Popular longtime area restaurateur Dan DiGiovanni, 75, of Vista died suddenly Oct. 2 of a heart attack while holding a winning hand of poker at Ocean's Eleven Casino.

Dan began his local restaurant career in the 1970s, managing the old Royal Palms restaurant (now Fidel's) in Carlsbad. Probably his best-known position was as co-owner of the posh Henry's restaurant in Carlsbad during the '80s and '90s.

Since 2001, Dan owned and operated Danato's in Vista. He recently sold that eatery and was considering opening up yet another restaurant when he died.

Dan was a veteran of the Korean War, past president and past-lieutenant governor of the Optimist International Club, and a member of the Oceanside Elks Club. Even though he was of Italian descent, he was made an honorary member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

"He was a dad, granddad, great-granddad, a great dancer, as well as an accomplished storyteller and friend," said longtime pal and former employee Ron DesRosier of The Flying Bridge restaurant in Oceanside. "Many of us will miss him."

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. today at Eternal Hills. Family and friends will gather following the service at The Flying Bridge, 1101 N. Coast Highway.

SING OUT -- Carlsbad High senior Stephanie Packard has won the Oceanside Music Festival's "Great American Songbook" singing contest with her rendition of George and Ira Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me." She will perform her winning song during the Coastal Cities Jazz Band concert at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Oceanside Pier Amphitheatre. Tickets are $10 and $5 and available at the California Welcome Center, Oceanside, or at the gates Sunday. Call (760) 721-1101.

AUSSIE HOSTS -- Carlsbad High School will welcome more than 30 Australian high school students Jan. 8. This has been an annual event for Carlsbad High over the past several years. As in the past, local host families are needed to host these teens while in Carlsbad.

"We would like host families where there are teenaged students living so our visitors will have American teenagers to meet and interact with," says Tom "T.R." Robertson, Carlsbad High Associated Student Body adviser.

Call T.R. at (760) 729-1173.

SENIOR EXPO -- Oceanside's annual Senior Expo will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center Mall in downtown Oceanside. Sponsored by the Oceanside Senior Citizens Center and the Oceanside Senior Commission, this year's event is dedicated to the late Ed McCulloch, former commission chairman who died this summer. A memorial bench in his honor will be presented to the California Welcome Center, where Ed devoted much of his time as a volunteer.

Notes for Tom Morrow can be e-mailed to tmorrow@nctimes.com, faxed to (760) 757-2072 or call (760) 901-4074. Find his previous columns on the Internet at www.nctimes.com.