Celebrating a mayor ' a magnanimous send-off
Wine Making
MAYOR BEVERLY O'Neill's love of the city of Long Beach is appreciated throughout the city and across the nation. The reciprocal love of the city for its mayor was demonstrated June 15 at the Long Beach Convention Center. The Long Beach Police and Fire Honor Guards provided the solemnity and pageantry, with Lucy Daggett filling the hall with her outstanding voice as she sang "America the Beautiful," followed by Father Jose Mangana who gave the invocation.
City Manager Jerry Miller welcomed the throng and presented video presentations of Mayor O'Neill's tenure in office.
Long-term friend and Bev admirer Jim Gray, along with Jim Hankla and Doris Topsy-Elvord spoke of the "early challenges" that faced the O'Neill administration.
Jane Netherton, Steve Goodling and Kraig Kojian remarked on the "transformation of the waterfront and downtown."
Joan Van Hooten and Randy Gordon spoke of her "citywide impact."
Chris McKenzie delivered the "state and national stage" with Tom Cochran who sang, "She's the most people-ist person in the world" ... "She's the best person in four decades to bring people together."
And Judy Ross, the Rev. Garon Harden and Chris Steinhauser spoke of the visibility and pride transformations.
The comments by the participants had a common theme ' all spoke of her grace, charm and dignity, her high energy, her support and presence, her ability to listen and her ability to bring people together. One speaker said she was like a high-performance automobile, "classy lines, high performance engine and ability to get the job done!"
As might be expected, the evening wasn't without some sentimental tears intermixed with the laughter provided by the speakers. It was a very touching farewell, made all the more so by Mayor O'Neill's remarks. She said, "The past 12 years were an exciting and fulfilling time of my life, the time flew by and in the process Long Beach defined who I am. I do love this city, it's a good place. It has good bones, as they say. It's unique. It's big enough to disappear in and small enough to have a sense of community.
"It has evolved from a tired navy town. It's been transformed into an entirely different vibrant and diverse community. I ran because people didn't like their city ' they now feel a sense of pride ' and it is that pride that I hope will carry on. It's a good city, we should have pride in it!"
Seen at the scene: Gov. George Deukmejian and Gloria, Bill and Teresa O'Neill with Jason, Kathy Wieder, Diane Jacobus, Mike Sanders, Bill Burnett, Randal Hernandez, Skip Keesal, Larry Allison, Rich Archbold, John Bennett, Rose Fitzpatrick, Gloria Arango, Liz and John Hancock, Ellen and Chris Pook, John Morris, Linda Rahn, caryn and Shashin Desai, Nancy and Rear Adm. John Higginson, Jill Rosenberg, Susan and Mort Stuhlbarg, Jim Normandin, Dr. Mel Marks, Tom Poole, Jana Martin and her daughter Mackenzie, Pat Wong, Mary Soth, and Donna Griggs.
GRAPE EXPECTATIONS
The party line: The setting couldn't have been prettier for the Long Beach Public Library Foundation's "Grape Expectations" event, held at the Virginia Country Club estate of Steve and Stephanie Salyer ' the stately home and gardens overlooking the golf course were designed by Ed Killingsworth.
Some 275 people were on hand June 24 to honor Mayor Beverly O'Neill, while raising almost $50,000 for the various programs of the Long Beach Library Foundation. These programs include the Family Learning Centers at each Library, as well as the Raising A Reader program, which has
trained more than 1,700 parents to boost their pre-schoolers' literacy.
Special awards were given: the Lifetime Literacy Award was presented to Mayor O'Neill; the Boeing & Employees of Boeing Foundation received the Corporate Leadership Award; and to her great surprise, Diane Jacobus, a former Library Foundation Board president, received the Individual Leadership Award.
Theresa Gomez, community development analyst for the city, spoke about the effects of the Library Foundation's Raising A Reader Program ' a series of workshops given to low-income parents and caregivers to enable them to teach children under five to read and develop high level literacy skills.
After lots of excitement at the silent auction tables, bidders sipped the "nectar of the Gods" with Porter Singletary singing his mellow tunes in the background, as they chatted their way down to the pool area where beautiful tables were set for dining and enjoyment of the Jan Eisen Trio Jazz band.
The then Mayor-elect Bob Foster wowed the crowd as the lively auctioneer. Humorous, dynamic and energetic, his leadership style proved to be tremendously successful! The winning bidders were Diane Jacobus (a week in Paris); Tom Cossio from Boeing (will spend a week at Warm Springs Creek); Josephine Molina had the high bid for the Keesal, Young & Logan Feast with author D.J. Waldie; Alan Kolsky and David Goldstein teamed up for the Sundance Ski Week at Park City Utah; Tom Stolpman of Stolpman Vineyards outbid all for the beautiful 700 Bottle Wine Cellar; Diane Spiegel will spend a week in a condo on Kauai; lucky Donita Joseph will spend a week at a hacienda in Cabo San Lucas and one of the dinner sponsors, Barbara and Jack Irvin purchased a special dinner and tour of the Getty Museum.
Wine expert Dan Berger paired the wines with the dinner that was catered by Sofia Riley of TGIS Catering Services. The meal included grilled shrimp gazpacho, Long Beach crab cakes, Thai cilantro roasted chicken medallions, blackened beef tenderloin, and an assortment of desserts.
Seen at the scene: Mayor Beverly O'Neill, Mayor-elect Bob Foster and his wife Nancy, City Councilwoman Tonia Reyes-Uranga, Port Commission President Doris Topsy-Elvord, event chairwoman Ludmila Montoya, event coordinator Jordan Mercedes, President Mary Barton, Lorrie Hutton, Peter Bostic;
From the Press-Telegram: Trish and Mark Stevens, Pat and Rich Archbold, Larry Allison and Lorraine and John Bennett;
Mary Hines, Linda and Doug Drummond, Wendy and Dr. Ron Smith, Pam and Dan Munzer, Shirlee and Dr. Ray Bouch, Jeanne and Frank Bader, Barbara and Ned Gaylord, Cindy and John Costello, Sue and Dr. Darrell Cannon; Reva and Dr. Sy Alban, Joan and Dr. Arthur Nickerson, Mary Alice and Bob Braly
And event sponsors Jack and Barbara Irvin, Jean and Charles Lane, Margaret and Charley Durnin, Kurt Schulzman and Richard Neri.
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