Clear Lake Chatter – Dec. 2013

The elegantly dressed crowd at the Bay Oaks Women’s Association Titanic Dinner included, from left, Jim and Ann O’Malley, Herb and Charlene Miller, Alice Marinos, Barbara Phillips, Lou Marinos, Betty Smalling and her son-in-law,  Earl Phillips.

The elegantly dressed crowd at the Bay Oaks Women’s Association Titanic Dinner included, from left, Jim and Ann O’Malley, Herb and Charlene Miller, Alice Marinos, Barbara Phillips, Lou Marinos, Betty Smalling and her son-in-law, Earl Phillips.

CLEAR LAKE CHATTER

Sailing back into history on the Titanic

By Mary Alys Cherry
 
12-1 Gala Chairman

Gala Chairman Lea Bodie and her husband, Jason, prepare to greet guests arriving for the last dinner on the R.M.S. Titanic.

The first and final voyage of the R.M.S. Titantic has intrigued generations of both Europeans and Americans who have read about its final hours and wondered what it was like to be aboard the great ship as it began sinking into history. Some 150 Bay Oaks Country Club members got to relive part of that historic evening when the Bay Oaks Women’s Association hosted a Titantic Dinner with many dressed in period outfits.

In fact, Chairman Lea Bodie and her husband, Jason, greeted what was probably the most elegant crowd seen in the Clear Lake area in years with the men all in evening outfits – black tie, white tie, even Edwardian suits — just as they wore for dinner in first class aboard ships back then – and the ladies looking almost too beautiful.

12-1 Angela and Darrell Bivens

Angela and Darrell Bivens arrive for dinner on the R.M.S. Titanic as it “sets sail” at Bay Oaks Country Club in Clear Lake.

The violin quartet were just starting to play when in walked BOWA President Jennifer Simmons with her husband, Richard, and her parents, Edgar and Elinor Walters, Terri and Michael Divine, Patricia Simon, Becky Reitz and John Gay, quickly followed by Angela and Darrell Givens, Jim and Janet Greenwood, Jack and Danele Buehler, Barry and Lyla Nettles, Harold and Kathleen Parrish, John and Jeannette Koerschner and Lewis and Joan Wade.

They hardly had time to say hello when in walked Marilyn and Glynn Lunney, Cambrey and Matthew Rogers, Joanna and Sheldon Krancher, Ray and Silva Landry, Kathryn Manning, Nancy and Jerry Smith, Bill and Carol Bobo, Glenn and Carlene Langford, Jim Mouton and Mary Keathley, Michael and Sharon Phelps, James and Maureen Blanding, Carl and Diane Konick, George and Glenna Crist, Sharon and Michael Phelps and Danny and Holly Williamson.

After an hour of socializing, it was time for dinner and the same menu served to First Class passengers on the Titanic a hundred years ago, much to everyone’s delight – Oysters a la Russe, Consomme Olga, Wild Salmon, Filet Mignon with Scallop Potato, Artichoke, Foie Gras and Black Truffle, Squab and Watercress and an array of desserts popular back in the day. Each course was accompanied by French wines.

Much to the delight of BOWA Vice Presidents Annette Dwyer and Kimberly Weathers and their husbands, Pat Monks and Brett Weathers, Jon Ebbeler and Sue Broughton, Russ and Mary Colombo, Herb and Charlene Miller, Jim and Ann O’Malley, Earl and Barbara Phillips and her mother, Betty Smalling, Lou and Alice Marinos, Kevin and Lisa O’Brien, Henry and Margaret Vail, Eric and Ondi Lyon and Scott Lyon and Stacie Davis.

An added attraction after dinner and dessert was an outdoor cigar bar for the fellows and lots of enjoyable conversation. And, fortunately no violin strains of Nearer My God to Thee.

 

Sheree Frede dazzles the crowd as she impersonates movie star Marilyn Monroe.

Sheree Frede dazzles the crowd as she impersonates movie star Marilyn Monroe.

Even Marilyn Monroe was there

DIAMONDS were everywhere you looked when Clear Lake Panhellenic hosted its annual style show luncheon, and why not!

This is their 50th anniversary year and the theme for the 29th annual fashion show was “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” with Marilyn Monroe – a.k.a. Sheree Frede – dressed in a gorgeous pink gown and leading the celebration in grand style for the crowd of 350.

