Performing Arts Center.

Organizers have slated a series of pre-events for Candlelight this

coming season, including a fabulous party in November hosted by society

pearl purveyor and jeweler Mikimoto in conjunction with House Beautiful

Magazine.

For the September gown extravaganza, Nordstrom will present a

collection of formal attire from designers all over the world. The

evening is being coordinated by Nordstom’s Penny Newman, who heads its

designer salon. The fashionable duo of Pat Rypinski and Patricia Ann

Marshall are serving as co-chairs for the presentation.

Reservations are limited. Call (714) 556-2122, Ext. 202 for more

information. This should be a wonderful evening that will kick off the

fall social season with considerable panache.