Wednesday, May 21, 2003 | 8:22 a.m.
One of spring's most cherished events is the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada's luncheon at Spago. A benefit to fund the special wishes of critically ill children, the occasion was sponsored by Escada with a special showing of the designer's spring and summer clothing.
Early arrivals included Diane Bigelow, Char Hejmanowski with Norma Land, Josie Snow with Barbara Stout and Carolyn Sparks along with Becky Boman, Pattie Walker, Debra Jones and Kathy Grimes.
Chef-managing partner David Robins was seen mingling with many of his frequent Spago guests, including Susan Molasky and Jane Schorr, Vivica Marshall, Debbie Swissman, Liz Gibson, Melissa Richardson and Kim Murphy, Escada's general manager for Las Vegas.
Many gravitated to the exquisite baskets and other treasures offered through the opportunity drawing, with particular interest in the diamond watch donated by Fred Paris Jewelers. Linda Richardson, who chaired the event with her daughter, Melissa Richardson, won the watch and in turn auctioned it for another $6,000 to benefit Make-A-Wish children.
Taking fashion notes of the Escada designs were Vicki Fertitta, Tiffany Tiberti, Marilyn Moran with her childhood friends, Pattie Crockett and Janice Bowman, as well as Sandra Richardson and Lynn Wiesner with daughter Kari Lynn.
Star treatment
Las Vegas began as a favored playground for the movie industry, and once again has regained this celebrated status for those wishing to escape Hollywood and enjoy our swirl of resorts, golf courses and entertainment.
This weekend the Michael Douglas & Friends Celebrity Golf festivities were hosted by Caesars Palace, marking the first time the benefit had been held away from Southern California.
Opening with a relaxed and very friendly "Celebrity Meet and Greet" on Friday evening in the Roman Ballroom at Caesars, the occasion was a real opportunity for supporters to meet and mingle with congenial stars, including Clint Eastwood, Martin Sheen, Matthew McConaughey, Douglas and others. Dennis Miller, who gave quite a slice of comedic entertainment to those attending, was among those posing happily for photographs.
Many came to bid on the rarely offered pieces of film history, among them signed and documented posters and scripts, film premiere packages and even coveted seats to the 2004 Oscar ceremony.
Catherine Zeta-Jones and husband Douglas offered at live auction a trip to their Bermuda home for golf and a dinner prepared by Emeril Lagasse, an item so popular they chose to double the extraordinary getaway, with each raising a hefty $130,000.
Welcomed by Caesars Palace executives led by Executive Vice President Joseph Jimenez were locals including Michael and R.J. Peltyn, Lisa Windom, Lin and Patti Whipple with Michael and Theresa Minden, William Thomas, Lauren Goodman and Robin Leach, who served as the masterful auctioneer for the evening.
Proceeds from the weekend, including the golf events at Caesars' secluded Cascata Golf Course, benefitted the Motion Picture and Television Fund, which operates hospitals and retirement homes for members of this huge industry.
Private wedding
Quietly slipping away to marry in private ceremonies at the Las Vegas Wedding Chapel in downtown Las Vegas were longtime residents Bettyann Codella Maguire and her groom, Arthur "Art" Archambault.
Their nuptials, honored by a dinner reception by friend Michele Hanrahan, celebrated the wedding of the couple, who first met in 1983. Betty, daughter of the late Angelo and Elenora Codella, is an English teacher at Cheyenne High School. Art, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, has lived in Las Vegas since 1980 and has enjoyed a 35-year career in federal service.
Celebrating the happy occasion were Betty's children, Michael and Gina Marie Maguire, Art's sons, Jeff and Joseph, and his daughter, Lynn Archambault. The couple will reside in Las Vegas following a summer honeymoon cruise to Alaska.
Bar none
The cream of Nevada's legal community assembled earlier this month for a gala dinner marking the State Bar of Nevada's 75th anniversary.
Gloria Sturman, State Bar president, worked with honorary gala chair former U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan and gala dinner chair Von Heinz in creating a perfect evening at the MGM Conference Center.
Receiving guests and members at the Diamond Jubilee dinner were Nevada Chief Federal District Judge Philip Pro, Senior Federal District Judge Lloyd George and Federal Magistrate Judge Robert Johnston. Prominent among the 350 attendees was philanthropist and media mogul Jim Rogers and his wife, Beverly, both attorneys and members in good standing. The couple were seated with UNLV Law School Dean Richard Morgan and wife Tina, discussing the developments at the Boyd College of Law.
Nevada Supreme Court justices Miriam Shearing, Myron Leavitt and Deborah Agosti attended, as did Randall Jones, former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones and Mahlon Brown III with his son, Judge Bert Brown.
Recognized during the dinner program were the efforts of now-deceased past members: former U.S. sens. Pat McCarran, Alan Bible and Howard Cannon, philanthropist Louis Wiener, UNLV cultural benefactor Art Ham Jr., Mahlon Brown Jr. and H.R. Cooke, who served in 1928 as first president of the organization.
Enjoying the gala evening was State Bar President-elect Pat Glanagan, Nevada Bankruptcy Judge Linda Riegle, Herb Jones, Nancy Allf with husband Dave Thomas and Sam Lionel. George Dickerson and his son, Bob Dickerson, the only father-and-son to have ever served as Nevada State Bar presidents, were in attendance, joined by Kathleen England, Sue and Andy Gordon, former U.S. Rep. Jimmy Bilbray, Diana and Floyd Hale and Clark County Bar President Connie Akridge.
Thrift gifts
Once more the call goes out for donations of fine clothing, evening wear and accessories to fill the racks of the soon-to-open Melanie's Closet boutique at Opportunity Village's Flamingo and Maryland Parkway thrift store.
This will be the second of the "hot pink" boutiques to open, each with the blessing and sponsorship of morning radio personality Melanie of Lite 100.5-FM. Earlier this spring the first in a series of four Melanie's Closet boutiques was opened at the West Sahara shop with funky and fabulous fashions modeled by members of UNLV's Delta Zeta sorority.
The free opening party, complete with commentary by Melanie, will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 30 at 4110 S. Maryland Parkway. Donations to Melanie's Closet can be made by calling 383-5911.
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