La Verne Star Struck by Generosity of Animal-Loving Actors and Actresses

May 8, 2010
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La Verne Keller Williams Realtor Colleen Bennett and Larry Thomas, the "Soup Nazi" from "Seinfeld."

La Verne Keller Williams Realtor Colleen Bennett and Larry Thomas, the "Soup Nazi" from "Seinfeld."

La Verne P.I. Linda Altringer, left, with actress and humanitarian Linda Blair.

La Verne P.I. Linda Altringer, left, with actress and humanitarian Linda Blair.

Sandi Norman and her son Kevin with new family member, Savannah.

Sandi Norman and her son Kevin with new family member, Savannah.

San Diego State sophomore and Bonita alumnus Brett Bennett and Larry "The Soup Nazi" Thomas from "Seinfeld."

San Diego State sophomore and Bonita alumnus Brett Bennett and Larry "The Soup Nazi" Thomas from "Seinfeld."

Actors Eric Roberts and Bill Cobbs.

Actors Eric Roberts and Bill Cobbs.

There were enough Hollywood stars in La Verne on Saturday to make your head spin.

Actors Linda Blair (“The Exorcist”), Larry Thomas (the “Soup Nazi” from “Seinfeld”) Oscar nominee Eric Roberts (“Dark Knight”); Bill Cobbs,(“Night at the Museum”) and Maxine Wasa (Playboy: Wet and Wild”) came to town to support Linda Blair’s World Heart Foundation, which provides a safe haven for abused and abandoned animals.

Visitors were treated to CPR demonstrations, a cutest dog outfit and dog personality contest, raffles, vendors, pet adoptions and an “opportunity drawing” to have dinner with Linda Blair at La Verne’s Taste of Asia restaurant.

Sponsored by Ariel Investigations, Inc., Picore Worldwide Security, Taste of Asia and Lil Honu, Inc., the fundraiser attracted animal lovers who had the opportunity to adopt an abused or neglected dog.

 

John Norman, La Verne’s kettle popcorn king, and his wife Sandi were just two of the visitors to drop by at the Bonita parking lot. Before they left, they adopted Savannah, a darling Maltese. They hadn’t planned on adding another member to their family of three boys and one dog, but Savannah proved irresistible.

 

“It’s kind of hard to say no when it’s Mother’s Day weekend,” said Norman, also one of the vendors at the show.

 

Other vendors were selling knit sweaters, dog prints, dog bones and other pet paraphernalia.

 

When the last raffle winner was announced by Blair, the movie stars and their hosts headed north on D Street and pulled into Taste of Asia in the Oak Tree Mall, where they were treated to a fabulous meal, La Verne style.

 

 

 

 

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