Recently Carlos Rivero and Elena Jambrina welcomed the guests of Porter County Family Counseling Center to their don Quixote Restaurant in Valparaiso for a wine tasting fundraiser.

The wine tasting benefited the Client Services Scholarship Fund for the center, a nonprofit providing quality mental health services to residents in Porter County with or without insurance.

Guests enjoyed the sounds of Spanish infused selections from Carolyn and Poncho Rodeo and the smooth classical guitar of Paul Luther.

Carlos and Elena treated guests to an authentic Spanish meal paired with wines from regions in Spain and made them feel like they were at an intimate dinner party in their home.

Carlos enlightened and entertained with colorful explanations and descriptions of each wine as well as donating a lovely bottle from his private stock for auction. The wine tasting was a smashing success thanks to its hosts and supporters of Porter County Family Counseling Center including Len Domke, Tracy G. Traut, Barbara and Bobbie Kennedy, Terrence and Kay Nallenweg, Marian Iturbe and Luis Amigo-Linares, Lucy and Jamie Jamie, Laura Lunkes, Tom Murphy and Bill Landwer.

For more information on the services offered, visit my blog at http://www.nwi.com/blogs/insight.

A garden party

"A Garden Party" was this year's theme for the Beta Xi chapter of Psi Iota Xi Sorority's spring luncheon.

White Hawk Country Club served scrumptious food to more than 100 attendees. Wayne Gruber of Gardens on the Prairie, of Lowell, entertained with his wit and wisdom on gardening trends.

A variety of unusual and beautiful items were featured in a silent auction that raised funds for the sorority's philanthropic efforts in speech, hearing, music, art and literature. Raffle prizes, door prizes and fresh spring bulb table centerpieces were given to the lucky winners.

Kudos to the committee - Vicki Julius, Leah Holding, Marsha Coleman, Nada Buczek, Colleen Campbell, Beth Previs, JoAnn Hurey and Victoria Nelson for a gracious and wonderful luncheon.

Hot off the press

Lake Area United Way has announced that Rick and Aria Mazer will lead 2009-10 Lake Area United Way Community Campaign, the first husband and wife to chair the annual fundraising drive.

Rick is Horseshoe Casino's regional president and general manager. Aria is active in the community and supports numerous philanthropic causes focusing on women's health issues; nurturing strong, healthy and self-reliant families; helping children and youth to succeed in school and in life; fighting domestic violence; and supporting the arts in Northwest Indiana.

There is no doubt the Mazers will be visible champions for the campaign. It is the largest single fundraising effort in Northwest Indiana, raising more than $5.2 million annually to support a network of critical health and human services through 33 member agencies and community initiatives that assisted more than 280,000 local residents in 2008.

For information on the Mazers' plan for the campaign, visit my blog at http://www.nwi.com/blogs/insight.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. She can be reached at margaret.kullerstrand.nwi.com or (219) 933-3244