By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A bevy of big local names banded together to help raise money for a good cause Thursday night as the American Cancer Society presented its first annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner at Riverlands Country Club.
The event night generated $20, 665 for St. John Parish Relay for Life, as local celebrities competed against one another to see who could generate the most tips, waiting on a total of 16 sponsored tables. Because of the timing of the event, the money will go toward 2012’s Relay for Life mark.
Each table had a theme, from superheroes to pirates, and each celebrity dressed in costume – Parish President Natalie Robottom represented “St. John goes Hollywood,” Bill Ironside pulled off “Duck Dynasty,” and Councilman Michael Wright and Councilwoman Jaclyn Hotard each represented the stars and stripes.
Stephen Flynn impressed as the night’s emcee.
“I’d never met him in person until today,” said American Cancer Society Community Representative Megan Lerch. “He’s very, very good at getting the crowd involved. He’s done a fantastic job.”
There was entertainment all night long, including karaoke and line dancing.
The group of celebrities were brought together by BaBa Oncale, who went into the event with a goal of generating 12 sponsored tables, a mark that was well exceeded.
“We actually had 18, but two had to back out,” said Oncale. “When they asked me to do this, I had an idea of (which celebrities) would be able to pull it off. The night’s been a success, and next time we’ll have no problems at all with finding participants.”
Oncale said she originally was skittish about accepting the task, as the event fell just after the St. John Sugar Queen Pageant, which she is very involved with.
“I said I couldn’t do it. But they told me, ‘Baba, it’s the only time we can,’” she said. “So I got to work.”
Notable St. John Theatre performer and former Sugar Queen Chrissy Carter spent the night as Wonder Woman and called the job rewarding.
“I think it’s just a wonderful event, and it’s great that we’ve got the chance to give back and help the fight against cancer,” said Carter. “To do it as Wonder Woman is a really fun thing for me, kind of a dream come true.”
At the night’s end, award winners were announced. They were as follows:
• Best Decorated Table – Katie Klibert, Toddlers and Tiaras, with Lacey Volion of Mustache Bash and Bill Ironside of Duck Dynasty taking second and third respectively.
• Best Dressed – Richard Klibert of Oktoberfest, with Klibert as Honey BooBoo and Allen Stein and Timmie Mire of Crab Trap taking second and third.
• Most Spirited – Natalie Robottom.
• Hardest Working – Richard Klibert.
• Most Money Raised at Silent Auction – Lacey Volion.
• Most Money Raised – Richard Klibert ($3,324).