Fashion Show Chairman Kay Lee Benoit and Co-Chairmen Jo Cat Bruce and Judie Ferguson joined Panhellenic President Laurie Vaughn and First Vice President Kim Barker in welcoming the arriving crowd including Jan Bailey, Ann Gay, Annette Dwyer, Karen and Jenny McCorkle, Ellen King, Anita Fogtman, Emmeline Dodd, Pam Ploss, Carol Short, Jill Williams, Stacy Davis and Joan McKinney – many wearing bling and all ready to party down.

Webster City Councilwoman Natalie Dolan and CCISD Board President Ann Hammond were in the crowd, as were Chevrolet dealer Norman Frede, Coastal Foods President Cecil Ferguson, Bay Area Houston Ballet Artistic Director Lynette Mason Gregg, Lt. Col. Brad Bruce, with his mother, Jo Cat Bruce, entertainment specialists Ginger and Phil Pampolina, and Lewis Diamonds owners Cindy and Slade Lewis.

Stacy Bush Davis, left, and Jenny Sinor Frantz, right, are happy to see Belva Dewey, former Clear Lake resident who came from Baton Rouge for the Clear Lake Panhellenic Fashion Show.

Stacy Bush Davis, left, and Jenny Sinor Frantz, right, are happy to see Belva Dewey, former Clear Lake resident who came from Baton Rouge for the Clear Lake Panhellenic Fashion Show.

Glancing around, you might have spotted Mary McMullen, Ann Wismer Landolt, Courtney Atchley, Joy Muniz, Suzie Wilson, Lea Bodie, Cambrey Rogers, Karen Keesler, Kathleen Smith, Ann Brady, Karen Weber, Linda Landreth, Cathy Osoria, Mary Ann Shallberg, Carol Bobo, Michelle Richardson, Dana Brown and Angela Swint as they made their way through the silent auction.

While Kate Foyt, Marjorie McConnico, Priscilla Ennis, Jill Reason, Renee Ditta, Diane Vest, Ruth Beecher, Lisa Holbrook, Sally Jordan, Micahlyn Ordeneaux, Sharon Dillard, Sally Wigginton, Judy Raiford and Ann Brannen stopped to compliment Kathy Wiley on the beautiful program book she compiled for everyone’s enjoyment.

Before long, it was time for style show master Lenny Matuszewski – with his eye for selecting the perfect outfits from Dillard’s – to start what turned out to be a fabulous show with models Kim Krist, Jill Reason, Kelli Baliker, Christy Lovoi, Carrie Peters, Ondi Lyon, Wendy Shaw, Nancy Gruener, Debby Reichert, Kathy Akins, Claire Peters, Amy Judd, Peggy Clause, Christina Kirk, Kathy Glass, Kari Long, Becky Hensley and Marcy Ortega showing off an array of fashions.

Much to the delight of Mary Ellen Bellard, Kathryn Vernau, Diane Overman, Lisa O’Brien, Barbara Dickey, Jennie Hampton and Sue Ellen Jennings, who were among those on the style show committee.

 

Music at the Museum Chairman Carole Murphy and Co-Chairman Mary Voigt, right, prepare to welcome the arriving crowd at the joint Museum Guild and Houston Symphony League Bay Area event.

Music at the Museum Chairman Carole Murphy and Co-Chairman Mary Voigt, right, prepare to welcome the arriving crowd at the joint Museum Guild and Houston Symphony League Bay Area event.

Music at the Museum a sellout

MUSIC AT THE MUSEUM was a sellout for the third year in a row with more than a hundred in the crowd at Bay Area Museum in Clear Lake Park.

The popular event is a joint effort by Houston Symphony League Bay Area and the Bay Area Museum Guild. Chairman Carole Murphy received invaluable help from her committee members, including Brandie Corrao, Mary Voigt, Pat Biddle, Anne Yannie, Pat Bertelli and Nina McGlashan.

The amazing Houston Symphony String Trio performing were violinists Sergei Galpern and Miran Kim with Sheldon Person on the viola.

Seen in the crowd were Angie Weinman, Alice Steel, Jill Williams, Ava Galt, Kimberly Weathers, Karen McCorkle, Sandi and Sydney Allbritton, Vicki Buxton, Cindy Kuenneke, Vicki Hamley and a host of others who enjoyed good food and wine and a great performance by the String Trio in the beautiful chapel at the Museum.

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