The Crowd

B.W. Cook

The official Newport-to-Ensenada race party will once again be held at

The Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club in Newport Beach. April 27 is the date

for the affair, which has been part of the the club’s history for the

past 25 years.

Hosted by the Newport Ocean Sailing Assn., the send-off fiesta will set

the tone for upcoming race expected to attract some 500 yachts ready to

charge the Pacific from Newport to Ensenada.

This year marks the 53rd annual Ensenada Regatta, which also happens to

be the world’s largest international regatta. Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club

Commodore John Bynon will be on hand with his staff, including Vice

Commodore Steve Tarantino, Rear Commodore Ginney Siever, Junior Staff

Commodore Mary Bacon and BCYC officers and directors Ray Kovacs, Bill

Schroeder, Jim Kerrigan, Mike Kilbourn, Barry Levy, Sandy Mills, Jim

Patterson and Chris Sexton, to ensure a first-class event.

Fashion Island was the site for the 11th annual Padre Foundation fashion

show held recently in the Bloomingdale’s courtyard. The organization is

dedicated to pediatric adolescent diabetes research and education.

The fashion event featured children and teenagers diagnosed with diabetes

as well as professional models sporting the latest fashion for spring and

summer.

The event included a reception catered by the fine restaurants of Fashion

Island and greater Newport Beach and South Orange County, including

Roy’s, Chimayo Grill, French 75, Sorrento Grille and Savannah Chophouse.

Miss America 1999, Nicole Johnson, delighted the crowd that had paid $75

per person to help fund the Padre Foundation’s valuable work in the

community.

More than 800 guests raised some $200,000 from the fashion event and

auction to make a significant difference for children with diabetes.

Support came from Andrew Campbell, Ernest Chiacos, Steve Delson, John

Haretakis, Julie Morrison, Natalia Ruano-Martinez and Steve Speer. Jackie

Teichman serves as executive director of the foundation, which works in

conjunction with the vital service of Children’s Hospital, Orange County.

A sold-out crowd of nearly 500 guests attended the Wanda J. Cobb Breast

Health Symposium and Survivors Luncheon, billed as “The Promise of

Spring.”

The Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Tennis Club welcomed the large

gathering on behalf of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Dr.

Silvano Martino of the John Wayne Cancer Institute served as keynote

speaker.

Chaired by Darrellyn Melilli and Kathy Pearson, the afternoon was filled

with positive information on new developments in the treatment of breast

cancer, including what is being called “custom chemotherapy,” as well as

sources of Internet research information, alternative medicine and

methods of hereditary screening.

The Susan G. Komen Survivors Lunch featured breast cancer survivor and

comedian Jane Hill. Also honored were Vi Rieck, this year’s recipient of

the Most Inspirational Survivor Award. Rieck will be further recognized

at the Komen Orange County Race For The Cure, to be held in Fashion

Island on Sept. 24.

In attendance were Sally Coombe, Beverly Rypinski, Betty Winek, Sally

Molnar, Marie Blash and Susan Scott, who have a shared purpose of helping

others faced with breast cancer.

The 11th annual Southern California Spring Garden Show at South Coast

Plaza was a sensation. Every year the garden event is better and more

interesting, with a growing attendance of local and long-distance

garden-lovers.

The three-day event attracted thousands of guests exploring the

assortment of scaled gardens installed down the marble corridors of the

Crate and Barrel wing of the mall.

Of particular note was the artistic design of Molly Wood and her creation

of a garden with the feeling of a California mission setting.

Also of note was the nostalgic creation of Gardening Angels and their

“Miner’s Wedding,” with landscape by Chris Prowse, water by Aquatronics

and antiques by Kim Simpson of The Country Inn Garden Cafe and Boutique

in Costa Mesa.

The event was sponsored by various local organizations to support

restoration and projects benefiting the Mission at San Juan. The show was

a packed schedule of seminars, demonstrations and displays for all ages.

The opening-night party was thrown in conjunction with the Friends of The

Mission, co-chaired by Cathy Beaumont and Diane Knight. Among the special

guests at the affair was Dennis Overstreet, purveyor of fine wines and

owner of The Wine Merchant of Beverly Hills.

B.W. COOK’S column appears Thursdays and Saturdays.