Dec 17, 2006

Student volunteers present formal holiday tea

By Janet Duca Norton

Beautiful decorations, outstanding entertainment and a formal afternoon tea party were highlights of the annual holiday party hosted by the Peninsula Volunteers for residents of Crane Place and Partridge-Kennedy retirement apartments in Menlo Park.

The sold-out Dec. 2 tea party at Crane Place was planned and served by Woodside High School students and Octagon Club members. The musical afternoon featured holiday music from around the world with a sing-along by Woodside School's Third Grade Chorus, belly dancing by Stanford graduates Yenda Prado and Veronica Rochas, cabaret singing by Lyn Ann King with the Peninsula Volunteers Notables Chorus and a program of Charleston and chorus line dancing by the Serendipity Dance Troupe.

All in all, there was a little something for everyone's taste.

"It was such a happy experience to see these students take charge planning and putting on the tea with only a little help from Peninsula Volunteers," said tea party coordinator and event founder Amalia Popell.

Octagon Clubs are under the auspices of Optimist International with membership open to students 14 to 18 years of age. Participating members included Sara Healy, Rukshana Peter, Fernanda Patino, Ellen Ingebritsen, Joanna Ingebritsen, Melissa Guzman, Matthew Vukovic and Jenna Lindley. Classmates Carlos Prado, Jenna Moore, Carolina Escobar and Alix Watson also spent the entire day preparing and presenting the party.

The event was also an opportunity for residents and members of the Peninsula Volunteers (which founded and sponsors the apartments) to get acquainted.

Among the volunteers serving tea were Darlene Woodson, Carole Gumucio, Lorie Congress, Sandy Ferrando, Nadine Franceschini, Berdine Jernigan and Mindy Perez-Rubio.

Guests at the tea were buzzing about the Nov.17 announcement of a $1 million gift from the Christiansen Foundation that will launch the Peninsula Volunteers Endowment Fund.

Peninsula Volunteers will be celebrating its 60th year of providing services and programs for seniors in San Mateo County. These apartment complexes -- 30 units at Partridge-Kennedy and 93 at Crane Place -- provide 82 percent of the low-cost housing for seniors in Menlo Park.