Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Event at Rhodes’ home gives us ‘Goosebumps’

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2005 | 8:19 a.m.

Jim and Glynda Rhodes, along with their five young sons, opened their Rhodes Ranch home Friday evening to supporters of APPLE (All People Promoting Literacy Efforts), which is a new program to encourage readers of every age. The honored guest was best-selling children's author R.L. Stine, creator of the wildly popular "Goosebumps" series of scary-fun books for grade-school kids.

Henderson Mayor Jim Gibbons was leading sponsor for the gathering and had spent much of the day accompanying Stine as he addressed more than 1,000 fourth grade students at area schools.

Fellow supporters attending the reception included Rep. Jon Porter and his wife, Laurie; state Sen. Steve Schneider and his wife, Candi; Bob Coyle, president of Republic Service; and Michael Doering of Clark County School District.

Other contributors at the $250 per person event included Angela Henry, real-estate agent Bill Goff, Wes and Melody Williams, Mike Rodriquez with daughter Eden, Bud Cranor, Bill Marion and Liz Trosper. Guests enjoyed dinner, prepared by Chef Jack Sheridan on the home's spacious patio, and books signed by Stine.

Gold standard

Planned to please, Sierra Gold hosted a successful Hurricane Katrina relief fundraiser Thursday evening. Joe Romano, formerly of Aureole and now the corporate executive chef for all Golden Tavern and Gaming properties, created a New Orleans menu of jambalaya, Po' Boy sandwiches, steamed crayfish and other delectables to match the beverages provided for the six hours of festivities where guests paid $25 to attend.

Sierra Gold, a handsome new ultra-tavern at Jones Boulevard and Interstate 215, was designed by architect Jesse Maheu and has a distinctive Nevada interior featuring the vintage photos taken across our state by Elliott Erwitt.

Hosting the Katrina relief benefit was Blake Sartini, president of Golden Tavern Group, with executives including Tracy Harven, Nick Gallegos, Rusty Oaks and Sierra Gold Chef Vincent Martano.

Seen in the crowd was Mark Sturcken (Clear Channel) accompanied by his parents, Ellen and L.J. Sturcken, who are in Las Vegas after losing their New Orleans home to Hurricane Katrina. Also present were Jeff Manning, James Boyd, Bob Bracken, Jaimee Faccenda, Mike O'Brien, Hillary Scott and Francesco LaFranconi.

Shoes for 'em

Bravo to shoe designer Donald J. Pilner and his staff at his Donald J. Pilner Boutique at the Forum Shops at Caesars, who made Sole Stars a sparkling charitable event on Thursday.

A benefit for the Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars, the cocktail hour reception was directed by community leaders Sandy Mecca and Jenna Morton, with Elaine Wynn serving as honorary hostess.

Sushi Roku catered the elite affair, which drew guests including Chantal Cloobeck, Michael Mecca, Mary Woolsen, Alan Waxler, Catherine Cortez Masto, Liza and Scott DeGraff, Janet and Harry Ferris and Michael Morton, as well as Gloria Steinhardt, Siofra Willer, Barbara Kaplan and Heather Glusman.

Pilner signed shoes and provided an early look at footwear fashions for the holiday season ahead.

The Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars, formerly known as the Inner City Games, is a decade-old program serving at-risk youth in our community. Year-round opportunities for athletics as well as educational, cultural and enrichment are offered free of cost.

Its mission includes creating confidence and self-esteem for all youth and ways to combat drugs, gangs and violence.

Cashman honored

Mary Kaye Cashman was honored Sept. 14 by the Community College of Southern Nevada Foundation at "revving up" ceremonies recognizing her $500,000 pledge to the college's new automotive technical center. Thanks to her gift, and other benefactors, CCSN will expand its current program and also provide for the first time diesel technician training.

Cashman's gift, along with $1 million in private matching pledges mean the school is just $350,000 from the finish line for this building project.

Hosted by the CCSN Foundation at the Stirling Club, the gathering included remarks by foundation chair Jenny DesVaux Oakes, who helped present Cashman with an etched building block thanking her for "revving up" education at CCSN.

Adding their own words of thanks were University Regent Thalia Dondero, Chancellor Jim Rogers, CCSN President Richard Carpenter, Lisa Dove Swisher, foundation trustee and development chair for the automotive tech fundraising effort, and Diana Wilson, executive director for the foundation.

Those attending included state Sen. Dina Titus and her husband, Tom Wright; Assembly members Chris Giunchigliani and Mark Manendo; Mike Richards, newly appointed CCSN vice president for academic affairs; Thomas Brown, provost CCSN Cheyenne campus; and student Gabriella Artega, who later spoke of her experiences with the auto tech program.

Representative of the supportive automotive industry were contributors including John and Joyce McCandless (McCandless International Trucks), John French (Desert Auto Group), Chris Publow (Ted Wiens), Jim Marsh (Jim Marsh Chrysler Jeep), Mike Rorman (Nevada Collision Industry Association), Michael Spears (Auto Body Group) and Ed Martin (Harley Davidson).

Also present were foundation trustees, including Carolyn Sparks, Denny Weddle, Irene Vogel, Bob Walsh, Robbie Graham, Charlotte Hill, Dr. James Jones, Frank Martin, John Bailey, Bill Snyder, Robbie Graham, Sida Kain, Monte Miller and Catherine Cortez Masto.

A cut above

Cutting for a Cause at the Cutting Room, a Michael Boychuck concept salon, opened with a charitable flair on Saturday. Proceeds of the first day, including the $200 haircuts by the renown stylist-to-the-stars Laurent D. (Dufourg) were donated to Safe House of Henderson, a domestic crisis shelter.

Clients, many of them former residents of New York City and Los Angeles, flocked to the salon for time with Laurent D. and his colleague Michael Boychuck. Among the crowd was blond beauty Susan Anton, who recently appeared at the Newport Pacific Jazz Festival, as well as Robin Leach and Chef Kerry Simon.

Rubbing shoulders with the celebrities were Safe House clients, who received special attention and increased self-esteem with their new styles and coloring. Departing supporters each received Prive products provided for the festivities by Laurent D. and Boychuck.