Performing Animal Welfare SocietyOctober 22, 2010

Wanda Crowned

Miss TUSKany 2010!

 

Wanda receives an elephant's version of a crown after being voted Ms. TUSKany 2010 at this year's Elephant Grape Stomp 'n' Chomp. PAWS' co-founder Ed Stewart presents her with an edible swag and bouquet. All runner-ups received edible bouquets. This benefit for the PAWS animals is held each year on the third Saturday in October, and is one of the few times each year when the public is invited to visit the ARK 2000 sanctuary.

 

Amazing Things Happened

On The Way To TUSKany!

 

By Kim Gardner

 

Please forgive me some metaphorical references, but this year's One and Only Elephant Grape Stomp 'n' Chomp was memorable in so many ways. I simply can't let this Parade Pass Us By.

 

We Think We Can...We Think We Can...We Think We Can

A few months ago Pat Derby had a vision about making PAWS event experiences more accommodating to our guests. So, a scant few weeks before the event, she asked Ed Stewart to lead a volunteer crew to install over 2,500 feet of permanent, decorative, security fencing from ARK 2000's interior gate, weaving a path through the Lion, Tiger and Bear (Oh, my!) habitats. This year's guests strolled the Road Less Traveled at their leisure, visiting with docents, sampling wine and munching on delicious treats before catching shuttles to Bull Mountain. The adventure was a big hit!

 

Sincere appreciation goes to Devra Lewis and her Blue Mountain Shuttle team for more than six years of donating their services to our events.

 

To view a video of the

2010 Elephant Grape Stomp festivities, click here.

 

This year's event also marked the first ARK 2000 public appearance for Sheba and the ADI-rescued Bolivian lions, as well as PAWS' bears Winston and Boo Boo. The bears were moved from our Galt Sanctuary to their new Bob Barker-built habitat on the Monday before the Grape Stomp event.

 

It's Good To Be 12 Feet Tall

Arriving one month prior to the Grape Stomp, Asian elephant Sabu captured the hearts of everyone who caught a glimpse of his amazing presence atop Bull Mountain. Never one to let 'em keep ya' down, the Unsinkable Pat Derby, only two days after "graduating" cancer treatments, served as Sabu's special docent, charming guests with her amazing life stories (see photo, above right). Pat, herself, looked 12 feet tall that day!

 

Adorning Pachy-Beauties

and Cuties

The second annual Ms. TUSKany Pageant was a frolic. The event was made even more fun with the appearance of Miss Calaveras 2010 and her court roaming through TUSKany Village rallying votes. (Pictured right: Princess Rebecca Gilbert, left, and Miss Calaveras 2010 Rebecca Fischer, right.) When the competitive dust cleared, Wanda was crowned Ms. TUSKany 2010, with Mara voted first runner-up. Last year's winner, Maggie, graciously handed over the title to Wanda. Each elephant received a unique ele-edible swag, lovingly created by a team of PAWS volunteers. Hail To Thee Ms. TUSKany!

 

To view a video of the

2010 Ms. TUSKany Pageant, click here.

 

The Daze of Wine and Pasta!

Thank you to each of the regional wineries that participated in this event, and to Jeff Newland and his Il Fornaio chefs. They have filled our plates and glasses with scrumptious offerings for many years. This event would not happen without their continued, generous, and delicious support.

 

To Dream the Impossible Dream

Evident not only in their 26 years of leadership, but also in their compassionate vision and amazing accomplishments, PAWS' founders, Pat Derby and Ed Stewart, inspire each of us every day to keep going, and to never give up on the dream of a better world for captive wildlife.

 

So as the saying goes: The difficult will take some time. . . the impossible, just a while longer.

 

MORE GRAPE STOMP FOOTAGE!

Ed Stewart visits with Mara, Ruby, Maggie and Lulu.

View video here. 

 

All photos by Lisa Jeffries.

 

THANK YOU!
 

We would like to thank the following individuals and businesses for making this year's Elephant Grape Stomp a tremendous success.

 

Wineries:

Jill and Mike Ogburn as Winery Hospitality, Black Sheep, Bodega Del Sur, Brice Station, Chateau Routon, Chatom Vineyards, Gianelli, Hovey Wines, Irish Vineyards, Ironstone, Milliaire, Stevenot, Sonora Winery, Twisted Oak, Zucca Mountain Vineyards.

 

Ms. TUSKany Pageant volunteers: Lacey Neufeld, director of the Miss Calaveras Pageant; Rebecca Fischer, Miss Calaveras 2010; Katherine Jones, Miss Calaveras Community Service; Rebecca Gilbert, Miss Calaveras Princess; and PAWS' volunteer Glory Quiggle.

 

Gorgeous ele-edible adornments: Sylvia Arispe, Elayne Azavedo, Mimi Durand, Gemma Gyling, Gordon Holmes, Janelle Kessler, Lorrie Morris, Lori Swearingen.

 

And finally, a special thank you to everyone who volunteered to help with our fence project, and to all PAWS' docents, staff and volunteers.

 

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