Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Chefs cook for library
Wine Walk aids The Jones Center
Friends of The Jones Center Giving Circle members gathered for the fourth annual Wine Walk on May 30 at Sassafras Springs Vineyard in Springdale.
“Friends’ support is vital to the sustainability of The Jones Center’s youth programming, recreational amenities and healthy living offerings,” said Kelly Kemp-McLintock, chief advancement officer. She said the group’s gifts help the center offer summer sports camps, additional dance classes and expanded fitness programs.
Upcoming day camp offerings at the center include art, bike skills, soccer, lacrosse and basic skills skate camps. Additional sessions include video game development, Minecraft and “Slime Time.”
Co-hosts for the evening included Brenda and Daniel Boone, Holly and Jim Breach, Kayla and Jim Cash, Carol and Ed Clifford, Shelli and Tony Engle, Shirley and Pete Esch, Kay and Jeff Franco, Ashley and Kyle Guziec, Dorothy and Al Hanby, Jill and Sam Hollis, Paula Irwin, Stacy and James Keenan, Brenda and Don Kephart, Cheryl and Gene Long, Debbie and Mike Luttrell, Camas and Matthew Maroney, Antoinette and Dontai Nash, Jay Parham, Cyndi and David Pierre, Casey and Matt Rivard, Mary and Dick Stockland, Michelle and Erick Tangess, Debby and Chris Weiser, Celia Swanson, Jones Trust board chairwoman, and Marlena and Michael Bonds, event chairmen.
Top Chef NWA saw area chefs joining Chef Mario Valdovino of Tyson Foods in the inaugural
cooking competition to benefit the Rogers Public Library Foundation on June 7 at Metro Appliances & More in Lowell.
Chefs Christopher Spagna and Jeff Gibb went head-to-head in an entree competition with Spagna taking Judges’ and People’s Choice awards for his paella. (I hear his churro dessert may have helped him take the lead.)
Judges for the culinary competition were Cora Davis, Tom Olsen, Kinna Thomas, Dick Trammel and Allison Wise.
Proceeds from the event will aid the library as it works to increase its outreach programs.
Summer programming at the library includes “My Place in Space” for ages 5 to 12, a three-part stop motion animation workshop for ages 10 to 18 and “Tween Time.”
Those tasting in support of the foundation included Judy and Jim Casey, Andi and Mike Stephens, Troy Thompson, Whitney Jones, Joe Austin, Nathan Carter, Dora Poage, Brice Wagner, Ronetta and Earl Francis, Celia and Stennett Thompkins, Shannon Warford, Susan Curry, David Faulkner, Jen Mathews-Hann, Beth Kikoen, Brooke Johnson, Scott Kammerzell and David Brunger.
For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.