Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Restaurateur celebrates eatery anniversary

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, March 28, 2001 | 8:21 a.m.

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

Ferraro's Summerlin recently gave a splendid party to celebrate its one-year anniversary at the Trails Village Center, near the hub of Summerlin and the adjacent library, parks and Nevada Ballet Theatre complex.

Veteran restaurateur Gino Ferraro was host for the celebratory brunch, which was indeed a true Italian feast for the taste buds and the eyes. A masterful chef and talented businessman who owns three popular Southern Nevada eateries, Ferraro and his wife, Rosalba, personally greeted their invited guests, served generous dollops of charm with several fine wines and spoke openly of their 25 years in our city's competitive hospitality industry.

Filling the elegant dining room were guests including Brad Packer, Connie Ross, John Theiss, Carol Wilkinson, Terry and Barbara Nosek, Jack and Marilyn Bulavsky, Randy Swallow, Ted Bair and Christine Mahoney. Seen dinng with friends were Gregory Crosby, Ron Bradley, Brooks O'Brien and Joan Dudley, as well as Chef Les and Tammy Kincaid, Deborah Levy and Gabriele Penazzi. Others glimpsed in the crowd of blissful diners were Ann Henderson, Darcy Spears, Lisa Johnson, Tru Hawkins, Stacey Aegerter, Pat Draper, Casey Smith, Joyce Hudson and Sherri Swensk.

Excellence Awards

Setting a new trend, and perhaps even changing the style of entertainment for future events, the Nevada Minority Purchasing Council will present its sixth annual Excellence Awards, followed by a jazz concert. The black-tie event will feature a reception, silent auction and awards presentations during dinner, followed by a special concert-style performance with the legendary Harvey Mason and his equally talented guest stars Kenny Rankin and Gerald Albright. Each of the accomplished performers have notable records of achievement in jazz. Dianne Fontes, at 894-4477, has all the details and information on the evening planned, and reminds that reservations are a must.

Fund-raiser follow-up

Ever wonder about the final results of a particular fund-raiser or special project? Recently a report on the annual Christmas Bear Project arrived from the Sustaining members of the Junior League of Las Vegas. Thanks to the generosity of members and their guests, 370 needy children in our community had a Christmas to remember.

Under the direction of Wendy Kalb, chairwoman of the Christmas Bear Project, committee members matched the wish lists of underprivileged children with benefactors, who then shopped with specific sizes and needs in mind. Gifts, including warm coats, new shoes and grooming goods, were brought to the Sustainer's annual Holiday Coffee, an event hosted this year by Denise and Tim Cashman.

An enormous undertaking, this annual effort was co-chaired by Linda Givens, who often appears as Mrs. Claus in related activities. Serving on the committee as well were Wende Bell, Joanne Goldberg, Sharon Schmidt, Mary Blake, Linda Wohletz, Vicki Cichon, Robin Singleton, Adele Koot and Lynn Hunter. Others who also devoted nearly all their waking hours for a week to the process of assembling, wrapping, shopping and delivery operations were fellow committee members Lois Zellers, Betsy Rhodes, Daphne Campbell, Kay Fraim, Nancy Corrigan, Bonnie Lawyer and Denise Lemoine.

Arts supporters

Across America there is a noticeable hunger for the fine arts, be it through museum exhibitions, live music performances or the dramatic arts. To combat this trend Nevada Arts Advocates sponsored Arts in Nevada Day recently at the Nevada Legislature in Carson City. It is an occasion to bring Nevada arts and humanities supporters together with state legislators to emphasize the importance of culture in the state.

Beginning early in the morning, elected officials representing every corner of Nevada were treated to a breakfast at the Brewery Arts Center where greetings were provided by Joanne Nivison and Eileen Hayes, who later joined fellow Southern Nevadans Doris Femenella, Marsha Garcia, Joshua Abbey and Kitty Boeddeker as they sat with legislators during a joint session of the Nevada Senate and Assembly.

At noon NAA hosted a luncheon for 180 legislators at the Carson Nugget with keynote speaker Toni Tennille, Nevada's Ambassador for the Arts. Tennille, a longtime resident of Lake Tahoe, attended with her husband and fellow performer Daryl Dragon. At the podium for brief remarks were state Sen. Ray Rawson, Assemblyman Richard Perkins and Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, each noted for their strong support of the arts. Mark Zachman, a NAA board member, led the luncheon program which honored sponsors Judy Stokey (of Nevada Power), Lou Emmert (Sprint), Debra Jacobson (Southwest Gas) and Wells Fargo. Assisting were host committee participants Assembly members Vonne Chowning, Joe Dini Jr. and Richard Perkins, joined by state Sens. Dina Titus, Bill Raggio and Rawson.

Dema Guinn, first lady of Nevada, added her own gracious touch by hosting an Arts Day tea at the Governor's mansion. The well-attended event embraced arts supporters and elected officials alike, among them Las Vegas residents Kylie Johnson, Dr. Marcia Neel, Dorothy Kemp, Harry Ferris and Candy Schneider. Alec and Blake Shaffer, traveling to Carson City for the occasion with their mom, Julie Gilday-Shaffer, were among the guests enjoying the ambiance of the afternoon and the musical talents of Don Kemp, who played the mansion's baby grand piano to perfection. Kemp, a longtime figure in Las Vegas music circles, is the leading force in the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center project.

Club luncheon

The ladies of Mesquite Club who manage a most pleasant blend of civic and social events, recently held a Highland Luncheon. Persia Schmidt Golden chaired the St. Patrick's Day-themed gathering, arranged with fellow members of the club's Ways and Means committee, among them vice-chair Linda Baxter, June Clark, Anna Itkus, Kaye Gray, Linda Schanz and Virginia Longley. Betty Morrell, a confections wizard, created white chocolate treasure boxes that were provided as party favors.

Attending members and guests seen at the Mesquite clubhouse included Alice Boyer, Pat Duncombe, Velma Haselton, Alice Pearson, Sally McKinney with Phyllis Hendrickson, Mary Lowman, Dottie Lamp and Sara Southard. Others enjoying the fine salmon or corned beef luncheon menu included Mesquite Club's president-elect Phyllis Noblett, as well as Arlene Parkinson, Rita Isom, Golda Tobler, Phylus Roberts and Ruth Vogliotti.

Joan LeMere, whose granddaughter, Aida Gadelkarin of Bishop Gorman High School, was recently appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., was congratulated by Marilyn Essex, Dorothy Kemp, Maureen Schnitzer, Mary Ann Hantout and Mesquite Club president Billie Kenny.

Adding their efforts to the successful luncheon were Jeanne Greenawalt, Marion Kohler, Elaine Fish, Phyllis Young, Bertha Cononelos, Ruth Einerwold and Onnie Magar, who worked with fellow committee members Maggie Ellman, Sharon Kautzman, Margie Chapin and Patricia Heinzman to prepare and serve the delectable meal and program.