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Friends of Connetquot Gala 2008 |
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2008 Annual Gala Event |
 Once
again, supporters showered the Friends with their
generosity. While, thankfully, Mother Nature did not
shower us with rain, but did contribute a splendid
day for the Gala festivities. Friends’ president,
Bob Labuski welcomed those in attendance and the
traditional equestrian parade followed.
In recognition of the importance that the hatchery
and trout fishing hold for the Park, this year the
Friends’ board chose to highlight these features at
the Gala (even though when this decision was made,
the impending closing of the hatchery was not yet an
issue of which the Friends were aware).
 To help us
with this program, we enlisted the help of several
fishing clubs that generously responded by setting
up interesting fly-tying, fly casting, and other
fishing-related demonstrations. Two chapters of
Trout Unlimited sent presenters: George Costa and
Gil Miller from the Art Flick Chapter; Jay Mooney
and Peter Harris from the Long Island Chapter.
Presenters from other clubs were: Wolfgang Porte and
Herman Abrams from Long Island Flyrodders, as well
as Arthur Prevette and our long-time friend Dr.
Richard Steinberger from Idle Hour Fly Fishers.
Everyone took full advantage of the available
activities. Some people were interested in the
hay-wagon ride to the hatchery (contributed by The
Hay Loft and driven by Jerry Trapani and Ken Wilvert),
 while others opted to take the horse and carriage
ride around the Park’s grounds (provided by
Authentic Carriage Co.). Loyal friend and carver,
Jamie Reason was there with his carving
demonstration. Also falconer, Tom Lowe brought his
Harris’s Hawk for a return engagement.
Under the dining tent, appetizers of various
cheeses, fresh fruit, smoked goose and other
delicacies whetted the guest’s appetite for the
large array of gourmet dishes that restaurants—such
as Snapper Inn, Irish Coffee Pub, Riverview, Viva La
Vida, and others (please see complete list that
follows)—magnanimously contributed.
 For the diners’
pleasure,
Little Toby Walker set a lively atmosphere
with his snappy music. For the dessert course, the
tone turned serene with the repertoire played by the
string quartet of Stan Kallenbach, Shelly Berner,
Harvey Hoffman, and Jody Ratner; the quartet’s
selections included Schubert’s piano quintet “The
Trout” (transcribed for string quartet by the
group.)
Board member and acting auctioneer, George Dagher,
assisted by Gil Bergen and Jerry Trapani, deftly
matched skills with eager bidders for the many
valuable treasures donated for our Live Auction:
 an
original trout painting by Don Winter; two beautiful
carvings, one of a Eurasian Wigeon by Jamie Reason
and the other a Redshank by Ed Legg; a knife
hand-crafted by Steve Mikle; and a miniature Trout
carving by Tom Hubbard; as well as antiques and
other desirable items. Our Silent and Chinese
auctions sent many guests home with arms full of
beautiful gift baskets, framed photographs and
limited edition prints, as well as many other great
prizes.
We thank all who attended. Your continued support is
vital to the success of the Friends. |
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GALA SUPPORTERS
It takes a great many people to bring about the
success of this important fund-raising event. The
tables below list the names of our supporters. All
these individuals, organizations, artists and
merchants generously contributed food, beverages,
prizes or their time. We ask that you please
act as our ambassador by patronizing the merchants,
restaurants and artists listed here and thank them
for their support of the Friends
If we inadvertently omitted anyone from this list,
please accept our apologies and be assured that we
greatly appreciate ALL our contributors. |
| Restaurants &
Merchants |
| American
Antiques, Southampton |
The Hay Loft,
Coram |
Peninsula, Bay
Shore |
| Audrey’s
Bakery, West Sayville |
Hilton Garden
Inn |
Ramsey
Outdoors, Ramsey, NJ |
| Authentic
Carriage Co., Centereach |
Idle Hour
Deli, Oakdale |
Riverview
Restaurant, Oakdale |
| Bayberry Cafe,
Islip |
Irish Coffee
Pub, Islip |
Sayville Inn,
Sayville |
| Bar Boy,
Farmingdale |
JD Pages, East
Islip |
Snapper Inn,
Oakdale |
| Beechtree
Restaurant, Islip Terrace |
Kingstons,
Islip |
Southern
Liquor, Syosset |
| Camp-Site
Sport Shop, Huntington |
Mama’s Pizza,
Oakdale |
Stanley's
Bakery, East Islip |
| Cazanove Opici
Import Corp., Plainview |
Martino Pizza,
East Islip |
Sysco Food
Service, Rocky Hill, CT |
| Clare Rose,
Patchogue |
Mary's Pizza,
Islip Terrace |
Vanderbilt’s
Wharf, Oakdale |
| Collins &
Main, Sayville |
McGoverns,
Oakdale |
Vindagra USA
Inc., Boca Raton, FL |
| El Puente de
Oro, Central Islip |
Modern Bakery, Oakdale |
Vinnie's
Mulberry Street, East Islip |
| Empire
Merchants, Astoria |
Norton's
Restaurant, Oakdale |
Viva La Vida,
Oakdale |
| Fatty McGees,
East Islip |
Oakdale
Flowershop, Oakdale |
White Cap Fish
Co., Islip |
| Fish &
Wildlife Unlimited, Oakdale |
Orvis, New
York City |
Wild Birds
Unlimited, Oakdale |
|
Firesideangler.com |
Orvis,
Greenvale |
|
| Francesco’s
Trattoria, East Islip |
Parkwood
Outfitters, Bohemia |
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| Artists, Organizations, Individual Donors & Volunteers |
| Herman Abrams |
Amy Kasten |
Arthur
Prevette |
| Dorothy
Andersen |
Linda J.
Kasten |
Jody Ratner |
| Dan Azzato |
Sarah Kasten |
Warren Ray |
| Claudia &
Brian Behonic |
Edward
Kelleher |
Jamie Reason |
| Gil Bergen |
The Kinane
Family |
Kathleen
Remmer |
| Shelly Berner |
Bob Labuski |
Richard Remmer |
| Bettina
Brownyard |
Edward H. Legg |
Pam Raymond |
| George Costa |
Marilyn Levy |
The Rough
Riders |
| Pat Costello |
Long Island
Flyrodders |
Dan Shazuk &
Mike Schlitz |
| George Dagher |
Tom & Sofie
Lowe |
Keith Snedecor |
| Peter
Gambitsky |
Morgan
Macwhinnie |
Dr. Richard
Steinberger |
| Bob & Mitzi
Giffen |
Paul McCain |
Pamela Stokes |
| Great South
Bay Audubon Society |
Jeremiah
McGiff |
Jerry & Rita
Trapani |
| Pamela J.
Greene |
Steve Mikle |
Giselle Torres |
| Peter Harris |
Joe Mikulas |
Trout
Unlimited, Art Flick Chapter |
| Harvey Hoffman |
Gil Miller |
Trout
Unlimited L.I. Chapter |
| Tom Hubbard |
Jay Mooney |
Lee Weil |
| Chris Hull |
Nissequogue
River State Park |
Robert & Edith
Wilson |
| Pam Hunter |
Dennis & Marie
O’Doherty |
The Wilvert
Family |
| Islip
Horsemen’s Association |
Planting
Fields Arboretum |
Megan Wilvert |
| Stanley & Annette Kallenbach |
Wolfgang Porte |
Don Winter |
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