More than 800 turned out for a recent evening of “Truffles, Tidbits and Tastings” on Main Street, an event presented by the Pleasanton Downtown Association and sponsored by the Pleasanton Weekly.
An overflow crowd jammed the parking garage of the Rose Hotel to exchange their pre-purchased tickets for wristbands. These served as identifications as the crowds moved from north Main south to Old Bernal Avenue, stopping at 24 shops, art galleries, clothing and bookstores to sample award-winning wines of the Livermore Valley. The drinks were paired with a variety of hors d’oeuvres and even hot buffets at most of the locations during the three-hour annual event.
“This was the largest wine event we’ve had so early in the year,” said Judy Wheeler Ditter, the Pleasanton Downtown Association’s incoming president for 2006. Her Towne Center bookstore on Main Street was jammed with participants anxious to taste wines she was pouring from the Cedar Mountain Winery.
She said a similar wine tasting event is scheduled for Thursday, July 20.
The wine tasting celebration followed the organization’s annual dinner a few weeks earlier where other PDA officers and board members were installed. They included Vic Malatesta of VicÃs All Star Kitchen as president-elect; Janet Yarbrough, a Certified Public Accountant, as treasurer; Alexis Gass of Clover Creek on Main Street as Secretary and chairwoman of the Promotions & Marketing Committee, and Michael OÃCallaghan, MCT Development & Construction, as chairman of the Design Committee)
Mike Madden, owner of Red Bear, Inc., and last year’s president of the organization, will remain a board member.
Also seated on the board of directors were Darryl Alexander, Alexander & Associates; Amy Amamou, Primrose Bakery; Chris Beratlis, Beratlis Enterprises; Mike Carey, Investment Real Estate Company; Rosalinda Herrera, AlexanderÃs Main St. Gallery, and Peter MacDonald, Attorney.
Earlier, the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce installed its officers and members of the board of directors for 2006. At a luncheon at the Ruby Hill Club, Don Odell, an attorney with McNichols, Randick, O’Dea & Tooliatos was named chairman of the organization, followed by John Sensiba as chairman-elect; James Isaac, treasurer, and Sharrell Michelotti, vice chairwoman of the Economic Affairs committee.
Cathy Raty was named vice chairwoman of the Events and Activities Committee, with Deborah McKeehan installed as vice chairwoman of Communications and Carol Olson as vice chairwoman of Membership.
In addition, those also serving on the Board of Directors for 2006 include Frances Hewitt, Harvey Kameny, Vic Malatesta, April Mitchell, Laura Olson, Carl Palowitch, Gina Piper, Bob Shapiro and Ron Wetter.
John Shinnick, an attorney with Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel and last year’s Chamber president, will also serve on the board one more year.
