Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Reid’s wife still recuperating from complicated operation

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 1999 | 9:27 a.m.

Elizabeth Foyt's social column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at elizabethfoytsimmons@prodigy.net.

Landra Reid, a lifelong Nevadan and wife of Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, has been released from Sunrise Hospital but remains under watchful care.

The mother of five and beloved grandmother to a flock of lovely little ones, Landra underwent a complicated surgery earlier this summer. This petite but very determined woman has provided Nevada with a gracious representative in Washington throughout the senator's many years of public service.

Landra, who worked tirelessly on her husband's 1998 campaign, is often credited with inspiring his efforts to fund services and research in the area of women's health issues. We wish her a speedy and most comfortable recovery.

Another year older

A delightful 21st birthday celebration was recently held for Samantha Packe, daughter of interior designer Jeri Packe and the late Tony Packe. Arranged in great secrecy, the dinner reception and dance at Arizona Charlie's came as a total surprise to the honoree.

Co-hosted by her mother and close friends, Jean Delano and Sandy Peltyn, the party included a series of special toasts and a wonderful video montage of treasured family photographs narrated by Samantha's proud mama.

Guests entered the second-floor ballroom through soaring black and white balloon arches and later mixed and mingled with friends at tables adorned with scarlet flowers and zebra striped table cloths.

Among those at the Sunday evening party were Scott Gehring, RJ and Roger Peltyn, Gary Longfellow, Jack Binion Behnen, Laura Fritz, Dr. Neil Straus with his artist wife, Joyce Straus, as well as Pierre Jovan, Papote Varet, Lul Bubion and Neil Huffey, fresh from a month's jaunt through Europe with college buddies. Glimpsed in the throng as well was Jon Tullis, taking a rare evening off from his duties as director of floral services for the Venetian hotel-casino.

Samantha's big brother, Ashton Packe, now serving as a deputy sheriff in Northern Nevada, was unable to attend but family members enjoying the festivities included her uncle, Bill Tucker, and grandmother Thea-Thea. Cheering on the birthday girl as she cut her cake were family guests Aileen and Bryan O'Shields, David Thornton, Sandy and Jimmy Comito with their children, John Clark, Kevin Jackson and Michele and Michael Berk.

Golf for a cure

Making a difference in the lives of those afflicted with cystic fibrosis is the annual Cystic Fibrosis Golf Classic, slated for Monday at the Canyon Gate Country Club.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. and tee-off is at 8 a.m. Vince Garth, executive director for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, reports this tournament, now in its fourth year, generates a great deal of needed revenue to further research on this disease.

Tournament participation is priced at $400 per individual or $2,500 for a corporate foursome. The field is open to 144 golfers, with each participant certain to find a challenging and competitive day on the course. Prizes, including a 1999 GMC Yukon Denali donated by Desert Buick GMC, will be awarded to the golfers who take part in a hole-in-one, longest drive or closest-to-pin contest.

The day will conclude with a cocktail reception and dinner with a keynote speaker, as well as a live and silent auctions. Contact Vince Garth (383-8500) for details on the tournament or volunteer activities for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Artful gathering

The Nevada Arts Advocates is a statewide organization dedicated to advancing cultural arts in our state through education and advocacy.

Established more than 20 years ago its goal is to promote cultural arts as a fundamental part of the quality of life in our state. Its intention is to increase funding for the Nevada Cultural Arts Council, the major provider of government grants to the arts throughout our state.

In recent years Nevada Arts Advocates has established a Legislative Arts Caucus comprised of state representatives who are supportive of the arts. In addition, the Advocates provide scholarships to graduating high school seniors in our state who have demonstrated excellence in the arts.

The recent Nevada Arts Advocates luncheon was an occasion to reflect upon the passing of Colleen Schroeder, founding member of this organization and dozens of others, who had an unquenchable enthusiasm for the cultural arts. Colleen was fondly remembered by so many of those present and in formal remarks by NAA President Roger Peltyn, as well as Eileen Hayes, executive director of Nevada Opera Theatre, and Sally Walton, a longtime friend who represented Colleen's family at the luncheon.

Reflecting his own commitment to the arts in Nevada was keynote speaker Sen. Ray Rawson. A rich thread throughout his speech was the value of the arts for our society and our great fortune in the treasure of fine entertainers our state proudly calls residents. Rawson provided highlights of successful legislation during Nevada's 1999 Legislative session which included the issuance of arts-supportive license plates. He currently serves as chair of the Legislative Arts Caucus, which has a membership of 61.

Supporting the organization at the luncheon were Nevada Assembly members Gene Segerblom, Vonne Chowning, Harry Mortenson, Mark Manendo and Thomas Kelly, to name just a few. Sprinkled across the room with fellow arts enthusiasts were board members including North Las Vegas Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, Judy Kropid, Dr. Marcia Neel, Jean Norton and Mimi Rodden.

Listening attentively to the speeches, as well as the superb program provided by Nevada Opera Theatre artists, were Mae Muskin, Charlie Silvestri, June Brennan, Georgia Neu, M.J. Harvey, Susan Houston, Don Wilson of Sen. Reid's office, and Susan Tompkins, founder-president of the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

Opening festivities

Curious about the splendors of Paris, the newest rising star on the Las Vegas Strip? Opening festivities will be glorious, befitting a resort named for the City of Lights. Plan now to attend the only open-to-the-public event during the resort's opening week. On Sept. 3 a most splendid celebrity gala and VIP screening of the Academy Award-winning film, "The French Connection," will be presented as Paris hosts the 1999 CineVegas International Film Festival's first event of the year.

John Daly, of "Real TV," a CineVegas board member and longtime Las Vegas resident, will act as master of ceremonies for the entire festival and the gala events. The French-themed resort, in working with CineVegas board President Michele Berk, has arranged for the unveiling at the gala of the Roger Viollet collection, "Paris, A Century in Photographs," a special loan arrangement made possible by the kindness of the mayor of Paris.

A $100 ticket price, which includes a screen pass as well as admission to the celebrity gala, is available by calling the CineVegas Festival office at 477-7530 or through the Paris-Bally's ticket office at 967-4567. CineVegas received international acclaim for its inaugural event in 1998 with the world premiere of "Star Trek: Insurrection" and an early screening of "Gods and Monsters," which went on to win Golden Globe and Academy awards. Funds raised through the Sept. 3 gala will be used for its Youth In Film program for young Nevada filmmakers.