Whitewater Rotary Club holds annual fundraiser

The Whitewater Rotary Club held its ninth annual Food & Wine Pairing Friday night at the Staller Estate Winery, south of Whitewater.

Forty-seven persons attended the five-course meal that featured an appetizer, salad, soup, entrée and dessert prepared by The Black Sheep in Whitewater. Each course was paired with one or two wines introduced by Staller staff.

The event is a fundraiser for the Rotarians, with proceeds benefiting local scholarships and the Rotary Youth Exchange program.

An online silent auction will be held in October on the www.32auctions.com website.

Wendy Staller, owner of Staller Estate Winery, town of Richmond, along with her husband Joe (not pictured) greets Whitewater Rotary Club Treasurer Ron Binning as guests arrive to the ninth annual Food & Wine Pairing fundraising event held Friday. 

Whitewater Rotarian Jerry Theune, far left, and several fundraiser participants arrive in the rustic “back room” in the winery’s wine tasting and event building. 

Whitewater Rotarian Tom Ganser, far right, and several fundraiser participants gather before a five-course dinner is served. 

Whitewater Rotarian Gordon Converse, second from left, and members of his family visit in the back room of the Staller Estate Winery event building. 

Wendy Staller, an owner of the Staller Estate Vineyard, from left, Whitewater Rotary Club Treasurer Ron Binning and Tim Franklin, chef de cuisine at the Black Sheep restaurant in Whitewater, share thoughts before dinner is served. 

Tim Franklin, chef de cuisine at the Black Sheep restaurant in Whitewater, and his crew prepare to begin serving guests in attendance at the Whitewater Rotary Club fundraiser. 

Tim Franklin, chef de cuisine at the Black Sheep restaurant in Whitewater, presents a salad, one of five courses served. 

A spiral cut zucchini salad is presented by Chef Tim Franklin. The full meal included mussels with tomato, brown rice and quinoa soup, chicken barilla and grilled Mexican spiced pound cake. 

Whitewater Rotary Club President Mike Harenza, seated back, left, visits with fundraising participants before dinner is served. 


Seated are Whitewater Rotarian Ron Binning, far right, and guests in attendance at the Rotary’s ninth annual fundraising event. 

Seated at the head of the table is Whitewater Rotary Club member Peter Spangler along with family and friends. 

With guests seated in the air conditioned back room of the winery’s event building, Wendy Staller enjoys a moment outside. A summer storm arrived Friday evening to water the grapes. 

Kim McDarison photos. 

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