Zonta Club benefit boosts women's shelter operation

The Zonta Club offered its fifth annual “Evening of Art and Wine” event on Saturday at Nuckols Ranch to raise money for the Central California Family Crisis Center, also referred to as the local women’s shelter.

The benefit took place under a white tent, aglow in sparkling white lights. Tables of wine, organized by grape varietals, offered samples donated by local businesses like Town & Country and Addamo’s Italian Restaurant and Wine Cellar. Local winery Bella La Vina also donated bottles of wine made from grapes grown right here in Valley soil, one a unique Muscat — a red grape blend called Floozy Red.

The winery is a real mom and pop outfit, with husband and wife duo Cari and Victor Flores running the whole shebang from growing nine different varieties of grapes on their 12-acre farm to bottling and labeling the 500 cases year. Their first bottles were cased just last year and now they sell direct from their farm just outside of Terra Bella, right off Highway 65.

“It’s been a hobby for 30 years,” Victor Flores said. “Now a passion has finally come to be.”

The art part of the event highlighted a pair of local artists, photographer Michael Hansen and painter Bob Goetting. Each donated a portion of their sales for the evening to the cause.

Renay Sprague, a Zonta member for the past 18 years, said the artists are decided by committee. She said she has known Hansen for years, not as artist, but as a lawn maintenance company owner.

“I know him real well. I was a customer,” she said. “I was shocked and amazed when I saw his photography. I’ve known him for so long and I never knew he was such a fantastic talent.”

Hansen, a local resident for the past 22 years, said he’s always been interested in photography, but decided to take his hobby a step further and took classes at the local college. An avid backpacker and hiker, Hansen’s photographs depict local wildlife scenes, from fall foliage at Balch Park to foothills blanketed in California poppies, and the grand rocks of Yosemite.

Hansen also likes to shoot wildlife: “With a camera,” he laughs, “I’m not a hunter.”

He gave 10 print of print sales to the charity.

Painter Bob Goetting offered 20 percent of sales. His seascapes span the globe from the shores of Italy and France to Pismo Beach and Morro Bay.

“I like to use texture, a lot of knifework and heavy brush strokes,” he said of his painting style. “I like the eye to feel the paint.”

Goetting also donated a painting to the event’s drawing, which also saw a chance to win a 50-inch flat screen Panasonic television donated by the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, and a two-night stay at J. Patrick House Bed and Breakfast in Cambria that included a bottle of champagne and a tour for two of Hearst Castle.

The event is a cornerstone of fundraising for the Zonta Club, an international group dedicated to advancing the status of women locally and worldwide. The evening of art, wine, music and tons of hors d’oeuvres brings in about $8,000.

The large buffet-style spread in the center of the tent was a smorgasbord of delicacies like seafood dip, shrimp cocktail, delicate finger sandwiches, goat cheese and pesto torte and nearby, a roast beef carving station and chocolate fondue fountain and fixins’ table. All nibbles were made and donated by the 50 Zonta Club women who are encouraged to bring their tried and true crowd pleasers.

In the kitchen, Gail Nuckols, a Zonta Club member, worked tirelessly manning the stove to keep things hot and orchestrated the constant supply of food. She also donated the use of her ranch’s facilities, that she rents out for weddings and private affairs.

“It takes five months to plan the event,” Mickie Manning, executive director of the Central California Family Crisis Center, said. “We have so many members and everyone helps out.”

In addition to the long-term benefits derived from the annual fundraiser, there’s an immediate benefit to those served by the women’s shelter.

“Any leftover food we donate to the shelter,” Brenda Martin, a Zonta Club member and Porterville Realty owner, said, “so nothing goes to waste.”

-- Contact The Recorder newsroom at 784-5000, Ext. 1043.