FAYETTEVILLE — Restore Humanity supporters took a visit to Winetopia on Oct. 15 to help the humanitarian organization.
The group’s third annual winetasting fundraiser, held at Pratt Place Barn in Fayetteville, drew 150 oenophiles and orphanage backers.
Guests had the chance to sample nearly 150 wines from all over the world, including vineyards in Chile, Italy, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, France and domestic wines from California and Oregon.
Restore Humanity founder Sarah Fennel told me the $15,000 raised from the benefit will help maintain the organization’s newly opened orphanage in Kenya. Ten children reside there and Sarah said they want to ensure the children have “every single thing they need” before expanding.
Sarah credits Northwest Arkansas with building the orphanage. “I am so proud to be from here ... This is what you all have done.”
Those sipping to support kids included Marie and Ben Hebert, Greg Mack, Terrye and Patric Brosh, Mary Bonaduce, Brenda LaRoche, Stacy and James Keenan and Sarah’s dad, Joe Fennel.
The inaugural Washington County Bar and Grill to benefit the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks drew about 150 barbecue lovers on Oct. 16.
The event pitted area attorneys against each other in a test of their barbecue skills and doubled as a tailgate party. Guests kept up with the Razorback game on four televisions in the middle of the garden.
The day’s winners were:
Best Pulled Pork - Barbie Q’s;
Best Chicken Thighs - Woods, Snively and Atwell Law Firm;
Best Brisket - Odom Law Firm;
Best Ribs - Woods, Snively and Atwell Law Firm;
Hottest Grill - Niblock Law Firm;
People’s Choice Award - Barbie Q’s.
Those enjoying grilled goods in the garden included Annetta Young, Maudie Schmitt (event organizer), Laura and Conrad Odom, Tim Snively, Ron Cox, Ray Niblock, Melinda McIlroy, Chris Bell, Rita Littrell and Cathy Bass.
Arts patrons gathered at Compton Gardens in the early evening on Oct. 17 to kick off the annual retreat of the Arkansas State Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Denise Garner and Sharon Guthrie hosted the wine and hors d’oeuvres reception for ladies from around the state and from the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.
The national museum is dedicated to recognizing the contributions of women artists. The state committee, formed in 1989, has been responsible for more than 10 exhibitions featuring Arkansas women artists. The group also contributed $50,000 in 1997 for an endowment in the Arkansas Gallery at the museum.
Among those gathered for the annual meeting were Sandy Edwards, Sheree Niece, Betty Jo Hays, Terri Trotter, Maggie Malloy, Alice Honea, Jennifer Fay, Mary Benjamin and Jenni Taylor Swain.
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OUR TOWN COLUMNIST CARIN SCHOPPMEYER CAN BE REACHED BY E-MAILING CSCHOPPMEYER@ NWAONLINE.COM OR BY PHONING 872-5049.
Our Town, Pages 11 on 10/24/2010