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Dateline--Huntington Beach,
California
Spring 1998. Photo was taken
at when Chimayo at the Beach
opened in the spring 1998, unveiled by owner David Wilhelm. 10
years later it was renamed Savannah at the Beach in April 2008.
Left: Diane Baker, former
Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau president & CEO; and
Pat Davis, former resident who was a Public Relations Consultant and
community volunteer over 20 years in Huntington Beach. In the middle
of these two women is Papa Duck, for the Duck-a-thon fund-raiser.
The day the restaurant opened
to local folks, the samples were light, Southwest cuisine
appetizers. Many stayed to dine on a full lunch meal.
Chimayo at
the Beach received a lot of attention and focus when it opened
because of its location. It sat on the sand where a roller skating
business previously held court.
I remember when I was first
introduced to these two powerhouse women of Huntington Beach. The
first time I met Diane Baker was probably back in 1994, when she
needed photographic images to promote tourism in the city. I
had known Pat Davis as a neighbor for years, and saw her at too many
functions too recall. One of the saddest events before she moved to
Kentucky was the passing of her husband, Bob, a dapper, amiable man
who was well known for golfing, had lots of charm and a variety of
talents that made him well-liked.
Pat was a multi-tasker (and
probably still is.) One hand on the steering wheel of the car and a
cell phone in the other, she was lining things up constantly, always
greeting a new challenge or project to promote.
For many of
those years she spearheaded one of Orange County’s largest, annual
fund
raising events called the
Duck-A-Thon
. The
Duck-A-Thon,
which benefits the
Huntington Beach Community Clinic, is held in downtown Huntington
Beach
every mid-May at Pier Place. Pat’s due diligence, friendships, and
community
leadership helped guide a support group of over 75 volunteers
raising over $2
million dollars to provide health care for those in need across
Orange County.
In her honor the Community Care Health Centers recognized her
contributions
by naming the Duck-A-Thon Donor Wall: The Pat Davis Duck-A-Thon
Donor Wall – Presented by the Huntington Beach Community Clinic
Support
Group. Community Care Health Centers is a leader in providing high
quality,
affordable and accessible health care services to people in need.
Pat now lives
in Kentucky, helps her daughter with her B&B, and enjoys her
grandchildren.
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