The Valley Line: Dancing the night away with Cupid
My, my! Mother Nature just wanted to remind us that winter isn’t over yet. To emphasize her point, she sent us a powerful and chilly rainstorm at the end of last week. She did get my attention last Wednesday when I was running errands and I got soaking wet while dashing from place to place.
I did take an umbrella, but by the time I got it unfolded and re-folded and then dragged it back into the car, not only I, but the car’s interior, was dripping.
We are such rain lightweights here in California. I actually did think I was going to melt into a puddle as I was bombarded by the raindrops. But after fretting over the rain, I was rewarded by the beautiful sight of snow capping our local mountains Sunday. So taken was I by the gorgeous scenery that I nearly drove off the road.
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Cupid, the Roman god of love (Eros, as he was known to the Greeks) ruled over the festivities celebrated by members of The Stardusters dance group’s February dinner dance held at Oakmont Country Club.
The event, themed “It’s Very Clear Our Love is Here to Stay” by co-presidents Gigi and Jim Schlueter, was a black-tie affair.
Overseeing the event were Sally and Jim Perkins, Geraldine Saunders, Penny and Jay Lusche, Patricia and Dennis Hetherington, Judy and Kent Frewing and Liz and Bob Craven.
In honor of the St. Valentine’s Day theme, the dining room was decorated in hearts and flowers in shades of red, pink and white.
Guests first gathered for cocktails and lively chatter before they were seated for dinner. After dining, the dancing began to the music played by a four-member band called Stunt Road.
The Stardusters group was joined by the Aloromas Dance Club of Pasadena. Soon the Pasadena group will host The Stardusters at one of their dinner dances.
The Stardusters have been a popular dance group here in La Cañada Flintridge since 1953, notching up 58 years of great history. Members have put a lot of miles on their dancing shoes.
The first presidents of The Stardusters were Gerald and Gladys Dessery. Several of the current Stardusters members have been with the group for 30-plus year. That’s pretty impressive.
Anyway, it was by all accounts a grand evening to celebrate love. Among the dancers were Brent and Polly Allen, Bill and Peggy Barber, Fran and Terry Buchanan, Pete and Carol Cortez, Bob and Liz Craven, George Stevenson and Orchid Donnelly, Margaret Ann and Thomas Dunn, Frederick and Catarina Elsea, Eddy and Corky Field and Barry and Susan Franzen.
More dancers were Kent and Judy Frewing, Daryal and Mary Gant, Marion and Paul Greene, Dennis and Pat Hetherington, Jim and Susan Holland, Janet Hotchkin and Mark Tinoco, Michael and Virginia Karsch, Stefi and Kent Kuster, John and Diane Landrum, John and Genevieve Lucas, Jim Mramor and Edie Askew, Roy and Lillian Olofson, Jim and Sally Perkins, Marilyn and Willis Petschow and Tony and Barbara Phillips.
Finally, rounding out the dancers were Shirley Stearns and David Prenatt, Tony and Marjorie Riewe, Robert and Rosemary Risley, Diane and Newt Russell, Geraldine Saunders, Art Rothberg and Gloria de Olarte, John and Margaret Schock, John and Barbara Stocky, Pamela and Tim Towery, Lloyd and Irene Welch, and Paul Westmoreland and Elaine Alexander.