Wednesday, March 24, 2004 | 8:22 a.m.
Former Soviet Union President and Nobel Prize winner Mikhail Gorbachev was the guest of honor for an exclusive gathering at Reflection Bay Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas on Sunday evening.
Guests, ferried to the party by their choice of limousine or helicopter, included scores of business leaders, including Camille and Larry Ruvo of Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada, sponsors of the exquisite evening with Tony Cordasco of Red Bull North America and representatives of Stolichnaya "Stoli" Vodkas.
Lake Las Vegas Resort restaurants, Japengo Japanese Cuisine and both the Hyatt Regency and Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas properties created lavish serving stations for attending diners.
Trays of appetizers tempted guests Carolyn and T.J. Mathews, former Nevada Gov. Robert List, Dave Johnson, Sandy Miller and young daughter Megan, UNLV President Carol Harter and husband Dr. Michael Harter, Jo Ellen and Lowell Parsons, actor Kevin Sorbo, a Lake Las Vegas resident, and Hae Lee, who was congratulated on the opening of his eighth Lee's Discount Liquors.
Aurora Wong, attending with husband Buck Wong, was given robust kisses on both cheeks in true Russian fashion by Gorbachev as he progressed through the room, with former Nevada Gov. Bob Miller making introductions. Others in attendance included Denise and Tim Cashman, Christina and David Foote, Judy and Rick Eisenreich, Evelyn Luner, Steve Mathis and James LaFlamme.
Rod Boeddeker, developer of Lake Las Vegas resort, made introductions for Gorbachev's rousing speech on the Russian Heritage Highway Foundation -- an organization dedicated to improving tourism within the 700-kilometer stretch between Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The central rotunda of Reflection Bay Golf Club was festive with large banners celebrating 1,000 years of Russian history and reflecting the cultural heritage of the Russian Heritage Highway region.
Sampling from the menu of Stolichnaya martinis created by master mixologist Francesco Lafrancani were Michael Saltman, Bruce Nilsson, Alexander Likhotal, Fred Albrecht, Robert Diamond, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt with Dennis Bono and Leslie Davis. Adding a gracious touch was the music of UNLV's Liberace Scholars String Quartet, which played throughout the evening.
Pollards honored
Dr. Anthony L. Pollard and his wife, Diane, were honored Thursday in recognition of having been awarded the prestigious international Trumpet Award for their achievements and contributions to the African-American community.
Held at The Tournament Players Club at Summerlin, with a program led by emcee Steven Horsford of Nevada Partners, the occasion was an appropriate salute to the Pollards, both known for their philanthropy and as founders of the seven local Rainbow Medical Centers for urgent and primary care.
The Pollards were awarded the distinction at Turner Broadcast, Inc.'s Trumpet Awards ceremonies in Atlanta on Jan. 26. The couple have founded several nonprofit community associations in Las Vegas, including the Rainbow Dreams Academy and the Anthony L. Pollard Charitable Foundation. Both benefit minority students by promoting educational opportunities and providing the means to achieve their academic dreams.
Fitzgeralds owner Don Barden was also honored with a 2004 Trumpet Award. Past recipients of the Trumpet Award include former South African president Nelson Mandela, musician/actor Issac Hayes, women's rights activist Dr. C. Delores Tucker, singer/actress/minister Della Reese, producer/director/social activist Norman Lear and hip-hop legend turned business tycoon Russell Simmons.
Xernona Clayton, an executive producer at Turner Broadcasting who produced the televised awards program covering the Pollards' honors, attended the reception.
Well-wishers included Ida Gaines representing U.S. Senator Harry Reid, Debra Toney, Hannah Brown, president of the Urban Chamber of Commerce, Zeidra Junior of Caesars Entertainment and Pollard's physician colleagues Kimberly Adams, Joseph Bailey, Jud Fisher, Emmanuel Sabangan and Robert Vance.
The event raised $30,000 for the Rainbow Dream Academy's building fund, and drew the support of Mandy Mokae, Judge Wendy Cooley, Nevada State School Board member Marcia Washington with husband and Las Vegas Fire Chief David Washington, and William French Smith.
German connection
While many enjoyed the recent Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas opening on March 11, it will be the students of the Community College of Southern Nevada who will ultimately benefit. Celebrating the successful completion of the new hot spot, Stefan Gastager, president of Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas and Pearlman Architects, as well as R&O Construction, joined forces to mark the special day by funding advanced culinary training for CCSN students.
Through their efforts and those of Anton Sinzer, Franz Krondorfer and Klaus Gastager, also partners in Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas, selected students from CCSN's award-winning culinary program will train in Germany.
Present at opening festivities were Paul Gianni, Jr., interim president of CCSN, and Diana Wilson, who heads the CCSN Foundation. Also enjoying the festive evening was Carl Rowe, trustee for Opportunity Village, his wife Dale Rowe and Opportunity Village director Ed Guthrie, in addition to Van Hefner of the Nevada Restaurant Association, Jon Siegler, president of Travelworm, Ron Tiberti, Greg Miller as a handsome Elvis, Pete Giovinne and the Scinta family, including Mama Scinta, who yodeled on stage with the German band.
Tuba player Ginger Bruner was seen in the biergarten entertaining guests Judy and Dennis Hetherington, John Clare with Chuck Jackson, Claudine Williams and Kitty Rodman with German tunes.
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