The annual Pines Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) benefit, raising money to rescue and care for abandoned cats and dogs, as well as injured wildlife, took place on June 2 at the Cherry Grove Community House, with Grove Chapter Head Valerie L. Perez and PAWS Founder Lee Frey presiding. Bella, Demi-Tasse, and Panzi hosted and Matt Baney and Alison Brackman were responsible for music, lights, and sound. $2,799 was the total amount raised, Valerie told Q News the following day.
Bella offered welcoming remarks; Demi gave us a swinging “(Night time is) The Right Time;” and Panzi declared, in a religious country-style number, “You Can’t Pray the Gay Away.” In her other song, Panzi cheerfully insisted, “He’s Ain’t Mr. Right, But He’s Mr. Right Now.”
Donna Piranha opened with “Proud” and turned the stage into a disco with “Native New Yorker,” complete with backup dancers from the audience. Bella and Demi shared their report on watching a doe give birth to twin fawns and the ensuing confrontation between the mother doe and a duck and her ducklings, which came too near the new babies.
New Homecoming Queen Rose Levine sang, a cappella, “They Say It’s Wonderful,” from “Annie Get Your Gun,” channeling Ethel Merman; a bit of “Razzle Dazzle,” from “Chicago;” and to West Highland White Terrier Mr. Burberry, “Tomorrow,” from “Annie.” This writer’s songs were “Memory,” from “Cats,” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.” Beach DeBree completed the cast, with a cheerful “Mad About You.”
There were also a 50-50 raffle, with more than $700 won by Chris Caswell and donated back to PAWS, and a buffet of delicious donated desserts.