COMEDIANS PROMISE ROTTEN DEAL FOR POPULAR CAR AGENCY OWNERS.

Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Don and Cheri Fleming will be subjected to disparaging remarks, cutting comments and playful mocking, but the Valencia Acura owners should take the barbs thrown at them as a compliment.

The Zonta Club of the Santa Clarita Valley Foundation has selected the Flemings as this year's targets of a roast because of their outstanding community service - and their ability to take a joke.

``We look for someone who is outstanding in the community, well-respected and open to having people poke fun at them,'' said Adele MacPherson, president of the foundation. ``Don and Cheri have done some amazing things in the community. They have really worked hard for many causes.''

The 17th annual Celebrity Tribute Roast will take place at 6 p.m. Friday at the Hyatt Valencia. Jim and Marlee Lauffer will introduce the official roasters: Dianna Vose, Jonathan Elias, Tony Ackers and Elizabeth Hopp.

The fund-raiser will feature dinner, entertainment and an auction of unusual dining opportunities.

For example, the ``Hook 'em & book 'em, Don-O,'' auction deal will include a ride in a squad car with sheriff's Capt. Don Rodriguez, dinner at the Pitchess Detention Center and an air tour of the Santa Clarita Valley in the sheriff's helicopter.

``Red Hot Lights & Sirens'' will give 10 local women a night out for dinner with the firemen of Station 76, where they will be served a delicious feast.

Proceeds from the roast will help finance numerous local and international Zonta projects for the advancement of women.

``The mission of Zonta is to improve the status of women, and Don and Cheri work with breast cancer awareness and the Child & Family Center, which goes right along with our mission,'' MacPherson said.

Previous roastees include Michael D. Antonovich, Ruth and Scott Newhall, Jo Anne Darcy, Dianne Van Hook, Jim Ventress, John Reardon and Karl McCarthy.

Tickets are $90 and can be reserved by calling [phone].

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Community-service leaders Don and Cheri Fleming will be treated worse than their dogs Friday at a roast to raise funds for women's programs and family service.