by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
February 8, 2008
Joan Van Ness, Frank Santoro & Pierre Galarneau Will Receive CGCAI '08 Honors
Joan Van Ness, Frank Santoro and Pierre Galarneau, who are associated with a number of organizations in Cherry Grove, including Elmer A. Lindsay Memorial Center (the Doctor's Fund), will be honored by the Cherry Grove Community Association, Inc. (CGCAI) at a awards ceremony at Blueberry Hill, at Bayview and Aeon Walks, on August 23, CGCAI President Charlie Isola announced on February 8. One hundred tickets, at $100 each, will be available for the Honors Awards Program and dinner and dessert reception.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
September 22
Harpist José Plays Island Breeze
After several impromptu recitals, on the Grove beach and at the Tides, and a canceled scheduled appearance at the Tides, José came from the Bronx, bringing his harp and a flautist, to play a dinnertime engagement at Island Breeze on September 22. José also plays at weddings and other functions and his repertory includes "O Danny Boy," Schubert's "Ave Maria," Latin American music, and songs by Billy Joel.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
September 14
Grove's Glen Boles Celebrates 94th Birthday
On September 14, Glen Boles, Roland Michely and their dog, Cleo, invited the community to Hi-Fidelio, their lovely home on Lewis Walk, to celebrate Glen's birthday. An active member of the community, Glen was born in Loma Linda, California on this date in 1913.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
September 7
Coss Concludes Season of Singing at Island Breeze
On September 7, jazz vocalist David Coss, who has been singing at Island Breeze Restaurant on Friday nights, concluded his season there. In Manhattan, Coss sings at the Garage Restaurant, 99 Seventh Avenue South, on Sunday evenings.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
August 18
Gimmi & Marianne Hoffa's Tides Tea
Photographer Gimmi Hoffa and glamorous Marianne Hoffa hosted an afternoon South Beach Tea, complete with champagne and hors d'oeuvres, at the Tides on August 18.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
August 5
Fire Department Raises Funds at 14th Annual Pancake Breakfast
There were pancakes, bacon, sausages, coffee and orange juice aplenty, served up by the community's volunteer firefighters, on the morning of August 5, at Cherry Lane Café. The occasion was the Cherry Grove Fire Department's well-attended 14th annual pancake breakfast.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
August 4
Businesses Thank the Grove with Fireworks Display
[with photo by Joseph R. Saporito]
Grovites were led to expect fireworks in June, for Pride, or in July, to celebrate entrepreneur David Sce's birthday. The promised display finally occurred on August 4, as Grove businesses collaborated to express "Customer Appreciation" with a splendid show of Grucci pyrotechnics off the dock and over the Great South Bay.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
July 21
Shapiro Sisters' Tea
A week after the Doctor's Fund Benefit, in which the Shapiro Sisters, Sylvia (Donald Labohn) and Shirley (Evan Kane) played such prominent roles, the glamorous sisters presided at an afternoon Tea at the Tides. Both had performed in the show and Sylvia/Donald was responsible for its concept and direction. Many cast members, including Coco, Cobra, Donna Piranha, Roger Cortez, Joanne Tavis, Joan Van Ness, Bobbie Green and Doreen Rallo, came to support them, as did co-producer and Tides co-manager Meryl Facterman and, representing the Arts Project of Cherry Grove, its president, Ceejay Rosen. At the Tea, Ceejay reported to Sylvia that, while a final accounting had not yet been made, the benefit appears to have netted approximately $7,000 for the Elmer A. Lindsay Memorial Center, the Doctor's Fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
July 4
Sybil Bruncheon Hosts Super Bingo
Sybil Bruncheon, Gefil Tefish and George Brescia presided over the Arts Project of Cherry Grove's Super Bingo, a special Fourth of July holiday edition of bingo at the Community House, before a backdrop, designed by Dennis McConkey, of a giant antique postcard reading "Greetings from Cherry Grove, Fire Island NY." Sybil wore a sash proclaiming her Miss Cherry Grove 1938, the year of the devastating hurricane that all but leveled the Grove.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
