Having a ball

Democrats celebrated the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States at a gala ball Tuesday — and they didn’t have to leave town to do it.

The Laguna Beach Democratic Party hosted a glamorous black-tie event at [seven degrees] that belied the dire economic climate. As the newly inaugurated president said, “Tonight we celebrate, tomorrow we go to work.”

Longtime Lagunan Denny Freidenrich dreamed up the event.

“The Sunday after the November election, I woke up and said to my wife, Leah, it is too bad that we can’t go to the inauguration. Maybe we can bring a little D.C. to O.C.

“When she said, ‘I have to get a new dress,’ I knew I was onto something. I immediately put out an e-mail to about 25 friends.”

A volunteer Gala Committee was formed that included the Freidenriches, Kathleen Abel, Max Brown, Kate Buckley, Robert Cassard, Chuck Carstensen, Betsy Gosselin, Joe and Jane Hanauer, Maggi Henrikson, Michael and Lauren Howell, Councilwoman Toni Iseman, Cort Kloke, Barbara McMurray, Carrie Pohlhammer, Chris Prelitz, former Democratic Club President Audrey Prosser, Herb Rabe, Jorge Rodriguez, Diane Valentino, Sandie Ward, Bara Waters and Denise Wheeler.

Iseman was among the earliest Obama supporters. She first heard him speak at a breakfast while in Washington D.C., representing Laguna on a League of California Cities annual lobbying trip.

“Everybody there knew he was special,” Iseman said. “He just has this presence.”

The election, she said, is not just a change of political parties.

“He is the right person at the right time when we really need his level of leadership.”

Iseman also had words of praise for California Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s inaugural speech.

“She was right on,” said Iseman, who feels a special connection to the senator through a friend of her mother’s who was an early supporter — and like many Lagunans is grateful for Feinstein’s intervention that gained federal funding for the reconstruction of Bluebird Canyon.

But Tuesday was Obama’s day.

Tears were shed, but for Democrats they were like drops of dew at the dawn of a new day.

“I cried all day,” said African American Katherine Marsh of Los Angeles, a member of Laguna’s Democratic Club.

“I joined because the club was one of the few that were actively working for Obama and for No on Proposition 8.”

She was among the out-of-towners welcomed to the gala. Yucaipa residents Jack and Regina Johnson, who intended to celebrate the inauguration in Los Angeles, changed their plans when they found the Laguna gala posted on a website Jack was familiar with as a Obama campaign worker.

Optimism and sheer joy were the top notes at the gala. “Yes we can,” was replaced by “Yes, we did.”

“I have always had faith since I was a little girl in Detroit that anything is possible,” said an ebullient Michelle Clark, 47. “Obama has set the bar higher, but I knew this would happen someday.”

Members of a younger generation, perhaps less patient, were well represented at the gala.

“Second only to 9/11, this is the most significant event of my life — and this one is positive,” said Emily Quilter, dressed in a black strapless gown she bought to show off the necklace bequeathed to her by her grandmother Elizabeth Quilter, aka Susi Q. “This is the first time I voted for a person I wanted instead of voting against a person I didn’t want.”

Still, it was tough choice for Quilter, an advocate of women’s rights. But civil rights trumped feminism, she said.

Leah Abel, also formally gowned, attended the gala with her fiancee, Zeda Stone.

Stone’s cousin, U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Stephen Stone, led the Pledge of Allegiance to open the evening’s program.

Richard Henrikson served as master of ceremonies for the program, which included a poetic invocation by the Rev. Mark Whitlock from Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine that roused the crowd. Laguna poet Kate Buckley recited “Of Hope, Of Light,” which she wrote for the occasion.

“Nobody told me I was going to follow another poet,” Buckley exclaimed. “Rev. Whitlock! Rev. Whitlock!”

Songs performed by the church’s seven-member Praise Team Choir punctuated the program.

Earlier in the evening, guests were entertained by the Dixie Band of the Laguna Beach Community Concert Band, jazz duo Ron Kobayashi and Debi Raven, and a multimedia presentation created by Michael Howell.

In his speech to the enthusiastic crowd, Freidenrich said the event was designed to celebrate the new administration and a new direction for the country.

“It’s as if Barack Obama’s words have come alive: ‘There are no red states. There are no blue states. There is only the United States of America.’”

Although Republicans were not markedly visible at the gala, Freidenrich reached out to them and Independents, saying that people need to be reminded that as a community more binds us than divides us, symbolized by the election of Obama.

“His presidency now offers the hope of narrowing our country’s racial divisions, while at the same time, his political views offer the potential for change that so many of us seek,” Freidenrich said.

“The way I see it, Barack Obama’s election is as important as the elections of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”

In closing, Freidenrich quoted Obama: “Yes, we can reach for what is possible. Yes, we can heal our nation. Yes, we can repair our world. And yes, we can be proud in America again.”

Freidenrich tied the high-flying Obama kite to Laguna.

“Just as our new president stands on the shoulders of the many who came before him, so do Toni Iseman and her council colleagues here in Laguna,” Freidenrich said. “They stand on the shoulders of Sally Bellerue, Phyllis Sweeney, Lida Lenney, Bob Gentry [not surprisingly Democrats all], who have preceded them.

“Like Toni, all of us here this evening stand on the shoulders of one Jim Dilley, the inspiration behind Laguna’s Greenbelt. ... I have a feeling that Barack Obama would have liked Jim Dilley.

“I know Barack Obama likes Orange County.”

Freidenrich said Obama campaigned in the county twice, the first time in June 2007 when the little known senator was hosted by Mike and Sholeh Chegini in their Newport Coast home. He thanked them for “showing us the way from their house to the White House.”

Following the program, “Soulfood” — composed of Paul Manfrini, Steven Reid and committee members Waters and Cassard — performed. Dancing to the spins of DJ Mike Soto concluded the event, as the guests circulated around the beautifully decorated room.

Mary Rabe, wife of a committee member, unfortunately was sidelined by a broken foot, but enjoyed the company of Marv and Planning Commissioner Anne Johnson at her table and Design Review Board member Robin Zur Schmiede.

Diane Kloke, whose home was destroyed in December for the second time by a fire, said the gala gave her a reason to celebrate.

Celebrators also included retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Charles Quilter and his wife, Ann; architect Morris Skendarian and wife Stephany — wearing in a floor-length black gown; Dr. Gary and Betsy Jenkins — he in a dinner jacket, she in a fortuny pleated long skirt and delicate, lace-trimmed jacket; and the Hanaeurs. Jane Hanauer said she plans to use the life-sized Obama cutout first displayed during the election in her bookstore window, to celebrate everything that happens: spring, ski season, you name it.

Also on the guest list: Netherlands citizens Ank Stuyfzand and Pieter Wolters, who live in Laguna; writer Lauri Mendenahall, one-time publicist for the Laguna Art Museum; and Marla Bird, past LAM president; Eileen and Dr Roger Ohanesian; Pam and Sam Goldstein, owners of the Heisler Building being rehabilitated; Bill Witte, builder of the affordable housing on Glenneyre Street; Mike and Nancy Meyer; Patricia Twitty, Thurston Middle School teacher; Nick Hernandez, Habitat for Humanity representative; and Gregg Abel.

Event sponsors included [seven degrees], the Election Committee of Orange County, the Human Rights Campaign and the city’s Democratic Club, which also organized a food and clothing drive, delivered to the Relief and Resource Center on Monday.

The evening’s events were streamed live on the gala website and are archived at www.atthisdefining moment.com.

BARBARA DIAMOND can be reached at (949) 494-4321 or [email protected].