Feb 18, 2007

Masked revelers delight at 'Mardi Gras' gala

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

An interesting wine auction, celebrity auctioneer, beautiful masks, complimentary portraits and dancing until closing were highlights of the 11th annual Los Altos Community Foundation's gala, "Mardi Gras with a Heart." The Feb.10 dinner dance at Los Altos Golf and Country Club had a new look with a Mardi Gras theme and a wine auction.

"The party was just what it was designed to be; lots of fun, with delicious food and music," chair Ginny Lear said. Plus it raised $15,000 for the foundation's programs.

Lear's decorations carried out the evening's dual theme with centerpieces featuring white feathers and Mardi Gras colored glitter and red foil-wrapped chocolate hearts, which everyone sampled. Photographer Paul Tsang of Masterpiece Portrait & Wedding Inc. gifted the 130 dressed-up guests with a special Valentine's portrait.

California state Senator Joe Simitian's auctioneering style provided a fun, fast-paced and financially successful auction of "priceless" items. A rare-wine tasting party in Los Altos Mayor Curtis Cole and Debby Meredith's wine cellar was so hotly bid on that Simitian sold the party four times: to Bill and Claudia Coleman; Maridee and Bruce Charlton; Joe and Shirley Bailey; and Bob and Lois Adams, who made a partnership bid with Jack and Carol Kelly. Goody and Gerry Steinberg purchased a private tour of the state Capitol and lunch hosted by Simitian.

Some people plan ahead, and Judy Hannemann made the winning bid on a holiday tree donated by the Los Altos Kiwanis Club and decorated by designer Lynn Szekely-Goode and a team of Community Foundation elves.

Board members Henry Roux, Cindy Luedtke, Dave Knudson, Marge Sentous and Clyde Noel welcomed a mix of new and longtime foundation charter members and guests.

Heading the list of longtime supporters was auction coordinator Vicki Reeder and her husband Dave, Gay and Bill Krause, Mona and Bob Armistead and Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss. For Foundation Executive Director and founder Roy Lave and his wife Penny, the gala was also a bon voyage party for the two who left the next day for an African photo safari.

Attendees included new founders Duke and Vicki Slichter and Sue Hilger and Robert Katz, as well as first-time guests Mardee and Bruce Charlton, Debbie and Ken Munro, John and Stephanie Friend, and Patty Eiarson and Matt Cuson. Palo Altans Jim and Cathie Flatley and John and Terry Dolan were guests of Claudia and Bill Coleman.

And in a bow to tradition, everyone stayed late to dance off the calories from the heart-shaped chocolates and passion fruit mousse and asked DJ Joe Cannizzaro of Special Request to play the party's signature song "YMCA."