Dec 2, 2007

Bing School raises funds, mai tais in toast

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

A miniature volcano, palm trees, tiki torches and a tiki bar serving mai tais set the scene for the 19th annual Harvest Moon Auction benefiting the Bing Nursery School Scholarship and Enrichment Funds.

About 600 parents, friends and guests attended the Nov. 17 event titled "Moon Over Paradise" at Stanford University's Frances Arrillaga Alumni Center. Guests applauded the Hawaiian dance group and performance by a group of 49er cheerleaders. Attendees enjoyed listening to ukulele music performed by Julie and John Quinn, sampling tropical-themed finger foods and bidding generously on hundreds of auction items, ranging from children's gifts, activities and parties to fine wines, cultural events and luxury vacations.

Co-chairwomen Dale Race-Hampton and Katrien Burlinson were thrilled the Fund-a-Scholarship live auction raised a record-setting $21,000, helping the event raise more than $280,000 total for the scholarship fund.

Located on the Stanford campus, Bing is a laboratory school for the psychology department and has received worldwide recognition for its outstanding programs and research studies in child development.

The scholarship fund helps about 25 percent of the school's 435 enrolled children ages 2 to 6. For more than a decade, the school has sought to increase diversity through outreach to many Bay Area residents as well as Stanford student families. In her official remarks, Bing Nursery School Director Jeanne Lepper stated, "Bing Nursery School is one of the few schools in the area, and indeed the nation, to offer such a substantial financial aid program and to maintain a commitment to include children for whom the school can truly make a difference."

Auctioneers Laurie Quinn and Bob Burlinson maintained a spirited pace for the live auction, including such unique items as the large-scale custom-made playhouse, built by Bing's carpenter Wilhelm Grotheer and painted by teacher Betsy Honing. The playhouse will be a fun surprise for auction winner Betsy Vogel's children. A week's stay at the Grand Wailea Resort on Maui was the highest bid upon item, selling for $16,000. A U2 autobiography signed by Bono sold for $5,000.

Popular silent auction items were the 44 gift baskets created by students' parents and brooms painted by Bing students in the classroom (which are too beautiful to sweep with, and are often hung as art).

Teacher-sponsored gifts were hot auction items as well. Quan Ho's famous barbecue chicken sold for $175 and was bought by Patricia and Jim Smith. Teacher Kim Taylor's tuck-in with bedtime stories, purchased by John and Toiya Black, sold for $325. Winning the opportunity to bake cookies with teacher Pecki Peters, Elizabeth and David Obershaw bid $250.

Some of the committee members enjoying the party included Maria Lind, Julie Sanford, Kelli Glazier, Sandi Gedeon Ganjavi, and Alexandra and Randy Von Feldt.
The legacies are part of what makes Bing special. Now that the school is in its fourth decade, many alums are returning as parents. Seen bidding and toasting the event were alumna Laurie Quinn and her husband Willie, alumna Jackie Brandin and her husband Patrick, alumnus Mark Baker and his wife Diane, and alumnus Paul Gelormini and Giselle Corona. Tom Dowley, a Bing School graduate and nephew of founding director Edith Dowley, and his wife Catherine return for the benefit every year.


30TH LOS ALTOS LIGHT PARADE

The 30th anniversary of the Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade attracted a record-setting crowd of more than 18,000 for the annual kickoff to the holiday season. The Nov. 25 event was a perfect night, with warm weather and an almost full moon. Though the parade isn't advertised, it attracts Peninsula residents from Menlo Park to San Jose. Eager parade viewers staked out premier curbside places early in the day and some even set up their tarps the day before.

Many annual paradegoers have long histories with the parade. Los Altos residents Marti Guidoux (a 20-year parade fan) and her daughter Maddie, along with their dog Chesney (named after Kenny Chesney), came early to secure their spots on the parade route. The Guidouxs were looking forward to seeing older sister Marie Claire perform with the eighth-grade cheerleaders from St. Simon School. It was the first year the cheerleaders marched with the traditional lighted angel float.

For 30 years, the parade's theme has remained the same: "A Child's Fantasy." This year, following the original parade route down Main and State streets, were 21 floats, 9 marching bands, 10 groups of costumed fairy tale characters, a team of Siberian huskies pulling a float from the Bay Area Husky Club and a fleet of lighted motorcycles.

The parade's founders were a trio of local merchants who wanted to give something back to the community. Now, a 20-member volunteer board works for a year to produce the parade. Much of their time is spent on fundraising, with annual activities including the '50s era "Rock Back the Clock" event at Rancho Shopping Center and the annual summer Antique Faire.

"I can't imagine there being an event that is as much fun as this one," Festival of Lights Parade Association President Angela Richards said. "Our sole objective is making children smile. It's been a true privilege being president this year."

Almost as famous as the parade is the annual appreciation party, also known as "Fa La La Latte," hosted by Coldwell Banker agents for their clients and friends. Alice Nuzzo and fellow Seville Properties real estate agents Charlene Geers and Judy Bogard-Tanigami established the yearly appreciation event 15 years ago. Participating agents included manager Alicia Nuzzo, Patti Robison, Ursula Cremona, Dora Thordarson, Kathryn Tomaino and Yvonne Gau.

Robison and guests Rene Scherer and Mary Lou Neumann, all 30-year parade veterans, reminisced about the first parade that had only a few simple floats and boom box-carrying marchers.

E-mail Janet Duca Norton at society@paloaltodailynews.com.