There are parties, fêtes and celebrations, and then there are galas. The parents at St. Columba School are masters of the gala.
On Saturday, they went all-out for Moonrise over Hong Kong. As I write this Neighbors, I’m still feeling a bit jet-lagged after being transported so far away.
The whole school is studying China this year, so charcoal-esque drawings with bamboo, pagodas and pandas greet visitors at the entrance. Organizers scored a bonanza when they enticed Mariah May-Ostendorp, whose mother and aunt both teach at the school, to help with decorations. She graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in theater design and saw possibilities everywhere.
One big display case sported gigantic fortune cookies with big printed fortunes. (Although I must complain that my fortune cookie after dinner came with the strangest fortune ever: “Sometimes fortune cookies come without fortunes.” What the heck is that? The fortune writer having a bad day?)
Much work converted the gym into a sea of black and red with a dragon flying overhead and warning guests they had better spend big in the live auction ... or else.
This event has some traditions that are getting bigger every year. The parents in each classroom from preschool to eighth grade create a themed basket, and for this 20th anniversary gala, the baskets overflowed onto tables with a veritable cornucopia of goodies. They were amazing.
Themes ranged from family entertainment such as the preschool’s Wintertime Fun to the practical Get Your Motor Running from the fifth grade, a plethora of auto repair and maintenance items and emergency kit. The sixth grade’s Asian Buffet would allow anyone who enjoyed the evening at St. Columba to go home and create his or her own feast. The seventh grade was determined to get everyone moving after getting up with Morning Delights, one large basket of coffee-related goodies, including a Keurig brewer, and another for the tea sippers in the household.
The students in each classroom create a work of art to be sold at the live auction, and those tend to go for big bucks. The item that had people on their feet applauding was the fifth-grade project, a Van Gogh-inspired array of mini-sunflower paintings. Individually and as a group, it was lovely. Of course, the allure is that one’s child or grandchild is in the class and created one of the renditions, making it a treasured family memento. This piece inspired a bidding war that led to a final whopping total of $8,000.
Every teacher, administration member and even the Rev. Kevin Novack, St. Columba’s new priest, donated packages. Apparently he’s a master bread baker, so he is baking a special loaf of bread each month for a year for the bidding winner as well as giving baking lessons.
The school chef, Scott Arbaugh, prepared a Chinese meal that started with cold sesame noodles before proceeding to crispy five-spice chicken with a scrumptious ginger-chili sauce, basmati rice and a warm Thai carrot salad. The Chinese aren’t big on desserts, but Arbaugh created a pumpkin Chinese bun with maple glaze and candied ginger for afters.
Joe Leder of Animas Wine & Spirits donated wine for every table, Gillian Arnwine coordinated the bar and Mirra Dickson was the catering coordinator. Southwest Ice kept it all cool.
Bill Gwinn served as the evening’s master of ceremonies, and E.M. Taylor and Lonnie and Dena Malouff of Classic Auction reprised their role of handling the live auction.
This was the work of nearly 100 parents and supporters, but a core group led the effort. In addition to those I’ve already mentioned, Katie Stewart, Mary Lynn Clark, Tami Huber, Jennifer Ziercher, Adrienne Aronson, Sandy Gurule, Victoria Anguis, Rosie Van Cleave and Tracy Pope spent more than a year pulling this together, and that care and attention shows.
Local businesses stepped up in droves to support the school – again.
Kudos go to the St. Columba middle school students who so industriously served the 264 guests at the sold-out event, and Bernadette Bianchi, an alumna of the school, who served appetizers and helped keep the bidding straight on the 46 items in the live auction. And one can never forget the gracious and always helpful Kathrene Frautschy, the director of planning and development for the St. Columba Parish, who has been a steady hand supporting the parents in this endeavor for 15 of its 20 years.
Oh, I almost forgot the punchline. The event brought in a stratospheric $75,000.
HHH
Things are looking up for those born under the sign of Scorpio this week – Shanan Campbell Wells, Willa Beatty, Bud Beebe, Shawna Long, Shirley Buslee, Joe Herrera, Chuck Norton, Dot Larson, David Buck, Meghan O’Brien, Brock Fassett, Randel Jernigan, Carol Lewin, Timothy Loftis, Lexie Bauer, Bailey Kunkel, Mackie Headrick, Tina Trump, Barney Anderson, Bruce Rodman, Joann Vota, Paul Boyer, Etoile Hening, Sharon Mantor, Drew Dalenberg and Ian Osby.
HHH
Escalante Middle School held its third annual Fun Run/Walk Fundraiser on Oct. 19 and lucked out with perfect weather.
I kind of like this trend of fundraisers that keep people moving instead of pigging out on rich appetizers and sinful desserts, but they’re impossible for crutch girl to attend, so it’s a quandary for me. Thanks to Elizabeth Helvey, who served as my feet on the ground on this one.
Local band Loose Change kept things lively and festive for the 168 people who signed up for the run/walk. Once again, a number of local businesses generously donated merchandise and services for prizes.
I don’t know if anyone but me realizes just how many times our area businesses give to nonprofits, schools and individuals experiencing health problems who need to raise money. It would take a lot less space to list those who don’t donate, but in general, those are businesses struggling in this economic climate, not owners who are Scrooges. This is a pretty amazing place that way, and it’s worth saying thank you to the businesses you patronize when you see they have made a donation to a cause you support.
This kind of event is also a great way for the school community to come together. The route leads along the Animas River Trail and ends on the school track, so everyone got to enjoy the beauty of the area while catching up.
This event, just like St. Columba’s, is organized by committed parents. The funds raised the first year went to smart boards in the classrooms at Escalante. Last year, they helped buy laptops and document cameras, and this year the money raised will go to buying an electronic marquee for outside the school.
The marquee will serve an important purpose – improving communications with school families about upcoming events and building school spirit.
It was a fun day for all concerned, and parents plan to continue supporting their children’s school with a fourth annual event next year. That’s important for our entire community.
HHH
I might as well continue on the educational motif. Congratulations go to Fort Lewis College student Kelle Bruno, who was the recipient of the Philanthropic Educational Organization’s Chapter IT’s Continuing Education Scholarship.
There are four P.E.O. chapters in Durango, and they sell nuts and poinsettias, hold rummage sales and bridge parties just to raise money to help women continue with their educational endeavors.
Bruno, 32, is originally from Atlanta and is training to get a teaching English as a second language endorsement as well as an elementary school teaching license. In her “spare” time, she helps her husband run an organic farm in Bayfield.
According to member Kay Cooley, it was Bruno’s enthusiasm and lively personality that sold Chapter IT on helping her complete her degree.
HHH
I’m getting into this whole Twitter thing. People tell me they like the sense of anticipation about what might be coming up in the next Neighbors column or knowing what other kinds of stories I’m working on in the course of the week. So join me in the Twitterverse @Ann_Neighbors to learn what’s up and what’s happening.
HHH
Celebrating another year of love and laughter are Griff and Katy Pickard.
HHH
I’m off for the next few days. Look for the next Neighbors on Nov. 6.
HHH
Here’s how to reach me: neighbors@durangoherald.com; phone 375-4584; mail items to the Herald; or drop them off at the front desk. Please include contact names and phone numbers for all items.
I am happy to consider photos for Neighbors, but they must be high-quality.
