Rancho Los Alamitos honored Mayor Rex Richardson and longtime Grunion Gazette journalist Harry Saltzgaver at the 14th Annual Cottonwood Award Luncheon, held on May 21.

The new location of the event, held on the front lawn this year was a welcome change for the 420 attendees. Consensus of the crowd was positive, as many said, “this was a more intimate location for the event,” that previously held on the opposite side of the Rancho.

Country and rock classics were played by the Bixby Hill country band, to kicked off the event. Guests enjoyed walking through the historic ranch house to enter the party on the large lawn under the famous Moreton Bay fig tree.

Guests enjoyed a BBQ buffet, open bar, museum store pop-up and baby goats walking through, also a lively auction. Emcee Steve Goodling said, “I haven’t enjoyed an auction like this in some time. Suzanne (the auctioneer) really got the crowd going! The new location was a delight as well.”

The highlight was the two tribute videos for honorees Mayor Rex Richardson and Harry Saltzgaver. The honorees each mentioned why Long Beach is such a special place.

Respected Long Beach editor/writer Harry Saltzgaver — former longtime editor of the Grunion and still a columnist for the newspaper as well as the Press-Telegram — received the Gerald Miller Award for Service. It’s just the latest in a long line of awards for the “Pinch of Salt” writer and busy community volunteer and mentor.

Mayor Rex Richardson was honored with the Cottonwood Award for Leadership. During the Mayor’s acceptance speech, he noted the award should include his wife Nina and asked her to join him at the podium. Both honorees were enthusiastically welcomed by the throng.

A lively and fun auction raised approximately $205,000 (this was the highest amount raised for the Rancho’s fund-a-need paddle-raise and the live auction).

The event gathers critical funds for Rancho public programs while celebrating the honorees commitments to preserving the historical and cultural landscape of Long Beach and surrounding communities.

Proceeds benefit Rancho public programs, including field trips for third and fourth graders, lectures and workshops, concerts and kids crafting hour — many programs free and open to the entire community.

FYI: Rancho Los Alamitos, the “Ranch of the Little Cottonwoods,” is a Long Beach City Landmark and twice-listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the 7½-acre site includes four acres of nationally significant historic gardens, a ranch house (1790-1933), and a restored barnyard of the early 20th-century working ranch.

Seen at the Scene: Mayor Rex and Nina Richardson, Harry Saltzgaver, Councilmember Kristina Duggan, Rancho Executive Director Tim Roberts, First Lady Gloria Deukmejian, Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba, Marlene Temple, Henry and Julie Taboada, Jim and Melanie Choura, Joan and Joe Van Hooten, Jim and Jorene Hankla, Steve Goodling, Josh Krantz, Terry Krauss, Norm Rasmussen, Cathy and Tom Weider, Stephanie Davis, Barbara Hall, Nancy Koblensky, Cheri Bazley, Rich and Pat Archbold, Terese Parkin, Bonnie Lowenthal, Jean Bixby Smith and Barbara Bixby Blackwell, Gloria Cordero, Kristina Duggan.

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