July 4
Irish Queens Invade
Direct from Dublin, Ireland, glamorous queens Veda Beaux Reeves and Davina Devine, singers with the band Ladyface, came to Fire Island this month to participate in their first Grove Invasion of the Pines and had so much fun that they hope to do it again next year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
June 17
Pizzeria's Frank Beautifies Grove Dock
Frank Pezzuto, owner of Grove Pizza and Sayville Pizza, has donated and will maintain hanging baskets of flowers that newly adorn the east side of the Cherry Grove dock.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
June 16
Effects of Violet Silver to Benefit Grove Garden Club
On June 16, friends of Bill "Violet" Silver, Grove publisher and artist, who passed away on May 26, held a deck sale of his paintings, drag, jewelry and other effects-mostly in purple, his favorite color-per his instructions, on the deck of Bottoms Up, home of Paul Jablonski. The sale benefited the Cherry Grove Garden Club, which Bill founded, as he had the Chelsea Garden Club in New York City, and proceeds will be used to create a memorial for him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
June 10
A Blessing on Your House
On June 10, Archbishop Harold Seeley and the Church Ladies revived the merry Cherry Grove tradition of the House Blessing, raising funds for Grove organizations. Late that afternoon, Seeley reported that the take for the day was likely to have reached or surpassed the previous record take of $2,500.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
June 10
PAWS Reports Funds Raised at Ice Palace Benefit
The Pines Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) raised $2,400 at its benefit show, "Cherry Grove Cares," at the Ice Palace on June 4, reported Valerie Perez, head of the organization in the Grove. Bob Dixon matched this with a further $2,400 donation to PAWS.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
June 10
Cherry's Celebrates Donna Bianco's Retirement from NYPD
Donna Bianco, new Cherry's co-owner, with partner Jacqué Piazza and David Sce, celebrated her retirement from New York's Police Department with a party at the bar on the harbor on June 10.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
June 9 & 16
Our Flags Are Proudly Flying
Rainbow flags lined the main streets of Sayville for the Out in Sayville celebration on June 9.
The following weekend, to mark Leather Pride weekend, the leather pride flag joined the American flag flying over Belvedere.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
June 9
Queen Lola Hosts Tea at the Tides
Voluptuous new Cherry Grove Homecoming Queen Lola Galore celebrated her nascent reign by presiding at Tea, upstairs on the deck of the Tides, on June 9. Her predecessor, Coco Love, was among those in attendance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
June 7
Celebrating BMG's Birthday at the Bistro
Joe Saporito took Bruce-Michael Gelbert to dinner at the Island Bistro, in the Pines, on June 7 to celebrate his birthday and Greg, their server, took their picture to preserve the memory of the occasion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
May 27
Henry Sterling's Oceanside Deck Sale Benefits PAWS
Henry Sterling held his 12th annual Memorial Day weekend benefit sale, on his deck on Greene Walk at the ocean, and the beneficiary this year was PAWS, the Pines Animal Welfare Society, which, Henry reported to FIQ News, will receive $2,900 as a result of the sale. Henry presided, Beau assisted, and PAWS' Cherry Grove coordinator, Valerie Perez, displayed photos of the strays for which PAWS is seeking loving homes. For the first ten years, Henry's popular sale benefited God's Love We Deliver and, last year, raised funds for the Cherry Grove Doctor's Fund.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
May 25
Pianist Jack Aaronson Presides at the Tides
Pianist Jack Aaronson presides over sing-alongs in the Cozy Bar at the Tides on Friday and Sunday evenings. He played and we sang Porter, Gershwin, Sondheim, Schwartz, Lerner and Loewe, and ABBA to contribute to the Memorial Day weekend festivities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
May 23
Hotel Hosts Season's First 'Bring Your Own Meat'
On May 23, with Chef Wendy, assisted by Lawrence, presiding at the grill, and Laura behind the bar, the Grove Hotel hosted its first Wednesday evening "Bring Your Own Meat" community dinner of the season.
