LAKE COUNTY– Red, white and blue centerpieces decorated the tables at the annual Americana Dinner hosted by the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, May 3. The benefit dinner, which was held at the Clearlake Senior/Community Center on Bowers Road; finances the Independence Day fireworks display in the City of Clearlake.
This year”s event raised a total of $7668 for the fireworks display, which will be presented by Pyro Spectacular Fireworks. However, a total of $10,000 is needed to completely pay for the show. Donations are still being sought; for more information call the chamber office at 994-3600.
The Americana Dinner welcomed various members of the community including business professionals, government and law enforcement officials, healthcare and education specialists and more. Guests enjoyed dinner prepared and served by the Clearlake Police Department”s Explorer program; a live auction and the comedy of three stand-up comedians. Southshore Little League ball-players were in charge of the clean-up.
Chamber board member Doug Codling began the event with special recognition for Sharon Lusich, who he said had been instrumental in the success of the chamber for many years. “Those were the glory days and there”s more glory days to come with (executive director) Lori (Peters) aboard,” he said.
First District supervisor candidate Joey Luiz served as auctioneer of the event. Luiz pushed the bids on various items contributed by local merchants as chamber volunteers paraded the items through the crowd. Among the highest bids was a certificate from Konoctees for printing of choice on 25 T-shirts that went for $140. A tool kit donated by Clearlake Police Chief Allan McClain and his wife Tammy also received a $140 bid. Two tickets to a San Francisco Giants baseball game, donated by Tom and Carol Walker, of Lakeshore Car Wash reached a bid of $130 and a case of Clear Lake Serenity Wine from Brassfield Estate Winery was sold to the highest bidder at $120. Total auction bids raised approximately $1400.
The evening”s entertainment was delivered by three comedians who cracked jokes about age, heritage, wine country-living and the cops. Marc Yaffey, who will be performing before America”s troops this summer, joked about his life as a Native American and the multitude of names that could describe his orientation. Ruth Lynn Miller talked about being 74-years-old and how society has change and so has her body. She ended her set with a song about “letting ?em loose” that she punctuated by tossing several bras into the audience. The comedy showcase rounded out with San Francisco Comedy Competition winner Johnny Steele. Steele said he had nothing prepared for the evening and related his antics toward the long drive to get to Clearlake, the massive amount of auction items that had to be sold before he went on and the atmosphere of the Clearlake Senior/Community Center.
The Independence Day fireworks display will take place following the Lakeshore Lion”s Redbud Parade and Festival, to be held this year on Saturday, July 5.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
Auction raised $1400
