Wine auction uncorks fund-raiser for Dance Theatre

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Mar 18, 2001 | by Diane Wengler

Garden of the Gods chefs prepared a stellar five-course dinner, paired with vintage and rare selections of wines, at the Gourmet Winemakers Dinner and Live Auction on March 10 at the Garden of the Gods Club.

David Reynolds, a renowned charity auctioneer from San Francisco, auctioned off more than 60 rare and collectible wines, raising $80,000 for Colorado Springs Dance Theatre.

As guests became high bidders, festival chairwoman Elizabeth Youngquist presented them with a commemorative medal to wear around their necks.

One of the big bidders was Dr. Monte Golditch, who travels to auctions to acquire rare and collectible wines; he also purchased a trip to the central coast of California. Other high bidders were Buck Blessing, Bill Brown and Tom Cobb.

One of the most popular items was a wine event at the Frisco lodge of Jim Little, co-owner with Peggy McKinley of Coaltrain Liquors. Little and McKinley work each year to secure the winemakers for the event.

When auctioneer Reynolds asked the audience to give scholarships to students to attend dance camp, 23 people donated $200 each to help.

Sue Foerster and Mary Pat Sweetman (there with husbands Dr. Bob Foerster and Jerry Sweetman) were honored as founders of the Wine Festival, an event they began 10 years ago.

This year's three-day event attracted more than 600 guests March 9- 11 to benefit the Colorado Springs Dance Theatre.

The popular Alan Joseph Jazz Trio played as guests gathered March 9 on the stage of Pikes Peak Center for the opening event, the Grand Tasting of more than 300 premier wines poured by vintners from around the country.

Kites and balloon grape decorations by Jean Marie Designs hung from the ceiling of the Pikes Peak Center stage and Studio Bee as guests sampled gourmet appetizers by 30 local restaurants, clubs and caterers.

On March 10, a series of wine seminars was conducted by vintners Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyards; Andrew Murray of Andrew Murray Vineyards; Bob Lindquist of Qupe Wine Cellars; and Carla Nichols of Charles Heidsieck Champagne.

The festival concluded with a champagne brunch at Garden of the Gods Club, chaired by Bev Davis and featuring champagnes by Charles Heidsieck, paired with gourmet food.

Among the festival-goers were Roberto Angolini, Fran Folsom, Buck Blessing, Jean Bodman, Larry and Nancy Borden, Ken Healey, Dr. Elliot and Cindy Cohn, Jerry and Teresa Farney, Zoya Miller, Jerry Rutledge, Barb Furr-Cassidy and Charlie Cassidy, Dr. Larry and Jane Gorab, Dr. Hal Huggins, Bill and Kathy Hybl, John and Mary Jackson, Andrew and Joan Pollock, Lee and Michelle Wolf, Paul York, Warren Youngquist, Mindy and Rick Flaks, Carol and Jerry Macon, Bob and Jane Cunningham, Amy and Ray Dresselhaus, and Carol and Kent Freudenberg.

UNITED WAY CELEBRATES: Nearly 200 of the Pikes Peak United Way's key supporters celebrated the success of the 2000 effort at the annual Campaign Celebration and Awards Presentation on March 1 at the new Plaza of the Rockies South Tower.

Pikes Peak United Way spokeswoman Leslie Cook unfurled a 20-foot banner with United Way's campaign total of $4.564 million, to the cheers and applause of the crowd.

The community's 2000 campaign surpassed the organization's fund- raising goal of $4.525 million, said 2000 campaign chairman Clay Turner, managing director of advertising firm Ackerman McQueen.

Other awards presented included: the Spirit of Caring Award (United Way's highest corporate honor) to Current; media awards to KOAA/Channels 5&30; and Agency Director of the Year Award to Diane Price of Child Nursery Centers.

There to celebrate were Chris Jenkins, Sandra Bauman, Merv Bennett, Tom Bradley, Jim and Judy Cara, Liz Cobb, Janet Conover, Jeanne Cowen, Vicki Dimond, Dave Francis, Michael Hannigan, Bert Hayes Davis, Rob Hilbert, Carol Hurt, Deanna Karstens, Janet Kerr, Noreen Landis-Tyson, Jim Lane, Peggy Marshall, Ray Marshall, Jeff Mason, C.J. Moore, Tom Naughton, Frank Ohlin, Susan Oldfield, Colin Perry, Diane Price, Mike Quinlan, Ann Reich, Cathy Robbins, Bill Smith, Brenda Smith, Jerry Smith, Al and Barbara Steiner, Gerry Tolley, David Whitaker, Gary Winegar, and Joe and Linda Woodford.

CHUCK ROAST: Chuck and Vickie Broerman greeted 150 guests arriving at the Colorado Springs Country Club on March 3 for a dinner and roast honoring Chuck as chairman of the El Paso County Republican Party.

With help from emcee John Suthers, Broerman was unmercifully teased during the evening for his conservatism and political activities.

Larry Liston's story of Chuck's "closet conservative commando" adventures brought screams of laughter. Liston ended his roast by presenting Chuck with a "closet conservative commando" doll, complete with accoutrements.

Other roasters were former Speaker of the House Doug Dean, former Republican County Chairman Wayne Williams, Republican County Vice Chairman Andy Merritt, Republican County Secretary Judith Jergensen and Vickie Broerman.

Some choice roast tidbits: "Broerman is to local Republican politics what the Hindenburg was to air travel." "If Chuck had stepped down after one term as county chairman, he would have been gone, but not forgotten. As it is, he is forgotten, but not gone." "Broerman was re-elected unanimously, which proves the old adage that you can fool all of the people some of the time." "Chuck stands for what he thinks the people will fall for."