It was a groovy crowd for a great cause at Saturday’s Moonlight at the Ranch IX: The Groovy 60s where tie-dye swirled on a variety of shirts, flower power headbands sat on many brows and psychedelic prints dominated the salute to the decade of Peace and Love.
Staged each year to benefit the Santa Paula Police & Fire Foundation (SPP&FF), each year’s Moonlight reflects a different theme and offers guests tastings from fine restaurants, no host bars (the famed “Screwdriver” was the house drink for the evening) a Raffle (most popular prize: a 48-inch flat screen TV) and Silent Auction.
Richard Rudman was a fashion standout in his Mad Men linen suit with a skinny tie that was oh-so-60s (thrift shopping with Maxine McKaig) while John Marquez opted for a huge Afro that made him stand out in the crowd and easy to spot by his fur vest wearing wife Gina.
Ladies fashions ranged from Flower Child Sheryl Hamlin and Black Leather Rocker Victoria Kelly to Anitra Sommer who wore a spectacular necklace and not much else…that is, at least not much else matching the theme.
“I can never come up with a costume so I just come as a I am,” she said, although her husband Mike had a high fashion 60 madras shirt, a real fashion throwback.
Fred and Sharon Robinson sported tie-dye shirts and signs with the fames 60s peace sign noting “Peace” and “Love” while Sharon also held another staple of the era, a gigantic faux rolled giggle and appetite inducer.
But no matter what they wore the crowd all had on their dancing shoes for music spun by DJ Bruce Barrios and the band, Sound Effect.
People made sure to be there and not square at historic Limoneira Ranch for the celebration that featured the Santa Paula Police Dragoon and SWAT Officers on display and Santa Paula Firefighters showing off their culinary skills, a combination which was a top Silent Auction item for the lucky bidder who won a day of SWAT training and a Fire House Dinner.
Business was brisk at the Chinese Raffle and Silent Auction table where Marleen Canniff made sure people put their tickets in the correct cans to win the prizes they want; SPPD Explorers were selling tickets while Future Farmers of America were helping at the scene.
After the opening reception with “munchies” at Strawberry Fields Forever Park where The Jill Johnson’s Dancers demonstrated jazz moves, hundreds of hippies, English “Mod girls,” the always perfectly dressed Ann Perez channeling Audrey Hepburn’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s look, even a guy dressed casually wearing a necktie around his forehead, headed down to the second venue where dozens of restaurants offered everything from bites of steak smothered in blue cheese, pizza, hot wings and ice cream sundaes to Mexican delicacies, salsas and clam chowder and beyond. Restaurants, bakeries and caterers from throughout Ventura County basked in the Moonlighter’s compliments of their fine cuisine.
The program was handled by Moonlight Co-Chair Leslie Cornejo, a SPP&FF Board Director who thanked the crowd for coming and having fun “for a very important cause…Moonlight is our foundation’s largest fundraiser and we strive to make it as fun as possible. Hope you’re having a groovy time!”
She introduced SPFD Fire Chief Rick Araiza who thanked the guests and urged them to visit all the restaurants; he also thanked Lee Cole, President-CEO of Calavo and Limoneira President-CEO Harold Edwards for their support of the Moonlight event.
Araiza noted “It’s been a rough year for our department,” with three firefighters injured in the November 18 Santa Clara Waste Water-Green Compass chemical explosions and fires.
The firefighters have yet to return to work and Araiza said “We sincerely miss them…and just this morning we sent an engine company to Butte,” to fight massive wildfires whom Araiza said he knows all wish well.
Police Chief Steve McLean noted that Mayor John Procter, Vice Mayor Martin Hernandez and City Councilwoman Jenny Crosswhite and Ginger Gherardi were in the crowd as was City Manager Jaime Fontes, representatives of Latino Town Hall and the Santa Paula Unified School District.
The foundation “Brings so much to our fire and police departments…two months ago the foundation bought the police body cameras at a cost of $26,000. I know each member of the foundation has a special place in their heart for public safety.”
With more than 800,000 law enforcement officers in the nation, McLean said each day they “risk their lives because they want to protect their community…”
“Moonlight at the Ranch is Ventura County’s signature celebration,” that Edwards said Limoneira is proud to host each year.
Moonlight Co-Chair and SPP&FF Board Director Debbie Johnson enjoyed the party in spurts as she was spending most of the time with the financial end of the event.
Later she said, “People loved the party…. they love Moonlight, they know it’s for a great cause and they love supporting our police and fire, and they love to dance and have a great time. That’s what Moonlight is all about: raising money for our police and fire and giving our guests an unforgettable fun experience while doing so.”
|
Flashing Peace signs was the pose of choice costumed Moonlighters at Saturday’s salute to The Groovy 60s! They were grooving out to benefit the Santa Paula Police & Fire Foundation and partying hard at Limoneira Ranch. |
