Lots going on at the beach last week

Despite monsoon rains last Thursday, Cultural Arts Association's annual kickoff party for ArtsQuest enjoyed a good turnout.

Claire Bannerman, A.J. Kleindolph, Artist of the Year Mike McCarty, Eileen West, Vicki Kitahara, Donna Vann, Christine Burroughs, Betty Cork Duncan, Jennifer and Balder Saunders, Carol Dickson, Nan Ream, Peggy Jones, and Donnelle Clark were there, as well as The Sun's Will Barber.

I enjoyed dinner with John and Fran Regan last Friday night at Restaurant Paradis at Rosemary Beach. We saw Heavenly and Bill Dawson at the bar. It has Martini Madness every Tuesday and Thursday from 5 - 6 p.m., with $5 Stolis.

Jens Bach celebrated his birthday Saturday night at Santa Rosa Beach Club on the patio with wife Margie, family and friends. Betty Krika, Robin and Ken Lloyd, Lois and Bill Berberich, Joe and Carolyn Ausley, Bob and Carol Saucier, John Yarbro, and Tony Lange came out to help celebrate.

Sunday night at Fleming's was Sacred Heart Foundation's fundraiser for the hospital's heart and vascular unit. Chris Renteria and Chef Innocent Utomi did an excellent job and lots of exciting things were auctioned for a good cause. There were also food samplings from P.F. Chang's and Tommy Bahama Cafe. Roger Hall, Joe and Carolyn Ausley, Gerry and Judy Christman, Debbie Speigner, Lois and Bill Berberich, Mike and Deidra Stange, Robin and Ken Lloyd, Mark Polaski, Joan Luchese, Joe Zito, Peggy Sue Mullen, Sheryl Johnston, Leonard Olsen, Myra Williams, Jim Anders, Dale and Patrick Reily, Mike and Stacey Brady, Demetrius Fuller, Stephanie and Peter Burke were there supporting the efforts. Sean Dietrich and Phyllis Hasty performed.

Dale and Pat Reily bid on and won a trip to Belize for daughter Carolina Cox's upcoming honeymoon.

Several South Waltoners competed in the inaugural New Orleans Ochsner Ironman 70.3 on April 5. It was the largest field of 3,500 athletes for a first-ever triathlon sponsored by the Ironman franchise. Local athletes included Al and Missy Terry, Jeff and Kim Gordon, Jeffrey Ellis, Scott Merriott, Brad Kelley, and Muri Kersanac. Ellis had a personal best of 5:59:04 and placed in the top 25 percent of a field of 3,500 triathletes. Next weekend it's an Olympic Distance Triathlon at Cherry Lake in Madison, Fla.

Teresa Cline has her Going to the Dogs Web site up and she is looking for happy adoption stories to add to her story page. www.goingtothedogsfl.com.

La Botana is now open for lunch at 11 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays with happy hour pricing.

Stephanie and Adam Caperton have moved to Atlanta.

Stephen Marlette has been in New Orleans for the second time in three weeks.

Susan Gongos has been in Birmingham and Brett Wheeler in Atlantic City.

Paul and Bett Appell are expecting their daughter, Kelly, and husband John Hinze, and three grandchildren plus two of their friends from Madison, Wisc., for Easter. It has been two years since they have visited. Their grandchildren are Alex, 17, Kaitlin, 14, and Maddie, 11.

Vickie and Jeff Miller welcome their son, Buckley, and his girlfriend, Shannon Briggs, home for Easter from Nashville. He is bringing Shannon here to ask a very important question. "Shannon, will you marry me?"

Happy birthday today to Holly Shelton.

Tomorrow to Lee Eyer.

Wednesday to Mary Brockett.

Thursday to Carol Wenrick.

And Friday to Nikki Nickerson.

Sympathy is expressed to JoAnn Graham in the death of her sister.

Deborah Wheeler is the arts and entertainment reporter for The Walton Sun. She may be reached at (850) 267-4555 or e-mail debbie_wheeler@link.freedom.com. Party Line Talk appears weekly in The Sun. Contributions are encouraged.