Alfonso Valls celebrates birthday

Alfonso Valls celebrated his 80th birthday with a party at his Casa Blanca lakeside house. Doris Valls gave a warm welcome. The family orchestrated a superlative reception including valet parking and excellent food and drinks, including fine wines.
Valls family attending included Cindy (Mrs. Kyle Huvar), who drove from Houston; Mark Valls, from Chicago; Alfonso's brothers Willie and Juan and niece Rosario; sons Ken, a lawyer, and Patrick, a doctor.
It was a great reunion for Suzy Mayo; George Neel and his wife; Pete Arguindegui; Nando Zuniga; Howard and Julia Ruhlman; Chelo Haynes Novoa; Ernesto Ramirez and wife, the former Ann Haley; Buddy Bruni; Sheila and Chris Glassford; and from Houston, Amando and Elsa Villarreal.
Amando reported that Nando was especially proud that he and his son Fernando, Jr., and now Kiko Zuniga have protrayed George Washington during the Washington's Birthday Celebration.

Spring Hat Luncheon
The Luncheon Club had its annual Spring Hat Luncheon at the Country Club.
The tables were pretty, with pink hat centerpieces bearing bouquets of fresh flowers. Elizabeth Foster and her sister Dorothy Louise Longoria, chairs for the event, got Diane Whitworth to help with the décor. Jennie Reed took photos. The next luncheon will meet in September.
Josephine Brand won the prize for her straw hat decorated with fresh bouganvillea blooms that matched her deep pink jacket.
Josephine writes that Mike Cullinan, who lives in Houston, suffered a heart attack. His mother, Maggie Cullinan, recently passed away and was buried in Laredo, her hometown.
Some of Josephine's children came for the Killam wedding, Barry and Gail Sanditen and others.

Blessed Sacrament Choir
celebrates
The Blessed Sacrament Choir recently honored three members, Dennis Garza, Herlinda Alderete, and Adelfa Perez, with an appreciation dinner and classical recital in the Blessed Sacrament Hall.
The dinner was beautifully catered by La Posada, which brought round tables and chairs, the latter draped in fabric with silver bows on the back. Silver candelabra and flowers centered the tables.
Ruth Fierros served as emcee and read the vitae of the honorees.
Henry Cuellar awarded plaques to Alicia Valdez, who works on the church bulletin, Laura Jacaman, who financed the party, and Ruth Fierros, chairman.
Prior to the dinner and later, Nixon High School students performed musical numbers of classical note.
One wall in the large hall was decorated with musical notes. Choir members and guests numbered over a hundred.

News from Mildred Reyna
"One recent Sunday afternoon Judith and I attended a beautiful piano concert in memory of Barbara McCuen at the Kazen College Center. Barbara taught piano at Laredo Community College for years. Ann Neel was one of three performers.
"Afterward we attended a reception that David and Millie Slaughter hosted at the Slaughter farm. Millie is connected with the college.
"I had not been in this home which belonged to Ophie Slaughter for years. It is still lovely and the garden was beautiful.
"One of the guests was Suzy Mayo, who reported that Jack Davis, long a part of the Laredo educational system, had broken both legs hang gliding. He is living in Alabama with his sister and wants to return to Laredo. 'Once you drink the waters of the Río Grande. . . .'
"The flower show at the Methodist Church was beautiful. Mary-Claude Reyna, who lives in New York where she is with an airline, came to Laredo when her sister was ill, but she has returned."

The Tuesday Music and Literature Club at a recent meeting in the Methodist Fellowship Hall enjoyed shrimp lasagna, prepared by Ruth Fierros, who also wrote of her son's travels: Phillip of Celine went on a seven-day Caribbean tour, and Steven of Houston flew to Paris.
While in San Antonio recently to see her eye doctor, she took your reporter to her son Rick's home. His beautiful garden is the most impressive I have ever seen. An area of about four acres is green with grass and bright with flowers, such as potted hydrangeas, petunias, about-to-bloom lilies. Here is an expanse of blue bonnets. Under the bright green mesquite, which shades an outdoor pagoda, we had coffee and cake from exquisite blue and white china. It was good to hear about all the people from home, Laredo; a memorable afternoon. Rick was a perfect host.

Jan Witt, artist, who enjoys Indian themes, exhibited two of her works in Fort Conchas Pit Stop. Her work has hand-painted canvas butterflies attached. She once lived in Laredo and was a member of the Laredo Art League.

With Elizabeth Barfield's Christmas message came a clipping showing Rev. Sheridan Walker, rector of Christ Church Episcopal, blessing a Habitat for Humanity house. Volunteers from Christ Church assisted in the home construction. She also commented on the Tasting Tea: "It was grand, all those precious ladies and their husbands."
Lupe and Martin Barrera send their usual book. Full of enthusiasm for life, Martin, of the Los Angeles Art Department and a former Laredoan, writes of the many social events, dinners, and trips they had. One of the most delightful was a celebration of Lupe's birthday and her brother José Lozano's at Majesty in Laredo that was attended by about 200 people. They enjoyed songs by Carla Perales, Lilly Gonzalez Kohandanitas, Nora Gonzalez Martinez, and Maggie Gonzalez, who played guitar and sang "Las Mañanitas" and "Ave María."