President Ken Minichiello tripped the light fantastic with singer Gloria Robles while she sang.
Kathleen Ripley Leo
The Poinsettia Ball is the Italian American Club’s premier holiday event. This year marked the Poinsettia Ball’s 24th year at PebbleCreek. Nearly 200 people first attended the Chianti Room’s appetizer buffet. People in ball gowns, cocktail dresses, suits, and tuxedos chose beef tartlets, teriyaki shish-kabobs, and shrimp cocktails.
The Tuscany Falls Ballroom then opened and couples and groups sat at tables festooned with reindeer, carriage lamps, and greenery. There were four setups for people to take photos. Soon the staff brought in plates of salad for each place setting and then the main dinner of grilled lobster and beef tenderloin. Sides were breads, broccoli rabe, and Potato Anna. The adorable dessert was a layering of different types of chocolate mousse.
The Rhythm Edition band struck a note and couples and groups formed on the dance floor to wile away the evening under swirling lights. President Ken Minichiello danced his traditional dance with the singer of the band Gloria Robles as she sang into her microphone.
This beautiful and memorable event could not have happened without the hard work of committee chair Shelly Carnevale whose committee of Pat and Ken Hacker, Bob Marchese and Kay Skripka, Lois Olson, Krischelle Tennessen, Ken and Carolyn Minichiello, Judy Freidman, and David Carnevale began their planning in June. The ball sponsor was realtor Donna Strand, who attended and was recognized for her support of our club as our Platinum Sponsor. Each table’s centerpieces were given away in a free raffle to one person per table.
Favors were placed for each person at their place settings. Each was a variety of a wooden Christmas ornament depicting reindeer in a forest setting. Mine is hanging on my Christmas tree, front and center. And always will be! Thank you to our club board and Shelly’s committee for once again making the Poinsettia Ball so special this year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!