B.W. COOK--The Crowd

The Salvation Army recently held its annual “Spirit Awards” civic dinner

and the whole town came.

Actually, 450 guests converged on the Hyatt Regency Irvine ballroom to

celebrate community fellowship with a ceremonial dinner that was

highlighted by aprocession of bagpipers and drummers in honor of special

guest Father John Sammon, recipient of the prestigious Others Award for

2000.

Also honored were Julie David, who was named Volunteer of the Year, and

Newport’s own indefatigable Jan Landstrom, recipient of the William Booth

Award, named after the founder of the Salvation Army.

The chairman was local political kingpin Doy Henley, and the cochairwoman

was Joann Waldron. Assistance came from a committee that included Sharon

Morrison, Claire Burt, Warren Johnson, Chuck Potter, Howard Jones, Betty

Belden Palmer, Jan Landstrom, Kathy Houghton, and newsman Ed Arnold.

The Salvation Army dinner and ceremony featured the special appearance of

local law enforcement officials Sheriff Mike Carona and Asst. Sheriff

John “Rocky” Hewitt. Also in attendance were many of the region’s

firefighters and police officers, as well as the 40-piece Tustin Ranch

Salvation Army Band, directed by Ed Freeman.

Of course, the timbrelists, otherwise known as the tambourine gals, were

not to be left out or overshadowed by the band or the bagpipers. The

female troupe received a thunderous reception from the crowd.

The dinner and the awards ceremony were emceed by Gaddi Vasquez, with Ed

Arnold doing his share of the duties, as always. Arnold was pleased to

present Sammon, vicar of community affairs for the Diocese of Orange,

with his award. Sammon and Arnold have made names for themselves for

their years of community service.

Chip Prather, chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, was also proud

to participate in the presentation. A musical salute from the bagpipers

topped off the Sammon celebration with style.

The evening’s sponsors included Don and Betsy Tarbell, Doy and Dee

Henley, Tamim Baiou, Blanche Chilcote, Tom and Karla Hammond, Steve and

Frances Knott, John and Jan Landstrom, Milt and Amelia Madole, David and

Darrellyn Melilli, Sharon Morrison, Ruth Ann Moriarty and Gabrielle

Wirth.

Others in the crowd were Paul and Virginia Knott Bender, Walter and Mary

Frome, Gary and Joanne Granville, Don and Linda Groth, Jack Disney, Bill

and Donna Denham, Bill and Carolyn Hardy, Mike and Charlene Immell,

Sharon McNalley, Marc Martin, Doreen Marshall, Chuck and Pat Potter, Toni

Oliphant, Robert and Linda Shepard, and Dick and Pat Wallace.

In other Salvation Army news, groundbreaking for the Women’s Adult Drug

and Alcohol Rehabilitation Facility is set to take place June 20. The

facility will be built in Anaheim, with workers from all over the county

raising more than $2 million for the project. A final push to raise the

remaining $250,000 for interior appointments is underway, being led by

Newport’s Julie David, Jan Landstrom and a crew of super volunteers.

For more information, call Landstrom at (949) 640-4707 or call the

Salvation Army at (714) 832-7100.

CUTLINES:

#1 -- Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona with Father John Sammon, who

received the Others Award from the Salvation Army at a recent dinner

celebration.

#2 -- Volunteer of the Year Julie David, Betty Belden Palmer and Jan

Landstrom, winner of the William Booth Award, at the Salvation Army

event.