CASA Served Up Delicious Mix of Food, Wine and Music in Historic Homes

Celebrity chefs and performing artists teamed up in historic Hot Springs Homes to benefit CASAs work with abused and neglected children. Four Stops to Heaven, A Chefs Tasting Tour" Tickets now on sale.

HOT SPRINGS, AR, September 30, 2003 -- Over 200 patrons enjoyed Four Stops to Heaven," a chefs tasting tour held Sunday, November 9th, from 4 -- 7 p.m. in four homes of the Quapaw-Prospect Historic District. Benefiting CASAs work on behalf of abused and neglected children, twelve celebrity chefs dished up their favorite creative concoctions, and a showcase of professional musicians served up the soothing sounds of their genres during the evening.

Hosting guests in their homes for the first annual benefit were Randy and Ann Hill, Linda Palmer, Ray and Erma Steelsmith, and Sam Wellner. Ticket holders feasted their senses in all four homes, sampling the variety of food, wine and musical delights.

Featured chefs included Brian Sink of Embassy Suites; Franklin Dye formerly of the Arlington; Johnna Westerman of Diamante Country Club; Don Arnold, chef to the entertainers of Magic Springs; Jean Claude Bridoux of Hot Springs Country Club; Scott Raines of Horseshoe Vineyard; Eddie Padilla of Stillwater Grill; Larry Pilcher of Kroger; Jay Baxter of Pompei; Sham of Js
Italian Villa; Joe Gargano of Belle Arti; and signature pastry chef Sharona Grenman.

Chana Prince and Mark Ayers performed an eclectic montage of piano favorites at the Vaughn-Palmer Home, a classic colonial structure built in 1902.

John French provided soft rock classics from the last thirty years as well as his original music on acoustic guitar at the Steel-Wellner House, built in 1937 and featuring Georgian Revival architecture.

Hot Springs Baroque Ensemble members Jim and Gay Smith, Jim and Jackie Flowers, and Rebecca McCormick serenaded guests at the Bayles-Smith House, a neo-classical home built in 1894.

Selected musical protégés of Shelley Martin, adjunct instructor of flute at Henderson State University, highlighted the early evening at the William H. Martin House, another neo-classical design built in 1904.

A variety of flute selections was presented by
Andrea, Ellysa, and Fonz Roda from Hot Springs Adventist School; Alyssa Rucke of HSHS ; Rebecca Bowen of Fountain Lake; and Christopher Gooden, Aaron Nolley, and Grace Pennington of Lakeside . Guests will also enjoy the premier performance of the newly formed HSU flute quartet.

The finale at the Hills home featured Sligo, a Celtic ensemble featuring Mary Reese on acoustic guitar/vocals, Robin Lowe on fiddle/vocals, and Weesa Boyd on hammer dulcimer/flute/whistles.

CASA volunteers are Court Appointed Special Advocates trained to monitor the care of abused and neglected children who have been placed in foster care. By acting as information gatherers and monitors who report to the court, child welfare agencies and attorneys, CASA volunteers help guide the care and placement of these children into safe permanent homes as quickly as possible.

For information on next year's tour, contact Rebecca McCormick at 501-138-8222.