Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Benefit attendees get audience with senator

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004 | 8:15 a.m.

Van Heffner, president and chief executive officer of both the Nevada Restaurant and the Nevada Hotel and Lodging associations, has worked to create the Restaurant Roundtable Program to fund scholarship efforts and industry programs to benefit Nevada's hospitality industry.

On Aug. 4 Heffner welcomed Sen. John Ensign to an intimate luncheon event at Paymon's Mediterrean Cafe and Lounge on West Sahara Avenue. Using the luxurious private dining area, a select gathering enjoyed a rare meal with the senator, discussing concerns for Nevada and the nation.

Ellen and Paul Plummer, owners of Good Feet stores, were joined at the event by Justin Doucette of Justin Time Business and Tax Solutions; David Alenik, chef-owner of the Pasta Shop Ristorante; and Brad Brennan, president of Commanders' Palace at the Aladdin. Present as well for the lively discussion and fine meal were James Woodrow of Preferred Public Relations and Ensign staffers Kathy Page and Sari A.G. Mann.

Luncheon guests contributed $200 each for the privilege of dining and conversing directly with the senator on topics ranging from taxes and inheritance laws to nuclear waste and Nevada's visitor and hospitality industry.

Proceeds will be used to assist ongoing scholarship efforts for the statewide organization and industry training on security, health concerns and legislative issues.

Heffner, in his informal remarks at the luncheon hosted by Paymon Raouf, explained that the Nevada Restaurant Association, along with the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association, will present its first-ever "Epicurean Affair -- Lake Tahoe" during a two-day conference scheduled for Aug. 30-31.

A perfect excuse to escape the hot weather, the conference will be jampacked with timely offerings for the hospitality industry, including a presentation by author Howard Putnam (the chairman of InTech Aerospace Industries and former CEO of Southwest Airlines), a dinner cruise on the lake and a golf tournament to benefit scholarship funding.

"The Epicurean Affair" -- a showcase event featuring premier restaurants from the Lake Tahoe area with entertainment provided by former Bellagio performer Jimmy Hopper -- will be held at Harvey's Resort, the conference headquarters. Open to all comers, this cool getaway includes special hotel and car rental rates for attendees, with all the details online at www.nvrestaurants.com or by calling Heffner's office at 878-2313.

The first stride

"Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" was a pink-ribboned and very festive kickoff event to prepare businesses, organizations and individuals for the American Cancer Society's Oct. 2 walk.

Held Aug. 4 in the Valencia Ballroom atop the J.W. Marriott in Summerlin, the early morning breakfast meeting drew more than 440 supporters.

Cathy Ray, KTNV Channel 13 anchor and former cancer-care nurse, served as master of ceremonies. She opened the program by first explaining her mother is a 25-year breast cancer survivor, and followed by presenting a bevy of facts on the disease that will impact one in eight women.

On the program were cancer survivors Carol Roder and Connie Sheldon, who spoke of the American Cancer Society's many services and support systems that assisted so greatly in their recovery. Dr. Lawrence Gardner, director of Sunrise Hospital's Breast Care Center, was the keynote speaker, revealing a host of fast-changing technologies, diagnostic tools and treatments that are transforming breast cancer care and impacting women's health care.

Flagship sponsors, among them Clark Albright (J.W. Marriott), Sheri Wallace (Household Credit Card Services), Todd Ferguson (Southern Nevada 7-Eleven franchise owners) and Marva Putnam (Target stores) also spoke of their commitment to the Oct. 2 "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk to raise awareness and research funds.

In the throng of supporters was Brian Robinson, new chief executive of Sunrise Hospital, attending with unit administrator Amy Stevens, Associate Administrator Patti Monczewski and Breast Care Services Manager Diana Morneault.

Fuilala Riley and Ann Laminack represented HELP of Southern Nevada. Realtor Wende Bell of Prudential Americana Group Realtors and Mary Jean O'Rafferty and Jennifer Hedden of Brighton Collectibles/Corsa Collections gathered details for their participating employees, who will walk in the fall event.

In the crowd as well were Nell Cinque of the Women's Club of Summerlin, joined by Barbara Buchanan of It Figures and Rita Law, Steve Gershwin, Lisa Conrad, Joan Walker, Maureen Slavin, Judy Hetherington of the Nevada State Controllers' office and American Cancer Society planned giving officer John Witmer and his wife, Jean.

Explaining the sign-up literature and other details in the bags later given to departing representatives was Fran Marshall, special events coordinator for the American Cancer Society. She welcomes calls from those wishing to participate or to learn more about ACS services (798-6877).

Fond farewell

An evening created with love by wife Monterey Brookman, the occasion to mark the final chapter in the military career of Col. Jeffrey Brookman was an affair to remember.

Held at sundown at the Las Vegas Navy Marine Corps Training Center, the invitation-only event was attended by nearly 60 well-wishers who listened as the ceremonial request to "go ashore" was requested by Jeffrey, a conclusion to his 21 years of service in the active reserves. Jeffrey, a family practice physician, has been called to active duty three times: first for Desert Storm, then for Somalia, and later, after 9/11, for both Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Friends and comrades in arms, drawn from the corners of our nation, included guest of honor and keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Buck Bedark, joined by Rear Adm. Durel Smith, an orthopaedic surgeon, and Col. Kent Bradford, former commanding officer of the the battalion that took Jeffrey to Iraq. Participating in the final ceremonies was the Las Vegas Marines Color Guard, directed by Staff Sgt. W.J. Dixon, accompanied by soloist Patricia Gray.

Monterey, who chose to wear the patriotic colors of red, white and blue with a "cammie" flak jacket, used a decidedly military motif for the party that followed.

Previously planned for the Marine Corps Base in Twentynine Palms, Calif., where Jeffrey was frequently on duty, the party was moved instead to Las Vegas. Monterey (and a band of very helpful Marines) built a Battalion Aid Station, complete with sandbags and camouflage and overhead netting to disguise the staging area. The station included a well-protected, fully sandbagged cocktail serving bar for all liquid "meds" dispensed in the course of the evening.

Held under the stars, the party really had a sense of being "in the field" as Monterey had intended. Capsian Restaurant catered the dinner, serving a fine array of delectables with entrees of filet mignon kebabs and pomegranate walnut chicken.

Attendees in formal uniform included Lt. Cmdr. Steve Stocking, commanding officer of the Las Vegas Navy and Marine Corps Center, and his aide, Sgt. Major Chuck Woodruff. Jeffrey and many of his colleagues chose to wear the less-formal camouflage clothing, more reflective of daily attire during his 21 years of service.

Jeffrey, in a brief speech, said these years of service had made him "the richest man in the world," giving him "the deep and strong associations that only come during war and training for war." And speaking out clearly, Jeffrey continued, "The United States with their military might, must help where needed around the world."

Jeffrey, who has once again returned to private practice and remains involved in veterans' medical services in Las Vegas, is planning (with Monterey) to assist on special missions among American Indians.

Friends attending this special evening included neighbors Pat and Evey Morita and Gerald and Michelle Duncan, joined by Brookman's colleagues, including Dr. Jeffrey Katz, Dr. Don and Janet Mackay, Dr. Stan and Georgia Ames, Dr. Nouri and Lisa Ghahreman, Dr. Elliot and Elaine Klain, and close friends including Judge Lloyd and LaPrele George, Debi Leon, Judge Philip Pro and Mitch and Kitty Fox.