Junior League

COSTA MESA — The Junior League of Orange County raised $180,000 in donations during their 35th annual holiday fundraiser, which is known as The Christmas Co. The four-day fundraiser kicked off Nov. 10 at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa with a gala themed "Come Fly With Me. " Attendees had the first look at merchandise offered by more than 90 exhibitors who were on board for the fundraiser's multiple-day shopping extravaganza, according...

B.W. COOK The Junior League of Orange County recently presented White Haute Nights, its spring fundraiser at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort in Newport Beach. Some 500 guests converged upon the coastal club on a balmy Saturday night that felt more like summer. Event chair Lori Wagner, working with Junior League president Kathleen Hill and a dedicated group, created a fabulous evening by the bay for patrons who came to sip a glass of wine on the waterfront terrace, enjoy a cigar on the beach and participate in an evening of "Monte Carlo" gaming created by party planners.

After serving nine years as a dedicated member of the Newport Beach-based Junior League of Orange County, Stacey Kinney of San Juan Capistrano was named president at a recent board meeting, and Kelly Northridge of Newport Beach will now serve as vice president. The 2007-2008 board of directors will also include Carla Dillon of Costa Mesa and Isabelle Ord and Jennifer Martin of Newport Beach. The nonprofit consists of about 750 women who volunteer to nurture a healthier and safer community while promoting volunteerism.

-- Elise Gee FAIRGROUNDS -- The Junior League of Orange County's fund-raiser and shopping extravaganza, The Christmas Company, is expected to offer more than all of its previous annual events, organizers said. The Junior League will kick off its signature fund-raiser Saturday with a black-tie gala reception. The shopping event, in its 24th year, has raised more than $3.5 million to date, with a record $381,000 raised in 1997 alone. Dozens of vendors, holiday shopping and special events -- such as Breakfast with Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa -- are among of the highlights.

It has been a most fashionable and festive time on the Orange Coast to kick off the holiday season. The Junior League got Newport-Mesa in the mood with their annual Christmas Company shopping extravaganza at the Orange County fairgrounds. The four-day event began with a gala opening night followed by a shopping breakfast, afternoon tea parties, cooking demonstrations with a special event featuring the League’s own cookbook “Orange County Fare,” celebrity speakers including Olympian Janet Evans and best selling authors Dr. Beth Hamilton and Dr. Stephanie McClellan , and of course holiday items showcased by some 90 international vendors.

Locals are stretching their muscles and lacing up their running shoes in preparation for the seventh annual O.C. Marathon Sunday. The weekend kicked off Friday with the opening of the Active Lifestyle Expo, which also runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the O.C. Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. Saturday also marks the finale of "Kids Run the OC. " Students from participating schools will have accumulated 25.2 miles of physical activities and will run the final mile at 9 a.m. at the O.C. Fairgrounds.

A new cookbook is making mouths water throughout Orange County. Cleverly titled "Orange County Fare: A Culinary Journey Through the California Riviera," the tome compiled by the Newport Beach-based Junior League of Orange County boasts hundreds of recipes from local celebrity chefs, luminaries and foodies. The book will be sold to benefit the league's community outreach projects Saturday at a culinary demonstration by local chef Zov Karamardian, of Zov's Bistro in Tustin and her other eponymous cafes in Newport Coast and Irvine.

The Clubhouse at South Coast Plaza will present Monte Carlo Night on Saturday to raise money for the Junior League of Orange County. Tickets for the "cocktail attire" event, which will take place from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, cost $70. Participants who bring a children's book to donate to Laura's House, a Junior League home for abused women and their children in San Clemente, will receive $50 in gambling script....

Three Newport Beach women have been named directors of the Junior League of Orange County, an organization devoted to volunteerism and women?s development. Mara Hampton, Meredith Cagle and Laurel Murray are all longtime members of the Junior League with experience fundraising and managing money. Hampton, a six-year member, has helped organize events like the league?s Golf Tournament by the Sea, which raised $30,000 for the organization. Murray, who holds a master?s degree in business from USC, has experience managing the league?

'Y' children to be part of clean-up Children from the YMCA in Costa Mesa will participate in Beach Cleanup Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Big Corona Beach at the end of Marguerite Avenue. The event is being organized by the Junior League of Orange County to promote service learning. It is the first of several service-learning projects planned by the Junior League between now and May. The 20 children participating in the cleanup drive will be accompanied by 10 women from the Junior League.

