Epicurean Charitable Foundation honors supporter

Brad Friedmutter, chief executive officer of Friedmutter Group, was honored May 8 at the seventh annual Anniversary Dinner, which celebrates the founding of the Epicurean Charitable Foundation. The dinner was at The Stirling Club at Turnberry Place.

The foundation was founded by Rino Armeni to foster culinary education, and funds raised from this event go toward scholarships.

One of the program's graduating seniors, Sabrina Karie, spoke on behalf of the attending students. She was also awarded top grade point average honors.

The evening began with a reception on the club's terrace, where Armeni and foundation chairman Brad Mahoney greeted guests, including Bishop Joseph A. Pepe, Debbie and Terri Lanni, Tito and Sandee Tiberti, Tamir Shanel, UNLV basketball coach Lon Kruger and his wife, Barbara.

Also at the dinner were Robyn and Alto Manzini, Bill Hornbuckle, Theresa and Michael Minden, Bernie Yuman, Sean Richie, Lee Medick, Melissa Ramsier, Douglas and Max Friedmutter, Lloyd Wentzell, Marie Claire Armeni, and Rino Armeni's mother, Flora, who was visiting from Rome. More foundation supporters enjoying the gourmet dinner were Chris Fava, Adam Odegard, Rick Goldstein, Sean Richie and Andy Enrico.

ART DE VIGNETTES TOO: Barbara Lee Woollen formally opened her new gallery, located on Horizon Ridge Parkway in Henderson, on Friday with a special art exhibition and reception for artist/actress Jane Seymour.

Seymour was present to sign her artwork for invited guests. Also on display were her new jewelry designs, which can be purchased at Kay's Jewelers.

A portion of the sales will be donated to the Las Vegas Philharmonic's Youth Concerts program, which allows Clark County's fifth-graders to attend a classical music concert at Artemus Ham Hall.

Among the 100 guests were Teri Itkin, Elizabeth Herridge and Roy Burry, Vicki Smith, Ron Sublett, Linda Cassese, Anthony David, Adrienne and Ira Miller, Sheril Lelland, Jerry Faccinani, Sandra and Jim Frank, and Bruce Woollen.

All enjoyed selected wines, canapes and music by harpist Kathy Kavanaugh.

HUMANITARIAN AWARD DINNER: An event benefiting National Jewish Medical and Research Center, an institution in Denver focusing on respiratory and immune diseases, was Saturday at Four Seasons.

The event honored Mary Jo and Rossi Ralenkotter with a humanitarian award.

Mary Jo, a Las Vegas resident for 45 years, met Rossi when they were at Bishop Gorman High School. She is involved in many local charities. Rossi is president/chief executive officer for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, where he had been employed for 34 years.

Guests Linda and Jim Wade, Frank Schreck, Judy and Bill Fleischman, Molli McLaws, Pat Mulroy, Allen Kaercher, Mary Ann and Rob Dondero, Gianna and Bucky Buchanan, Denny Weddle and LuAnn Harrison, Linda and Barry Thigpen, Peggy and Michael Berk, Kathy and John Keating, University Regent Stavros Anthony and Councilman Larry Brown joined Mayor Oscar Goodman during the reception.

The reception offered a silent auction, along with a chance to try one's luck with a spin of the roulette wheel, a toss of the dice at craps or a quick game of blackjack.

Dinner co-chairs were Simone and Jerry Schwartz. Entertainment was by comedian Pete Barbuti and the group Mosaic. Harbor Lights played music of the 1950s and '60s for dancing.

Barbuti and Goodman auctioned off five packages, including a "CSI Experience," Napa Valley Extravaganza, a walk-on spot in "Ugly Betty," tickets for "Jersey Boys" and lessons from the Ultimate Fighting Champion. It was a strolling dinner, where guests visited various buffets set up on the ballroom's perimeter.

The evening concluded with a performance by the Rat Pack.