Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Tea gathering benefits HELP organization

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2001 | 8:35 a.m.

Guests at the pre-event reception sipped mimosas, fruit juices and champagne, while awaiting their friends and tablemates, among them Eva Kallick, Stacy Bloom, Kathy Dalvey-Bonar, Mary Hausch and Kimberly Malloy. The tea, an annual event to assist HELP's many local programs that aid the at-risk working population, as well as the elderly, the very young and the less fortunate, was co-chaired by Sidra Kain and Ruth Urbanke with honorary tea chair Linda Robinson.

Featured were spa packages and fine beauty treatments as well as luxury goods that easily drew strong bids from Veronica Meter, sponsor Jane Armstrong, Marilyn Stark, Dr. Annette Mayes, Jan Richardson and Mollie Schneider.

The formal tea, complete with scones, clotted cream and other traditional selections, was served with great style by Four Seasons' staff and became a most enjoyable occasion for Harriet Trudell, Bridgette Kirvin, Terri Maruca, Kristina Steinbach, Maureen Crampton and Tanja Canencia, as well as Stacey Lied, Averill Mackin Conky, Ceres Morris, Leslie Altemus and Stacey Foley.

Making note of the stylish winter and holiday fashions shown by Saks Fifth Avenue were County Commissioner Myrna Williams, Evelyn Libby, Tamy Johnson, sponsor Dr. Goesel Anson, HELP's executive director Deni Conrad, Sharon Saiz, Jane Jensen, Kay Davis, Lou Emmert and Anne Dreschler. Parting gifts were sweet reminders of the successful event, including an assortment of spa products, as well as the exquisite Hawaiian note cards created by Linda Robinson.

Sulich signing

One of the season's most joyous offerings will be this weekend's Yuletide Celebration concerts presented by the Las Vegas Philharmonic at University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Artemus Ham Hall.

Adding a special element to the 8 p.m. performance Saturday will be a booksigning by dancer-choreographer Vassili Sulich. His biography, "Vision in the Desert," covers his lengthy career, celebrity stories and, most naturally, the founding of Nevada Dance Theatre. Sulich will also be present for the concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, again prepared to sign his book and visit with readers and friends. Contact the Philharmonic at 258-5438 for tickets and details.

Open house

A gathering of dear friends and loved ones, the holiday open house given by Dr. Monte and Jeanne Greenawalt once more became the meeting place for longtime Las Vegans and those making their mark in our community.

Greeting arrivals in the tiered foyer, the couple exchanged pleasantries with Aubrey and Joanne Goldberg, Helene Follmer, Kenny and Yvonne Gragson, James and Persia Golden, Sharon and Larry Schmitt, Joannie and Ron Richardson, Phil Peckman and Lois and Jim Zellers. From the upper gallery, the Green Valley High School Madrigals appeared in costumed splendor to provide listening enjoyment for many, among them Joyce and Tommy Tompkins, Dr. John and Hilda DiFiore, Donna and Chuck Ruthe, Paul and Marlys Kellogg and Chuck Woods with Nancy Gasho.

Many guests flowed naturally into the spacious dining room where the Greenawalts' French chefs served a delectable supper buffet to Bill and Mary Laub, Harvey and Maureen Schnitzer, Jennifer McCann with Lorenzo Doumani, Alice Pearson, Bruce and Billie Kenny, Dr. Max and Joan Doubrava, Beth Stewart and Wendell and Golda Tobler.

Others chose to take the elevator down to the spacious cantina-style family room, among them newlyweds Leif Brandon and Mary Barnett Brandon, Colleen and Clair Haycock, Beth Stewart, Kaye Gray, Bernice Fischer with Norman Cain and Vasili Sulich, and Robert and Lois Mahood. Gov. Kenny Guinn, seen with friends including Maria and Ted Quirk, explained his wife Dema was in Washington for a party at the White House.

Speedway donations

This week the Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities will award an astonishing $196,000 in grants to local groups during ceremonies hosted by Las Vegas Motor Speedway. SCC will provide generous checks to 17 local charities, which impact the lives of area children. Leading the program will be Dan Stark, chair of the SCC Las Vegas chapter.

Nearly doubling the monetary gifts from previous years, the group raises these funds through various local events, among them a NASCAR driver auction and go-kart race. Its goal is to expand the funding opportunities and increase the number of grant applicants. Grant checks will assist Girls and Boys Town, North Las Vegas Center Ring Boxing Club, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Amerindian Inc., Classroom on Wheels, Hemophilia Foundation of Nevada and Culture Shock youth dance troupe, as well as Boulder Dam Area Council Boy Scouts, Westcare Nevada, Las Vegas Sun Summer Camp Fund, Opportunity Village, Children's Services Guild, Positively Kids, Boys and Girls Clubs of Henderson, Learning for Life and New Horizons Center.

Veteran remembers

Bill Williams, former owner of Williams Mattress Company and a World War II veteran, last month joined the Nevada Women's History group in participating in Las Vegas' Veteran's Day parade.

While marching he carried a banner recognizing his military group, the 27th Division, 165th Regiment, Third Batallion, Company M-Heavy Weapons.

A highly decorated combat infantryman and machine gunner during the war, Williams survived four strategic island landings and was awarded a Purple Heart. He can be reached at 876-3586, and hopes to make contact with fellow veterans.