Modern Stone Age families pitch in for Newport Harbor Aquatics

They called it “Yabba Dabba Do-It”. The Newport Harbor Aquatics

held a fund-raiser at the Newport Aquatic Center at the Back Bay to

raise needed funds to advance much-loved aquatic sports in Newport

Beach and Costa Mesa.

Local parents pitched in to make the dinner and auction a success.

Organizers played off the Flintstone’s theme, renaming Newport Beach

as Bedrock and serving a “pre-hysterical” dinner to some 200 guests,

both children and adults who joined in the yabba dabba fun.

Local supporter David Lansing donated one of his very special

personal photo shoots in the auction rundown that also included

Lakers memorabilia and dinner at Disneyland’s Club 33. Entertainer

Jeffery John Bitetti wowed the crowd, which included support from

Claire and Dwight Belden, Karen and Ben Wight, Alicia and Joe

Erickson, Jaedee and Phil Mutt, Becky Conway, Aida and Robin Hobson,

and coach Bill Barnett of Newport Harbor High School.

LA DOLCE VITA

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Southern California is planning

the 10th annual La Dolce Vita. The event has been labeled the

official kickoff of the social season in Orange County, unfolding

this year on Sept. 22 at Antonello Ristorante in South Coast Plaza

Village.

Antonio Cagnolo will once again underwrite the affair as host of

the charity event, creating an evening of fine dining under the

stars, opening up his wine cellar and even providing live

entertainment with dancing for the crowd attending in support of

cystic fibrosis research and treatment. The evening will also be

sponsored by Sebastian Paul and Marybelle Musco.

In the 10 years that La Dolce Vita has been produced, the party

has raised $1 million for Cystic Fibrosis.

Cagnolo commented: “I’m proud that this party has become one of

the most highly anticipated parties of the year. More importantly,

this fund-raiser increases awareness of this devastating disease

known as cystic fibrosis, and it helps to motivate the local crowd to

get involved in a very worthwhile cause.”

A massive silent auction is also planned to bring in funds.

Tickets to La Dolce Vita are $150 per person, and may be reserved by

calling (714) 938-1393.

FRIENDSHIP CENTER FUN

Dedicated Newport-Mesa residents, such as Peggy Goldwater Clay,

have been at the forefront of stamping out the stigma of mental

illness, as well as working for treatment and cure for various forms

of mental problems. Others are stepping up to the plate to lend

assistance.

The Orange County Friendship Center, a Garden Grove facility that

provides medical, psychiatric and social services, will stage two

dinner fund-raisers in September. The local crowd is supporting the

events slated for late summer at the residences of Howard and Elaine

Davis and Jeffery Petterson to further the cause of support for

mental illness treatment and research in Orange County. Themed “Home

Is Where the Heart Is,” the dinners will be thrown al fresco on Sept.

21.

Howard Davis, who has personally donated more than $2 million to

the Orange County Friendship Center commented, “We are delighted to

open our home to those in the community who are willing to lend their

support to help the most vulnerable in our society ... those plagued

with mental illness.”

Tickets are priced at $100 per person, and may be reserved by

calling Susan Stivers at (714) 741-0330.

BRASIL BRAZIL

The Newport Beach Arts Commission will present Brasil Brazil on

Aug. 25 at Buffalo Hills Park as the third in a series of four

concerts open to the local crowd.

The Arts Commission is bringing local parks to life over the

summer, inviting Newport-Mesa residents to bring family, friends,

blankets and a picnic to enjoy life on the California Riviera to the

fullest. A forth and final concert is set for Sept. 22 featuring the

Jumpin’ Joz Band.

For more information, call the Newport Beach Cultural Arts office

at (949) 717- 3870.

DINNER FOR THE ARTS

Dedicated arts activist and renowned interior designer Karen

Butera King reports that plans are underway for a special dinner

party to be staged at what promises to be one of the most unusual

mansions on the Newport Coast. Butera King is working closely with

developers of a formidable estate being created in the style of 18th

century Imperial Russia, complete with the use of rare amber being

imported and incorporated into the artistic design of the residence.

Upon completion, the local palace will be the site of the fall

fund-raiser produced by the Newport Beach Arts Foundation, led by

Butera, and responsible in part for funding various

free-to-the-public events throughout the year.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.