Around and About: Hat Show at the Senior Citizens Center fun for all

Effervescent Liz Mauk works so very hard to do things for the community and last Thursday's Hat Show at the Barstow Senior Center was no exception.

One end of the hall was filled with hats and gowns made by her mother, Dora Brown. Just moving all these things from her home to the Melissa Avenue Center was no small chore. Getting the trophies made by Bob Brunner and prizes gathered from businesses took many days of leg work, all this on top of her work for Calico.

Anyone could enter this contest for the prizes and trophies that were awarded. Unfortunately the event was not well attended.

The categories were Prettiest Hat, Craziest Hat and Most Original Hat. Many contestants entered in more than one category.

Liz, microphone in hand, opened the event by welcoming everyone there and introduced the judges. At her side was our Drew Barrymore look alike, Jennifer Cowan.

Since it was near Mother's Day, Liz had flowers for the oldest person there. Ninety two-year-old Sophie Sachs walked away with the vase of carnations.

Judges for the event were Jack Deaton, Wilma Self and Miranda Wessell-Allmon. When she introduced Wilma Self, there were a lot of things I didn't know about this beautifully dressed and coiffed lady. She had been Mrs. Senior California in 1980's and was 2000 Woman of the Year.
Shawn Allmon was a big help to Liz lining up the contestants in front of the audience and having them parade their hats. She also modeled a huge hat made by Dora Brown years ago that had a large doll on it among other things.

The contestants included June Daugherty, Patricia Morris, Wrayanne Huddleston. Geraldine Keener, Jeannie Halliday, Jane Lupoc, Beverly Ann Rojas, Vera Keller, Larry Bussman, Gidget Bower, Frank Tomlinson and Pat Tennis. Jeannie Halliday is the only one of the contestants that was dressed in period costume and hat. She makes all of her own costumes. Jeannie later carried a Civil War mantle that she had made and told the history of the small hat.

As they paraded before the judges, John Fielder played appropriate music, much to the delight of everyone present.

Geraldine Keener won trophies for the Prettiest Hat and the Most Original. Larry Bussman won for the Craziest Hat.

Hopefully this event will be done again next year and you shouldn't miss seeing the wonderful display of the gowns and hats. Even the men are intrigued by them.

ABOUT THE WRITER
Bette “ Bee Jay”  Moses is a special events correspondent to the Desert Dispatch. She can be reached at (760) 987-6915 or bette.moses@gmail.com.