Around the Town: Reserve Corps honored; all aboard USS Iowa; NGA appreciation
Who would give up his or her weekends for no pay after months of grueling training? Some might do it for the excitement and adventure, but for the brave Angelenos, the motivation is a sense of duty to assist in doing what each can for community safety.
Such is the mission of the Los Angeles Police Reserve Foundation that held its “Twice a Citizen” gala on May 4 at the Skirball Center. Honorees were: lawyer and philanthropist David W. Fleming; actor and executive producer Nathan Fillion and Alexi Hawley, creator and executive producer of ABC’s hit series “The Rookie.”
Of course, the couple of the night was Karla (foundation co-president) and Bill (Reserve Officer participant and volunteer) Ahmanson. Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Police Dept., LA King’s Daryl Evans, actress Amy Aquino and Chief of Police Michel Moore were co-hosts for the evening.
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Known as the best party in the city, Los Angeles Zoo’s annual Beastly Ball attracted more than 800 guests on May 18. Everyone enjoyed up-close encounters with extraordinary animals while being entertained by dazzling performances by musicians and dancers. A feast was located throughout, featuring everything from green corn tamales (from El Cholo) to gourmet hot dogs (from Pink’s) plus jalapeño-cornbread donuts with maple glaze and bacon, just to name a few options. The evening’s festivities ended in the Zoo’s plaza for dancing and budget-busting auctions. In addition to honorees Dr. Sylvia Earle, Glen Curado, Duff Goldman and Connie Morgan, others applauding the event’s $1.5 million raised were Kathy and Steve Shultz, Jenny and Jay Sonbolian and Lisa Ling and her daughter Jett.
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The NGA of Hancock Park threw a member appreciation bash after a year of providing for the many shelters and programs that serve the underserved in our area. Shar and Robert Penfold welcomed more than 70 ladies and their spouses for an alfresco dinner at their Fremont Place home May 30. NGA president Beverly Brown offered congrats for a record-breaking season of fundraising and giving.
Among those in the generous and “get-your-hands-dirty” crowd were Marilyn Wells, Cathryne and John Macievic, Jennifer and Mark Kim, Robin and John Jameson, Danielle and Ron Reyes, Isabel Mayfield, Kiel FitzGerald and Jeff Rueben, Laura and Craig Collins, Dede and Chris Black, Julie and John Brumlik, Jan Daley and Steve Sauer, Lyyli and Bennie Robinson, Lisa and Roger Morrison, Amy and Kent Savagian, Marion Plato, Mary Woodward and Stephanie and Michael Sourapas.
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A backyard musicale on a pleasant June 2 Sunday afternoon took place in the Miracle Mile North gardens of the Paul Williams-designed home of Toby Horn and Harold Tomin. Featuring the duo, “Les Maîtres du Violon,” of Sylvia Schwartz and John Ott, the audience of about two-dozen music aficionados gathered under the shady trees enjoyed hearing four sonatas from the 17th and 18th centuries.
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Lots of locals headed to Las Vegas for the early-June national convention of the American Institute of Architects. Spotted attending sessions (including one describing the engineering of the world’s tallest observation wheel, the “High Roller“) were John Kaliski, Caroline Labiner Moser, Martha Welborne, Mark Rios (who formerly officed on Larchmont) and others. Also there, as reported in this issue’s “Home Ground” column on Lake Mead, was columnist Paula Panich. The annual architecture convention comes to Los Angeles in May of 2020.
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The St. Andrew’s Society in Southern California is a nonprofit organization, with no religious affiliation, that was founded in Los Angeles in 1930. Named after the patron saint of Scotland, the Society is devoted to the promotion of Scottish culture.
This year, it gathered members and friends to celebrate St. Andrew’s Day in the beautiful backyard of the Hancock Park home of the British Consul General on June 16. This residence on June Street has been the Consul General’s home for 61 years. (A great real estate purchase for the Brits in 1957!)
Organizers of the event, which supports research activities at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, included Dr. Richard MacKenzie, the director of the hospital’s Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine for 40 years.
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“Permission to come aboard” was not just the theme of the St. Vincent Meals on Wheels (MOW) fundraiser. The event actually was held on the USS Iowa harbored in San Pedro. It was a “benefit on the battleship” that starred 105-year-old WWII veteran Lt. Comm. Guy Autore. “This is my ship!” he said.
Buffets heaping with veggies and salmon were followed by desserts and lattes and topped off by music and dancing with the nostalgia band, The Topics.
“We deliver not just meals, but love,” declared MOW executive director Veronica Dover, reminding guests that the group behind MOW, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul, arrived at this very port in 1858. Supporters from our ’hood included Laurie and George Stoneman, Paula Marcus, Meredith Carr, June Bilgore, Laura and Richard Esposito and Daryl and Jim Twerdahl.
From ship to shore, Larchmont has philanthropy in hand.
And that’s the chat!
By Patty Hill
Category: People
