[November 20, 2009] Star Tribune, Minneapolis, C.J. column: C.J.: 2008 Starkey Foundation gala revisited: Tom Petters was there Tweet Nov 21, 2009 (Star Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Tom Petters rolled onto the red carpet at the 2008 Starkey Foundation gala looking for all the world as though he thought he was this and that. That's apparent from the 10 seconds and 24 frames of footage I shot that you may choose to view at startribune.com/video. While Petters attracted my camera because he seemed every bit the jaunty, toothy bon vivant, I had no idea who he was that evening at St. Paul's RiverCentre. I would have no idea who he was until months later, when his face was plastered all over TV and newspapers after the feds charged Petters with fraud for allegedly operating a $3.5 billion Ponzi scheme. Last week, I was looking at video from the 2008 Starkey gala, which annually raises money to provide free hearing devices to children around the world, when Petters' mug popped off the computer screen. In this brief clip, you get a real sense of the man whom someone off camera addresses as "Tom-Tom," as he lightheartedly responds "How are you, darling?" Actually, he may have said "darlink," just before turning his attention toward Tani and Bill Austin, founder and CEO of Starkey Laboratories. Every year the gala begins with the Austins standing on the red carpet to greet their celebrity friends and other benefactors attending the event. On Petters' arm this night was a stunning brunette in dark glasses. Maybe it's the mother of two of his children, Tracy Mixon? Mixon likes to tweak and change her hair color, so I'm just not positive. Since it's only 10 seconds and 24 frames of video, I pad my clip of Tom Petters with some others who attended the gala that year. There's sculptor Bill Mack, who knows how to dress for a gala, and his wife Debbie Mack of Griffin Galleries. There is a melancholy clip of supermodel Cheryl Tiegs and her now ex-beau, longevity expert Dan Buettner. (Buettner, by the way, is making sure that I attend Saturday night's "Butterball" fundraiser at Graves 601 Hotel. Actor Mariel Hemingway is expected to attend at this benie for Open Arms Minnesota, an outfit that provides meals to people in need.) And there is also video of my interview with Mrs. C. of "Happy Days" -- Minnesota native Marion Ross, who couldn't wait to tell me how happy she is with her Starkey hearing device. In the previous posting of video from this event, Ross wound up on the cutting room floor because of space, while Petters didn't make the cut because I didn't know what I had. C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or [email protected]. E-mailers, please state a subject -- "Hello" doesn't count. Attachments are not opened, so don't even try. More of her attitude can be seen on FOX ox 9 Thursday mornings. To see more of the Star Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.startribune.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, Star Tribune, Minneapolis Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]