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by Scott Wong,
Staff Writer
Fremont Argus
November 26, 2005
FREMONT —
Invitations to a black-tie gala that will
help raise money for the city's 50th
birthday bash next September soon will be
arriving in mailboxes of past and present
city leaders, corporate donors and other
local movers and shakers.
But if your
name's not on the exclusive guest list,
don't fret. You can still purchase one of
about 400 remaining tickets online for a
cool $175.
"A Night to
Celebrate" — featuring cocktails, a formal
dinner, live music and dancing — will be
held on Jan. 20 in Central Park, under a
white carpeted tent decked out with French
doors, windows and a cathedral ceiling.
The city's
golden birthday officially falls on Jan. 23,
although the signature event of the
anniversary celebration, "Celebrate Fremont
@ The Park," won't be held until Sept. 9-10.
Gala
organizers originally looked at local indoor
banquet halls to hold the upscale party.But
none could accommodate the 700 guests
expected to attend.
It really came
down to the numbers, said gala co-chair Fran
Stone, a retired elementary school teacher
and a 42-year resident of the Glenmoor
neighborhood. "We just wanted to have a
place that could hold the largest number of
people for a sit-down dinner and dancing."
Stone said the
gala not only helps raise money to defray
costs for the September celebration but also
allows organizers
to recognize
sponsors who already have donated hundreds
of thousands of dollars to put on the free
two-day event.
Dinner will be
provided by Splurge Special Events and
Catering, and live music will be performed
by The Groove Doctors, an eight-piece
variety dance band. A silent art auction
will feature works by Fremont artists
depicting scenes from throughout the city.
Irene Koehler,
one of the lead organizers of the September
celebration, said nothing could be more
appropriate than to hold the 50th
anniversary party and the fund-raiser in the
city's largest park.
"Central Park
is the jewel of Fremont. It's a place where
families come on an afternoon just to spend
time together, and it's the scene of many
activities,' said Koehler, a Fremont
business consultant.
"It was a
natural place to hold our big event. What a
wonderful connection to have our tent at the
same location."
Staff writer
Scott Wong covers the city of Fremont for
The Argus. He can be reached at (510)
353-7002 or e-mail
swong@angnewspapers.com.
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