MCCGJA 10th Anniversary Celebration
The understated elegance of the Lagunitas Country Club provided a sylvan setting for the Association’s 10th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, February 21st.
 Ann Marie Melanephy (2003-4), Mary Arthur (2005-6), and Betty Mattea (2002-3, 2003-4) Greeting Guests at the Door |  Ken Howard (2006-7, 2007-8) and Patrick Layne (2007-8) at the Hors d'Oeuvre Table |
Approximately 50 former Marin County Grand Jurors and guests mingled in the wood paneled great room and adjoining side room, formerly a porch, of the clubhouse which had been built in 1903. The blazing fireplace and strategically placed white candles added to the ambiance. But that wasn’t all; the table in the middle of the great room groaned from its load of fresh vegetables and creamy dill dip, cocktail arams, fresh fruit in melon shells, a Mediterranean platter of hummus-pesto cilantro goat cheese and eggplant tapenade served with pita slices, an imaginative cheese platter, mini bagels and lox with cream cheese, and rosemary focaccia with smoked turkey and roasted red pepper.
 David Miotke Playing |  Loulie Sutro, Carolyn Burwell (2005-6), and Bernie Bolger (2006-7) |
Dave Miotke played the piano while waiters from Red Robin caterers passed double tomato bruschetta, chicken satay, mini cheeseburgers, artichoke crostini, petit puffs with chipotle turkey, Vietnamese spring rolls, puff pastry with duxelle, petit filo cups with Pacific crab, and artichoke hearts with Bay shrimp. In addition to the Angeline Chardonnay & Cabernet offered, the bartender was busy mixing party goers’ favorites.
 Jack Friesen (2000-1) and Chapter Founder and First President, Bob Abeling (1996-7) |  Eleanor Sluis (2002-3) and Event Coordinator, Trish Hibben (2007-8) |  Sterling Harwell (2004-5, 2005-6), Karin Hern (2006-7, 2007-8), Jan Gross (2005-6), and Ted Freeman (1998-9, 1999-2000) |
There were visual effects as well—photos of past year’s Grand Juries
were scattered throughout, printouts of members’ favorite Grand Jury memories
were
displayed and an enlarged laminated copy of the early history of the
Association was posted on one of the Country Club’s bulletin boards
[The history can be found in the Our Association section of our Web
site.]..
 Ken Howard, Trish Hibben, Jan Gross, and Bernie Bolger Getting Ready for the Champagne Toast |  Jan Gross, Bob Abeling, Joan Holmes (2003-4), Sterling Harwell, Myra Berkowitz (2005-6), and Ted Freeman listening to Chapter President Catherine McKown's (2004-5, 2005-6) Remarks |
Chapter President Catherine McKown and past president Betty Mattea gave a brief recap of the Chapter’s history while glasses of Champagne de Carneros were provided for a toast. Platters of desert tarts were passed, ending the evening on a sweet note.
N.B. Photos by Gene Dyer (1994-5). Only former jurors are named. Numbers in parentheses are years of Grand Jury service.