One of the hardest-hit industries in this recession has been homebuilders, with new housing starts down to almost nothing here in 2009 and 2010.
That’s why Habitat for Humanity of La Plata County began Hammers & High Heels, an event to show solidarity with its fellow builders in these tough times. The idea is that the builders can show up in work boots and tool belts or dressed to the nines. At Saturday’s event at Ska Brewing Co., the 190 or so guests stretched the dress code as wide as it goes in Durango.
Let’s just say pink tutus were somewhat the dress du jour, as was evidenced by the lead singer of Mama D and the Drifters, who donned one of the frothy confections. Also in pink tutus were Megan Lange and Alli Bell, volunteers with AmeriCorps. Just that day, they’d pounded their last nails in a four-week Habitat stint spent primarily at the Fox Farm Village in Bayfield, building the 35th and 36th homes in the local Habitat’s history.
Rachel Taylor-Saghie, new executive director of Habitat, said these young women were superb framers and put in countless hours on the Contractors’ Yard Sale at Three Springs. So Taylor-Saghie was glad these stalwart workers got a chance to kick back and have some fun before heading out.
A number of local food purveyors donated the goodies, including Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant, J. Bo Pizza & Rib Co., Sizzling Siam, Zia Taqueria, Cuckoo’s Chicken House and Waterin’ Hole, Serious Texas Bar-B-Q, Albertsons, City Market, the north Main Avenue Subway, The Patio in Ignacio, the Strater Hotel and Bread.
Because the Homebuilders Association of Southwest Colorado has partnered with Habitat on so many events, including the aforementioned Contractor’s Yard Sale, Habitat took the opportunity to honor the association and its president, Jerry Pope.
Because every event has to double as a fundraiser, guests could bid on pink suede tool belts filled with gift certificates and other goodies, and the silent auction was filled with offerings by local businesses.
I should also mention that the crowd included folks from the real estate and banking industries in town, who are partners with the builders in our local housing industry, and who also partnered with the builders in sponsoring the event.
HHH
Dancing in the rain for their birthdays are Cissy Anderson, Shanna Stordahl, Bob Vialpondo, Margaret Hjermstad, Charlie Arbaugh, Charles Williams, Emily TerMaat, Ollie Mallett, Jodi Miller, Nadine Ontiveros, Ken Portz, Irelyn Livingston, Frank Mapel, Dianna Hassett, Kristin Markley and Jill Nelson.
HHH
If it’s not golf, it’s bridge at this time of year.
On June 27, Cindy Cortese and Connie Trautmann hosted the ninth annual Philanthropic Educational Organization’s Chapter FX day of bridge at Cortese’s home. In addition to several fun rounds of bridge, the game that keeps brains strong, the members of the chapter had prepared a delicious spread of salads and some champion cookie bakers had fired up their ovens, too.
The champions at cards were Joan Huntley, with more than 7,000 points; Deb Schultz with more than 6,000 points; and Connie Matthys with more than 5,000 points. As is par for yours truly’s course, I finished in the middle of the pack, but joined Virginia Gaughan as having attended all but one of the events.
Hey, if you don’t get the cards, at least consistency counts for something. (And I would have had perfect attendance had I not gotten the day wrong one year. I called Trautmann and asked, “What time does the bridge start today?” and after a pause, she said, very kindly, “It started at 10 a.m. ... yesterday.” Whoops. I’m surprised I was ever invited back.)
HHH
The Longest Day Bridge event, held on the summer solstice, was a rousing success on its first outing. The Durango Duplicate Bridge Club hosted the event at the Durango/La Plata Senior Center to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association of Southwest Colorado, and the event was awash in purple.
Co-chairpeople Barry Hillmer and Jim and Willa Beatty had hoped to raise $1,400, but ended up with a whopping $4,500, after 21 tables of bridge played 500 hands over the course of the three sessions during the day.
I couldn’t make it this year, but I understand the hope is to make it an annual event, so keep me posted for next year, please.
HHH
Coming up is a great tradition that’s a little earlier this year.
The talented ladies who launched Style N’ Stones almost a decade ago will hold their ninth annual event from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday in the Barbara Conrad Gallery at Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave.
All of the $20 cover charge (which includes light appetizers along with potent and nonpotent potables) and 30 percent of the jewelry sales will be donated to the DAC.
In the last eight years, these inventive jewelry designers have already contributed more than $40,000 to charities including the Mercy Health Foundation, Durango Friends of the Arts and Durango Discovery Museum, so we’re talking some moolah here.
Longtime members Mary Orsini, Nancy Macho, Carolyn Plested. Susie Fisher, and back from her new home in Prescott, Ariz., Pat Lorenzen, will be joined by new member Basia Daney on Friday.
HHH
Sharing umbrellas built for two for their anniversaries are Arnold and Violet Trujillo, Duncan and Rachel Gilpin and Terry and Toni Senters.
Special congratulations go to Bill and Buff Rogers, who spent their 40th anniversary on Saturday surrounded by family.
HHH
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