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Guest Column: ECHS Casino Night Fundraiser Aims to Send Graduating Seniors to Disneyland

Reader Karen Shebek writes that the fundraiser will include disco, salsa dancing, shopping and a sports lounge — all to benefit sending El Cerrito High School students to Disneyland for Grad Night.

By Karen Shebek

On March 9, the El Cerrito Community Center will become a hotspot for dancing and dining to benefit the students of El Cerrito High School.

The event called "The Event" will raise funds to send El Cerrito High School seniors to Disneyland for Grad Night, and will include a raffle and live and silent auctions.


Because having one dancing theme is boring, The Event has two: salsa and disco. Unleash your inner Sofia Vergara or Donna Summer, allowing you to remember how it felt to be young and free in the 70s (though we're sure you weren't even born then), or older and suaver in Latin America (even if you've
never actually been there). Go ahead and dress up like a disco queen/king or like Shakira. It's all good.

Since dancers can work up a mighty thirst, The Event will provide a no-host bar that features beer and wine, along with 70s favorite gin and tonic and a house sangria (and by "house" we mean that it was made at somebody's house).

Yes, there's really nothing better than dressing up, dancing with wild abandon, and sipping atasty themed beverage – unless, of course, you don't dance. Many folks would prefer a lengthy,unmedicated dental procedure to an evening of dressed-up salsa and/or disco dancing (though they may not object to a tasty themed beverage). They want to support the worthy youth of El Cerrito High
School, and perhaps even public education in general, but not at the cost of their dignity.

To address this conundrum, The Event will provide a special space for non-dancers: a "sports lounge" that includes a pool table, Foosball, sports videos, and easily accessible smokehouse almonds and beer.

The live and silent auctions will feature a variety items for the home, your pet, entertainment, local services and classes, local lodging and dining. New this year, our high school seniors are forming groups to auction services like babysitting, kid party help and more and other items related to the school like
signed jerseys or performing arts posters.

Prizes include SF Giants tickets, a GoPro Action Camera, and a $250 American Express gift card.

Your ticket price will also cover tempting finger-foods along the lines of the 70s, salsa and sports lounge… parent volunteers are coming up with ideas like BBQ sliders, mini tacos, mini-quiches, etc.

Whether you prefer to dress up for dancing or dress down for shooting some pool, come to The Event and support ECHS! It's a fun night out for a good cause. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

To buy tickets or for more information about your business making a tax deductible donation, email Beth Crespan at vlek@pacbell.net, or call 510-526-5844.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
This weekend Playland turns 5 Years Old! Help us celebrate this milestone AND suppoet a worthy cause.  Fight Back against cancer by celebrating more birthdays!!
Frank - Fabulous Fun Facilitator May 23, 2013 at 08:14 am
JUST ADDED - Magical Nathaniel will also be preforming this Friday night. Come have fun, play gamesRead More and support our El Cerrito Relay For Life and Playland PALS.
Kathy A. May 23, 2013 at 08:42 pm
Even though schools will be on vacation sometime soon, there is a LOT of summer camp activity aroundRead More the community center, pool, and Cerrito Vista Park, and I think the EC Preschool Co-op also operates in the summer.
gretchen davidson May 21, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Yes I would love to take one off of your hands. Please email me at gretchen_davidson@yahoo.com toRead More discuss off board.
Elaine Binger May 20, 2013 at 07:30 am
Gretchen, I have several different sizes of rakes. If you want to come see them, let me know throughRead More Patch. Elaine
gretchen davidson May 16, 2013 at 02:50 pm
Was that what i heard in the middle of the night on Wednesday? I thought i was dreaming. It soundedRead More like some sort of loudspeaker.
Robin M. Blind May 15, 2013 at 09:16 pm
Gee...are you SURE that alarm IS coming from Portola Middle School? Um...I suppose that you ARERead More sure! Yes...it IS turbo-annoying but I had assumed that it was some stupid car alarm.
Bonnie MacKenzie May 11, 2013 at 11:55 am
Can you please be more specific about the nature of the problem for those of us who do not live inRead More the neighborhood?
John Stashik April 25, 2013 at 09:03 pm
Thanks for the press release, err... story. Now how about El Cerrito news? The Patch staff is lazy.
Dorothy Coakley April 8, 2013 at 08:02 pm
Good thought, Julian.
Julian April 8, 2013 at 11:32 am
I've spoken with him, he is educated, intelligent and articulate. He is also angry and sometimesRead More irrational. I dont know his story but his "street art" stands on its own legs. If you would like to help him, and yourself, buy and enjoy his art.
Rita Wilson April 7, 2013 at 09:51 pm
A neighbor of mine on Colusa tried to give him food when he was on Colusa, but he refused, so IRead More never tried. Dorothy, is that the shelter near the Berkeley Historical Society/Veteran's Building? Perhaps he would need a ride to it. Perhaps he's concerned about leaving his things there if he can't be there during the day. I'm afraid I don't know enough about it.
Dorothy Coakley March 27, 2013 at 04:36 pm
I did mention that I'm donating 10% of my royalties for "Midnight" to the EC's Open SpaceRead More fund, didn't I? I'm a Down-home Ten Percenter.
Dorothy Coakley March 27, 2013 at 04:31 pm
Lucy, I like the idea in principal, but in reality I think it would just give ECPD more work to do.Read More "People hanging out" doesn't necessarily translate to a friendly,fun-filled, folksy kind of environment. It *can* mean quite the reverse. "Midnight On the Ohlone" sounds like a new recording. Something like "I left my little babeeeeee, down by the tracks....and now I want her back....she's a needle in the haaaaaaay staaaaack...' Arhoolie awaits.
Lucy March 27, 2013 at 12:58 pm
What a great idea for pocket parks!!! I am all for them. Instead of spening a big amount on oneRead More (which we don't have space anyway), I would like to see many mini parks of $20,000 along the Bart tracks. With more visibility and people hanging out, it would make Bart paths safer too, especially the one around fairmont park. Really mini pocket parks just needs some play structures, benches and tables there.