New Directions for Women raised more than $400,000 at its fifth annual Circle of Life fundraising breakfast. The event, hosted at the Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach on March 25, garnered a turnout of about 250 attendees, including Mayor Keith Curry, business and healthcare professionals, and board members. The Costa Mesa substance-abuse treatment center will use the proceeds to fund scholarships for women or help mothers looking to free themselves from addiction. Established in 1977 with the help of Pamela Wilder and the Junior League of Orange County, New Directions provides a venue for affordable rehabilitative and detox care.

Judy Wells Stafford passed away November 26 at her home in Palm Desert, Calif. A native of Long Beach, Calif., Judy was raised in Billings, Mont., and later Boise, Idaho where she graduated from Borah High School in 1960.  She then moved with her family to San Marino, Calif.,  where she attended Pasadena City College and graduated from San Diego State University. In 1967 she married Donald Solsby with whom she had two sons.  Prior to the birth of her children she was a teacher in Los Angeles-area public schools.  The couple lived in San Marino until 1979 when they moved to Newport Beach.

Ready, set, shop! Local volunteers and philanthropists are hoping for a dazzling turnout at this year's Christmas Co. extravaganza, themed "A Home-Cooked Holiday. " It's the Newport Beach-based Junior League of Orange County, California Inc.'s largest annual fundraiser, Event Publicity Chairwoman Daphne Hart said. More than 100 local and national exhibitors will be on hand, offering everything from handmade jewelry to cutting-edge knives to pet couture. There's much more to the event than just shopping, although there will be shopping aplenty; a tea room will be set up for refined refreshments, and a series of special events will boast swoon-worthy appearances and goodie bags.

Locals are stretching their muscles and lacing up their running shoes in preparation for the seventh annual O.C. Marathon Sunday. The weekend kicked off Friday with the opening of the Active Lifestyle Expo, which also runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the O.C. Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. Saturday also marks the finale of "Kids Run the OC. " Students from participating schools will have accumulated 25.2 miles of physical activities and will run the final mile at 9 a.m. at the O.C. Fairgrounds.

Corona del Mar High junior Pippa Saunders has been named co-MVP of the Pacific Coast League in girls' water polo, and fellow CdM junior Alex Musselman earned the league Most Outstanding Goalie nod. CdM senior Maddie Schwartz and junior Diana Murphy earned first-team all-league status, with sophomores Cassidy Papa and Ally McCormick on the second team. Saunders scored a team-high 66 goals for the Sea Kings (21-8), who won league for the 12th consecutive year and advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division I semifinals.

COSTA MESA — The Junior League of Orange County raised $180,000 in donations during their 35th annual holiday fundraiser, which is known as The Christmas Co. The four-day fundraiser kicked off Nov. 10 at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa with a gala themed "Come Fly With Me. " Attendees had the first look at merchandise offered by more than 90 exhibitors who were on board for the fundraiser's multiple-day shopping extravaganza, according...

A new cookbook is making mouths water throughout Orange County. Cleverly titled "Orange County Fare: A Culinary Journey Through the California Riviera," the tome compiled by the Newport Beach-based Junior League of Orange County boasts hundreds of recipes from local celebrity chefs, luminaries and foodies. The book will be sold to benefit the league's community outreach projects Saturday at a culinary demonstration by local chef Zov Karamardian, of Zov's Bistro in Tustin and her other eponymous cafes in Newport Coast and Irvine.

It has been a most fashionable and festive time on the Orange Coast to kick off the holiday season. The Junior League got Newport-Mesa in the mood with their annual Christmas Company shopping extravaganza at the Orange County fairgrounds. The four-day event began with a gala opening night followed by a shopping breakfast, afternoon tea parties, cooking demonstrations with a special event featuring the League’s own cookbook “Orange County Fare,” celebrity speakers including Olympian Janet Evans and best selling authors Dr. Beth Hamilton and Dr. Stephanie McClellan , and of course holiday items showcased by some 90 international vendors.

The Junior League of Orange County?s 33rd annual Christmas Company fundraiser begins today at the Orange County Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. The $10 fee will cover parking and admittance. Then you can hunt for bargains galore from more than 120 merchants who will offer niche holiday products and more. Some ancillary events include the $35 ?Preferred Shopping Breakfast,? from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. today. Enjoy ?An Evening of Food and Wine,? from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday for $75. For more information, visit jlocc.