The Galveston County Daily News

A three-ring circus ’twas for the Meowling Bros and Barkum and Bailey Circus PAWS gala thrown by the Galveston Island Humane Society at the San Luis GICC and honoring Seal Grief.

Last year, the society’s gala was pre-empted by the “recent unpleasantness,” and this year’s event made up for it in spades.

Emcee (ringmaster) Frank Billingsley and society prez Sonny Vaiani kept the entertainment moving at a fast, energetic clip under the big tent as did performer Tony Garcia clownin’ around.

The fun started with music by the LineUp and an array of items for the (not so) silent auction à la Liz Rogers.

Visits to the evening’s “Elite Pet Owner” spots were de rigeur, natch! There were Erin Kearney-Conrad and Ellie the golden retriever; Peggy Cornelius and precious little princess Hachi; Susan Falgout’s labradoodle Cash; Karen Flowers’ King Charles spaniel Marley; Abbey Hansen’s glorious Bouvier des Flandres Grant; Rhea Hemmings chocolate Labrador Remington Drake; Jo Mize’s Fannie Mae, the fluffy dachshund; Cliff Johnson and Jim Nonus’ cutsiepoo Yemmy; Ann Simmons’ Japanese Chin, Lulu, and Elise Worthen’s handsome Maxie.

Everyone, so glad to be together in a fun atmosphere, enjoyed the work of “Elite Pet” vignette designers Albert Chavarria, Peggy Cornelius, Connie Dryden, Gerri Millican and Jim Nonus.

Giving a big hand to big, longtime supporters Frances Harris and Mildred Manion were Michelle Beckwith, Lindsay Perez (whose invites were the ultimate) and Ginger Grief.

Harbor Offshore Marine’s Bart and Sue Moore hosting a tableful of partyers; daughter Magen and Able Ortiz, Dennis Miller, Docshop prez David and Terri Callender, Elise Stephens, Lyda Ann Thomas, Victor Lang, Mary Jo and Leroy Naschke, Trey Click and Victoria and Andy Abercrombie.

Great seeing Cynthia McEldowney, Sandy Stamoulis, Rhea Hemmings, Ed and Betty Conner and Tommy and Cathy Conlon Townsendi; Kevin Gilliard, Clifford Johnson, Jim Nonus, Charles Amie, Keith Miller, Dianne McDonough and Lady Elizabeth Galloway visiting with Brenda, Jim and Dana Atchley, Suzanne McClure and Lauren Hall.

Big auction winners (of a black and gold shovel and the honor of digging the first spadeful for the new building) were Bill Griffey and Dallas archaeologist Shelley Hartsfield, while neighbors at Scotch Bayou Craig Marsten and Juliann Karenko (she Bill’s colleague at Mills, Shirley) and The Doc and The Diva led the cheers.

Sip-sampling Away

Galveston County Restaurant Association’s 38th annual “Great Taste of the Gulf Epicurean Evening” will hit our taste buds Oct. 20.

The usual cuisine sampling will feature 100-plus hoteliers, restaurateurs and suppliers as well as sips of bevvie offered by wine and beer wholesalers and bottling companies.

Right now, the association is looking for silent auction sponsors. All proceeds from its silent auction will go directly to its newly established “Francisco Paco Vargas” scholarship fund, which offers monetary support to Galveston County students seeking careers in the hospitality industry.

The purpose is to build the fund so that long after Paco has come and gone, his giving spirit and genuine hospitality will continue to live on.

Let’s all help the GCRA by contacting Divafave Lauraleigh Gourley-Vogel at 409-740-8607 or lgourley(at)ldry.com, or Jan Inlow at 409-765-3514 or jan(at)galveston.com.

Quite A Quilt

An incredible handcrafted quilt, made by Holly Howard, is a big feature at First Lutheran Church’s 28th annual Island Oktoberfest.

It’s a big deal, with Daily News correspondent Rick Cousins doing an “Our Faith” story on it and Holly and George Black overseeing its sale during the event’s live auction.

Island Oktoberfest starts Oct. 23 and features the popular band Haywire, one of Austin’s most popular country-and-western and contemporary groups.

Oktoberfest chairs are: treasurer, Richard “Sluggo” Thiem; layout and setup, Russ O’Connor and Frank Macaluso; drinks, Joe Byers; beer booth, Joe Garcia; ceramics, Cathy Gainer; cake wheel, Gerald Schwab; permitting, John Stewart; health code, Sherry Black; volunteer, Vera Danner; security, Oscar Ekelund; supplies, Terri Tillotson; ticket booth, Mary Lee Guthier; electrical, Jim Gainer; face painting and hamburger booth, Randy Scales and Marcy Miller; and cookies, Joseph Schmidt Jr.

For info, visit www.FirstLutheran Galveston.com or call 409-762-8477.

Chili In The Round

Keith Bassett, Dianna Davis, V.J. Tramonte, Susan Baker, Gordon Robinson, Ruth Finkelstein-Suhler, John Schmidt and Jake Walsdorf are beating the drums for The Rotary Club of Galveston’s 33rd annual chili supper on Nov. 5. More to come.

Ship Ahoy, Cruisers!

Former ship’s skipper Gordon Robinson, who just keeps sailing along on his personal Help The Island mission despite his 80 years, is leading a Galveston Seafarers Center fundraiser raffle that has a sooper cruise for two as its prize.

Cap’n Gordon tells the Diva’s spies the cruise is worth $5,000 and tickets are just $20 each. To order one, just call 409-762-0026. The drawing is due at the center’s grand post-Ike reopening Nov. 8.

D’ya wannabe Divafied, folks? If so, send deets ’n’ pix of your parteez ’n’ proceedings to have your name made part of The Diva’s Scenery. Call ahead and we’ll help with the pix. E-mail divascenes(at)aol.com or call her at 409-744-6540.