“Open wide!”
We’ve all heard this on our visits to the dentist. One could also say that about the Children’s Dental Health Clinic, because when one walks into the clinic from the small waiting room, the facility opens wide — really wide. It is an impressively large facility.
Members of the Steel Magnolias took a tour of the surprisingly large Dental Health Clinic on June 18, 2026. They were there to present a donation to the clinic, which is one of MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital’s areas of care. The committee was dutifully impressed, not only by the size, but also by the scope and depth of care provided by the clinic.
The Steel Magnolias raised $28,525 for the NAM procedure that reduces the number of surgeries required during a patient’s lifetime, which in turn reduces facial scarring, trauma, inconvenience and the cost involved in additional surgeries.
Children’s Dental Health Clinic, photo from left, Hilda Sanchez, Dental Health Clinic Director Mackenzie Martin DDS, Marianne Gastelum, Surina Geoffrey, President Elect Debbie Martin-McMullen, Founder Shirley Wild and Janel Rowden. (Courtesy photo)
Historical Society of Long Beach, photo from left, City Prosecutor Doug Haubert and honoree Evan Anderson Braude. (Courtesy photo)
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Children’s Dental Health Clinic, photo from left, Hilda Sanchez, Dental Health Clinic Director Mackenzie Martin DDS, Marianne Gastelum, Surina Geoffrey, President Elect Debbie Martin-McMullen, Founder Shirley Wild and Janel Rowden. (Courtesy photo)
The scope of the Steel Magnolias aligns with the clinic’s programs and facilities, which are designed to support the specialized needs of children with disabilities or complex medical considerations, such as autism, asthma, cerebral palsy, cleft lip and palate, Down syndrome and sickle cell anemia. The clinic also delivers oral health education and comprehensive treatment for economically disadvantaged children.
Seen at the Scene: Steel Magnolias President-elect Debbie Martin-McMullen, Hilda Sanchez, Marianne Gastelum, Surina Geoffrey, Janel Rowden, Dental Health Clinic Director Mackenzie Martin and Steel Magnolias founder (and author of this column) Shirley Wild.
Historical Society of Long Beach
Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres began the the Historical Society of Long Beach’s fun and informative evening event on June 4 at at the offices of Keesal, Young, and Logan.
Guests enjoyed socializing, which preceded an interview of honoree Evan Anderson Braude, a former Long Beach City Council member, by City Prosecutor Doug Haubert. The audience of 115 people enjoyed the humorous interview, as Haubert led Braude through sharing his extraordinary life.
The interview displayed the extent of Braude’s political upbringing and accomplishments. Although born into a political family — to parents Glenn and Lee Anderson — at one point, he wanted to be a rabbi. His mother cleverly dissuaded him, in a manner that brought smiles to the audience. He shared early vignettes, including that former Gov. Pat Brown taught him how to swim; and that former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson flew in for a dinner at his parent’s home and landing the helicopter on his street. He mentioned notables such as former President Ronald Reagan and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren as two of the many notables he met over the years.
Braude went on to play a meaningful role in shaping Long Beach’s governance, housing policies, tobacco controls and nonprofit leadership. Throughout his career, he advanced anti-discrimination protections and affordable housing initiatives, and served in leadership roles for numerous nonprofits, the latest being the Anderson Braude Collection, a permanent archival collection housed at the Historical Society of Long Beach. Through that collection, researchers, policymakers and residents will have access to the firsthand accounts that illuminate Long Beach’s progress and challenges.
Seen at the Scene: Bonnie Lowenthal, Kyle Braude, Jayson Braude, Sharon Weismann, Nikki Tenent, Marlene Temple, Jacki Stanfield, Dr. Greg Perrault and Cookie Braude, Harry and Maria Saltzgaver, Linda and Alex Bellehumeur, Melanie and Brandon Werts, Barbara Shoag and David Zanata.
News of Social events with charitable purposes may be sent to Shirley Wild at spwild@verizon.net. Please include a contact phone number. Send high-resolution JPEG photos, by attachment, to spwild@verizon.net and include group name and identification of individuals from left. Call Shirley at 562-594-9468 for more information.