The Crowd -- B.W. Cook

It was a celebration of hope. The Huntington’s Disease Society of

America invited guests to a holiday dinner at the Hyatt Newporter in

Newport Beach. Four Orange County leaders -- Arthur Birtcher, Ralph

Cygan, John Hagestad and Joe Kiani -- were honored for their community

service on behalf of Huntington’s Disease, which is a fatal brain

disorder for which there is no effective treatment or cure.

Huntington’s Disease diminishes the affected individual’s ability to

talk, walk and reason, and it is ultimately fatal. Guests of honor at

the Hyatt dinner included UC Irvine scientists Leslie Thompson and J.

Lawrence March, who shared a report on research presenting an element of

hope to the committed assemblage.

The dinner committee included co-chairpersons Marian Bergeson, Marilyn

Brewer and Dennis Carpenter. The honorary chairs of the evening were

former Pres. Gerald Ford and his wife Betty Ford. Lending generous

support to the cause were Gavin Herbert Sr., Linda White Peters, Michelle

Revelle, Sen. Joseph Dunn, Peggy Goldwater Clay and Mary Roosevelt.

* * *

The Divas of the Balboa Theater shared a holiday luncheon recently at

the Center Club in Costa Mesa to honor their own for a spectacular year

of progress raising both funds and community awareness with the ultimate

goal of total renovation for the turn of the century theater located on

the Balboa Peninsula.

The restoration of this vaudeville-era house has been a labor of love

for many local citizens who view the rehabilitation of the old brick

building as a major cornerstone to the overall revitalization of this

charming beachfront section of old Newport.

Dayna Pettit, president of the Balboa Theater board of directors, is a

local community activist and real estate agent who has placed both her

professional and personal reputation behind the theater project. Pettit

was on hand for the holiday luncheon along with 100 devoted guests that

included million-dollar benefactor Donna Crean, well-known actor David

Birney and local Divas Nancy Devine, Denice Mock, Joann Pavia and Carol

Durham.

The Divas are planning a major spring fund-raiser that they are

calling “A Date With Oscar,” set for March 23 at the Pelican Hill

clubhouse. Organizers have already lined up Hollywood stars including

actress Morgan Fairchild to grace the party.

Also in the Center Club crowd were Carleen Brennan, Eve Foussard,

Martha Green, Karen Hardin, Darby Manclark, Fran Mulvania, Barbara

Magness and Eve Kornyei.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.