On Saturday evening, the Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Foundation held the 6th Annual Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Officers Ball and Auction. This event was held at the opulent digs of Testarossa Winery.
The Don Olivet Jazz Quartet kept the mood relaxed the entire evening. Somehow, the sound of jazz can also motivate.This was indeed the perfect tone for the evening, adding to the ambiance of reserved elegance.
FASHION SENSATION
Most of the gentlemen wore black ties. There were a few very stylish sports jackets, with even one bolo tie noted.
The ladies were mostly in black, with many gowns featuring sequins, a few stunning strapless varieties, and a very few donned early spring colors.
However, the sensation of the evening was Officer Todd Fleming in his prototype honor guard uniform. Later on in the evening, he also modeled the SWAT team helmet.
A gourmet four course sit-down dinner was prepared by Testarossa Winery Executive Chef Nadiv Geiger and served with grace by the attentive staff.
This superb meal was also thoughtfully paired with the delectable wines Testarossa is known for producing.
THE CHIEF & THE AUCTION
This evening we witnessed a rare event: Chief Field was out of uniform in an elegant black dress.
She spoke briefly, acknowledging the members of the force in attendance and their roles within our community.
Foundation President Jonathan Knowles conducted the live auction. Some items were available for purchase online, while some were up for live bidding.
Live auction items included: stays in luxury vacation homes located in Lake Tahoe, Mexico, Carmel Valley, San Diego and Disneyland; local dining-out packages; Jazz in the Plazz front-and-center reserved seats; Monterey Bay Aquarium guided tours; SF Giants incredible behind-home-plate seats; golfing at La Rinconada; and even original art.
Funds were raised, folks.
Even Knowles appeared taken aback at how quickly the money poured in. Two members of the department were demonstrating how the armored helmet protects SWAT team members. “We raised funds for 15 heavily-armored SWAT team helmets at a cost of $2,000 each,” Knowles said.
LGMSPF holds this event to further their mission of “supporting our community by providing funding for public safety tools and educational outreach,” as Knowles explained, adding, “I can say with confidence that this was the most successful police officers ball from a fundraising perspective.”
The Department is also seeking assistance in obtaining honor guard dress.
In addition to raising funds, this celebration provided a camaraderie, where you could see old friends.
COUNCIL PRESENCE
Mayor Hudes, Vice Mayor Rob Moore and Councilmember Ristow were present and engaged.
Ristow stated, in a Facebook post, “The 6th Annual Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Foundation Officers Ball on Saturday evening was an elegant success! The sellout crowd efficiently and effectively raised serious money to support the safety and responsiveness of our community-focused department. The Foundation members and the officers in attendance are the best ambassadors of what great policing can be.”
One of the best things about living in the Town of Los Gatos is the ability to interface with our kaleidoscope of personalities, and to enjoy the security of knowing that we are safe.
All of that, and much more, was on display at this weekend’s ball.
