The courtyard and parking lot was the ‘backyard setting’ of the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara’s event to raise funds for a partner hospice in Africa. The theme of this heartfelt fundraiser was Beach Blanket BBQ Bash, so everyone wore Hawaiian shirts and the Bushwood Band played rock ‘n’ roll. Thompson Brothers provided the delicious tri-tip BBQ with all the fixin’s; wine was donated by Los Companeros and Summerland Winery.

Part of the hospice movement now is for well-established hospice organizations to partner with an organization from a poorer, third world country in order to get them started in providing important hospice, end of life programs.

Santa Barbara’s local organization is partnered with Viagenco Integrated Comprehensive Care in Mbita, Kenya. Started in 2002, the Viagenco organization serves a poor rural population that has the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Kenya, where it affects 43% of the population. Malaria infections are also rampant.

The goal is to try to provide financial support to Viagenco through local fundraisers, as well as to share ideas regarding end of life care and to support each other in their common interest in compassionate care. The Kenyan program targets women and children, including the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, and supporting orphans with clothing, shelter, school fees, food, and medicine.
Event supporters included patron Brian O’Donnell and Julie Hirsch-O’Donnell, board member Nancy Kimsey with Bill, Shelton and Renee Stein, Eileen Bunning, Paul Burney (who brought the salmon), Paula Curran, Sam Hilow, Pattie McDougal,Vicki and Dean Young, Margarita Abramov, Holly Gendran, Holly Joseph, Susan Saperstein, and others.

Summerdance 2005 ends with a Caberet Performance

After three weeks of local dance performances, choreographers’ showcases and “Everybody Dance” Kids Connection activities, SummerDance 2005 concluded with a Cabaret event in the outdoor courtyard of NU Restaurant.

After a long twilight-lit cocktail hour and gourmet dinner under the stars, patrons enjoyed topnotch entertainment featuring the best of SummerDance Santa Barbara 2005, including crowd pleasers Doug Elkins, Tamango, Big Dog, and Larry Keigwin. I especially enjoyed “Lodaz” (an excerpt from “I”), brilliantly choreographed by Aszure Barton and performed by Banning Roberts and Anthony Smith.

The silent auction featured items from Fibula, Wendy Foster, Silverhorn, Patricia Chidlaw, and Kate, with former State Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson performing auctioneer duties for the evening.
Spotted in the crowd were Susan Rose, Monica Ryker, Gail and David Teton-Landis, Robin Bisio, publicist George Yatchisin and executive director Dianne Vapnek. Susan Bridges and her husband actor Jeff Bridges arrived late to sit with fellow actors Jay Terrell and Tim Matheson with his wife Megan, who sits on the Summerdance board. Jeff, Tim, and Jay were top bidders on live auction items -all to support the arts!

Now in its 9th year, SummerDance is a three-week festival of contemporary dance which builds audiences for dance through community outreach, educational events, master classes and performances. The James Irvine Foundation and Paseo Nuevo Shopping Center are just two of the sponsors supporting the organization. For more information, call 563-2844.

Rochelle Rose is a Special Contributor to The Voice. If you would like an event considered for coverage, contact her at (805) 448-8338 or rochellerose6@yahoo.com.

PHOTO BY ROCHELLE ROSE