Cattle kings, saloon gals: Lasso
fun at Hospice Western Casino Night
June 11, 2014
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
From cattle kings and cowpokes to pioneer women and saloon gals, you’ll lasso fun, frolic and fine vittles when you claim a stake in a unique fundraiser
The Santa Clara Valley Hospice/Home Support Group will open the doors to the Old West on Saturday, June 21 at its Annual Western Casino Night to be held at the historic Glen Tavern Inn (134 N. Mill St.), from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are only $50 each ($60 after June 16 and at the door) and include a raffle ticket, drink ticket (beer, wine or soda), dinner and a $250 “stake” of play money for gambling!
Cathy Barringer, a Hospice co-founder and former longtime board president, said the event is all about generosity: “All proceeds will benefit our Hospice, which never charges for any of its services. And with the gracious generosity,” of supporters such as Gary Laird of Laird’s Butcher Shop & BBQ and the Glen Tavern Inn, the annual event is also a community favorite as well as a great help to the nonprofit Hospice coffers.
Western Casino Night takes over the Glen Tavern Inn’s lobby, annex and generous front lawn: The evening will start at 5 p.m. with cocktails and dinner - Laird’s barbecued chicken with all the fixins’ and delectable Pani Cotta for dessert provided by Enzo’s, the inn’s acclaimed in-house Italian restaurant - begins at 5:30 p.m.
Barringer said musical entertainment with a western flair will be provided by Paul Belgum and Dave Ackerman trading off with the cool jazz guitar of Barry Cooper.
Selected gambling tables will open at 5:30 p.m. with full gambling starting at 5:45 p.m. with celebrity Blackjack dealers including baseball great Jim Colborn, John Chamberlain, Barbara Kroon, Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long on the Wheel of Fortune, Ron Merson, Bob Orlando, Fred Robinson and Scott Rushing, among others.
“We could still use a few more dealers... I’d like at least 16,” to allow for breaks or even split shifts for those on the other side of the table, said Barringer.
The attraction of Western Casino Night is easy to recognize: “It’s informal, people can dress western if they like or just casual, there is lots of good company and conversation and laughter. The Wheel of Fortune is a good draw especially for those that come to eat and socialize more than gamble... the wheel is fun!
“Do I gamble? Oh yes!” laughed Barringer. “I like roulette... you can visit with a lot of people when you put your chips down.”
Guests will have a date with Lady Luck as they play Texas Hold’em Poker and craps as well as roulette and Blackjack.
Other gambling will really be a game of chance, no skill required: the raffle featuring the traditional life-sized standup characters, this year featuring John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe; there are other raffle prizes - don’t forget at the end of the evening winnings will be exchanged for more tickets - and a Silent Auction featuring themed gift baskets of fine goodies, trips, yard art and restaurant packages among many, many others.
Those who run out of their initial “stake” can also buy more fun money to gamble with as well as purchase additional raffle tickets.
So corral your energy, polish those boots, press the jeans and get ready to kick up your heels in support at this rootin’ tootin’ cabaret where Cowboy Joes and Calamity Janes will have a bronco-busting time.
Make sure you don’t miss this Gold Nugget party, where you can dress Western from your finest Stetson down to those spurs that jingle jangle jingle!
Tickets - only $50 until June 16 when the price becomes the $60 that will also be charged at the door - are available in Santa Paula at the Santa Paula Times, 120 Davis St.; Garden Market, 449 N. 10th St.; Design Duo Hair & Nail Salon, 621 E. Main St. and Santa Clara Valley Hospice, 133 N. Mill St. In Fillmore tickets are available at The Treasure Station, 321 Central Ave.
For more information call SCVHHSG at 805-525-1333.
