With an invitation from South County socialite Ramune
Ambrozaitis, I joined the family reunion of Bay Area Lithuanians at
the World Affairs Council meeting at the City Club of San Francisco
with keynote speaker President Valdus Adamkus.
With an invitation from South County socialite Ramune Ambrozaitis, I joined the family reunion of Bay Area Lithuanians at the World Affairs Council meeting at the City Club of San Francisco with keynote speaker President Valdus Adamkus. With 80 years of life experience, including active involvement in the resistance movement for Lithuanian’s independence, head of the Midwest region of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and a winner of two Olympic medals in track and field, Adamkus spoke from his vast knowledge of politics from both sides of the great pond, urging countries to develop energy independence to avoid political strangle holds. Ramune’s good friend Dalia Alekna jumped at the opportunity to exchange a few words with Gavin Newsom. Newsom angelically gave her God’s blessing while Dalia later reflected, “God bless me? I think he needs it much more than I do.”
Blessed to have the helping hands and healing hearts of Community Solutions in South County, the annual Foundation’s Awards Luncheon presented the high honor to its first organization (normally the award is given to an individual) on Friday at the Coyote Creek Golf Course. The Lucille Packard Foundation for Children’s Health received the Helping Hands Award and Patricia Lezama, a graduate of Community Solution’s Sexual Assault Program and anchorperson for Univision 67, received the Healing Hearts Award.
When the event host, Janice Edwards of NBC11, began her welcome with an audience participation exercise our table erupted in laughter when Michael D’Apuzzo of Johnson’s Funeral Home, following Edward’s instructions, turned to me and said dutifully, “It’s never too late for hope.” I’m thinking, “Good, could you put an inside opening latch on that casket for me, just in case?” With Leal Vineyard’s Dave Cox and Chris Walker, Donnelle Richards and Cherisse White of Cherisse’s Day Spa and Michael of Johnson’s Funeral Home all sitting at our table we had all the important services in life covered. Special guest and newly elected District Attorney Dolores Carr sat with newly elected Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate and his wife Jennifer along with Community Solutions President and CEO, Erin O’Brien. Following me everywhere these days, Ginny Christopher filled me in on her son Jason Christopher’s good fortune in landing a job with DreamWorks Studio in Glendale.
Ciao for now.
