It's all about sweets and treats at 'An Evening of Chocolat'

Chartz Hall at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Community will be transformed into a park-like European setting Saturday as the Ladies Guilds of St. Teresa present their "An Evening of Chocolat" fund-raiser.

From 5-8 p.m., a variety of chocolate treats, wine, champagne and cheese, as well as a raffle and an art display by several local artists will be featured.

"Confirmation has come back from Grandma's Fudge Factory in Virginia City and Walley's Hot Springs," said Kathy Johnson, an event coordinator.

"Walley's said they will be doing something chocolate, but haven't committed to what yet. And Grandma's will have warm, melted chocolate in chafing dishes for dipping fresh fruit into."

A few parishioners have donated wine. Marv Johnson, owner of Marlo's Ltd., will supply the champagne and a 2000 Healdsburg cabernet.

"The champagne is a Cristalino Brut from Spain," Johnson said.

"It is a drier style of champagne. I'll also have an extra dry, which is sweeter. We'll do a bit of both. The sweeter style fits to the taste of chocolate better. But not everyone likes it."

Johnson said he participates in and supplies wine for three or four fund-raisers a year, including middle and high school fund-raisers and "Wines of the Bible" for St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

A variety of cheese and crackers will also be available.

Art from about 30 artists in assorted mediums will be displayed. Artists include Nancy Johnson, Pat Vanalstyne, Nadine Pryor, Denise Sins, Sonnie Imes, Johnye Faylor, John Shuler and Steve Turner.

"The Ladies Guild goes give a lot of money to charities in town," said Kathy Johnson. "Advocates, FISH, needy families - I couldn't tell you how many hundreds of families we helped out with food baskets for Christmas.

"Plus we do bake sales and fund-raisers like this. But with this event, the money will go to the church and they will distribute as they see fit. Our goal - I'd like to raise a lot, a lot of money. I hope to have 200 people attend."

Johnson said, "We're going to decorate in a European outdoor setting, like a park. JM Furniture is donating trees for the evening, we'll use park benches from outside the hall, and we'll have candles on the tables. We're even going to have children strolling with violins entertaining the first hour of the evening. The following hour, we'll have two strolling minstrels."

Johnson said many items have been donated for a raffle, which will be slightly different from a basic raffle. Jars will be placed in front of each item. A person can put one ticket into a jar, or spread them out among several jars.

"So if there's something they see they really want, they can put all their tickets into that jar for that prize," Johnson said. "Or they can take their chance and put one ticket in.

"I think the evening's going to be a lot of fun. We want people to come in, relax and thoroughly enjoy themselves."

Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.