by Jim Schmitt, Editor and Publisher,

May 3 was a perfect day, weather-wise and otherwise, as 22,000 fun seekers (11,000 paying customers and at least that many children under 12)  packed Founders Park for the fourth annual Taste of Ladera, more than doubling last year’s turnout of 10,000. The turnout is evidenced by the photo above taken of the audience from backstage during the Berlin concert.

Ladera Ranch residents and people from neighboring communities came out to taste some great food, see all the exhibits, support the charities involved, have some fun and games, see the Ladera’s Got Talent contestants, meet the Housewives of Orange County, and enjoy the non-stop music of several great bands, including the Go Sheilas, a Ladera Ranch band, Hollywood U2, and headliner Berlin.

Ladera's Got Talent competition was a huge success, with people getting autographs from some of the young performers so they could say “They knew them when!”  To read more about this competition and see a photo of the winners, click on Ladera's Got Talent!

The vendors were packed with activities all day long. Ella Vanilla, a specialty gourmet cake baker, had people lined up 20 deep for an hour after the event ended. People finally left when they ran out of cupcakes to sell.

It was impossible to get near the booths held by Platinum Sponsor Riptide Rockin’ Sushi & Teppan Grills as award-winning executive chef Ken Cruz and his staff served up specialty cut and hand rolls of sushi, while Teppanyaki Grill legend “Budweiser Ken” entertained the gathering with a show of Sake Bombs and flying shrimp.

The "Housewives of Orange County" (left) turned out en mass and had people lined up for two hours waiting to buy a "Ladera-tini," a signature martini provided by Infusion Restaurant and Martini Bar, a Gold Sponsor of the event.

Other Gold Sponsors included BeachFire Bar and Grill, Avendale Insurance Services, Pacific Whey, LARCS, and the Ladera Times.

Danielle Camacho, the Ladera Ranch mother who is suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease, was the guest of TouchPointe, the Presenting Sponsor. Danielle, shown left with her husband Alfred and Taste of Ladera founder and organizer Michelle Patterson, was able to attend with the help of her family. She overwhelmed by the outpouring of love she received from many of those in attendance (go to www.CamachoKidsFoundation.com).

Some 22 charities benefit from the event, and many more will continue to be supported with the proceeds.

About 100 volunteers from Ladera, many of which worked for six months, planned, staged and ran the event. And, when the clean-up crew didn't show up on Sunday, 30 of the volunteers, weary from months of hard, tireless work and a long, long day on Saturday, turned out to clean up Founders Park.

It was a runaway success and the volunteers as well as the entire community should be congratulated, especially Ladera Ranch's dynamo, Michelle Patterson, who founded the Taste of Ladera four years ago and, with the help of her many, many friends, nurtured it to the major event it has become.

What a great high-profile event to showcase Ladera Ranch as a wonderful place to live and grow.

Congratulations to all involved!