With chicken tortilla soup and taco chips topped with melted cheese to accompany the cuts of meat people brought, there was an unofficial Mexican flavor to the proceedings and Grovites in attendance pronounced the event a success.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| |
a d v e r t i s i n g
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006 --------
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SEPTEMBER 17
 Gassy Winds Named Ms. Monster in Contest at the Tides
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SEPTEMBER 16
Cherry’s Celebrates Christmas
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SEPTEMBER 6
Grove’s Craig Hollywood Will Be New NY Emperor
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
AUGUST 19
The Empress Presides at a Royal Tea
Menendez Shows Photos & Parent Displays Paintings at BAL Gallery
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
AUGUST 13
Fire Department Hawks Hardy Pancake Breakfast to Raise Funds
Aurora Stone & Rae Lindsay Win Titles in Cherry’s Pageant
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
July 8
Rob & Roger Host First Tides Leather Tea
Philomena & Joan & Lorraine Mark Milestones
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
June 29
Maxson Scott & Where the Boys Are
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
June 25
Miss Grove Hotel
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
June 22
Aaron Tanner Hosts Season’s First “Boys” Party at Tides
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
June 17
Jumping Jack’s Thinks Pink
Donna Piranha Hosts High Tea at the Tides
Whyland Shows Photos of Flamboyant Figures at BAL Gallery
Fire Department Hosts Open House
Some Singing with Your Supper at Island Breeze
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
June 12
$$ Raised for Doctor’s Fund Reported
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
June 10
Queen Takes High Tea at the Tides
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
June 3
APCG & Queen Coco Welcome the Grove to the Flea Market
“Baby Cat” Makes Debut at Grove Book Party
Lois, Meryl & Randy Invite the Grove to a Gala Tides Opening
...........................................................
MAY 2006
May 31
A Meat Rack Crime Reported
A man told police that he was beaten and robbed when walking alone in the Meat Rack, the woods between Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines, just before dawn one morning during Memorial Day weekend, according to Suffolk County Police Officer Richard Bishop. Sources say the victim is a sometime resident of the Grove, new to Aeon Walk. Anti-gay crime of this sort was a fairly regular occurrence during the more closeted days of the 1950s and ‘60s but, fortunately, became increasingly rare after the Stonewall Rebellion and start of the modern Gay/Lesbian Liberation Movement in 1969. Grove residents have expressed sincere hope that this was an isolated incident and not the alarming beginning of a summer crime wave in our peaceful community.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
May 28
Barbara Ann Levy Gallery Returns at New Dock Location
Last season, Grovites bid farewell to Garden Grove’s Michael Guerette, who was to head out to explore parts unknown, and to Barbara Ann Levy and her art gallery at the Grove Hotel. But who can leave the Grove and stay away for long? Michael and his plants and flowers are, happily, back on Bayview and Barbara made a welcome return, for her gallery’s ninth season, in a new location on the Cherry Grove dock. The Barbara Ann Levy Gallery opened during Memorial Day weekend with a two-week show of paintings by John Mansueto and Sharon Way-Howard and erotica by the mysterious Virginia Trembles. Anticipated for the rest of the season are works by Ande Whyland (June 16-July 2), Mark Soppeland (July 7-23), BAAD: Arthur Aviles, Cassandra, Elizabeth “Macha” Marrero and Steven Menendez, at the Grove Hotel, and Giovanni diMola and Mike Fisher, at the gallery (July 28-August 13), Diane Quero and Jens O Billie (August 13-27), and Ladd Spiegel (September 1-24). The gallery is open on Fridays from 6-10 pm, Saturdays from 2-11 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
May 27
Grovites Hold Benefits
for Doctor’s Fund
On May 27, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, there were two major benefits for the Elmer Lindsay Doctor’s Fund, which ensures the presence of a doctor in the Grove; pays for the doctor’s residence, Belly Acres; and keeps the doctor’s office supplied with medical necessities.
Henry Sterling began his 11th annual huge, weekend-long deck sale, on Greene Walk at the ocean, which, for the past 10 years has benefited God’s Love We Deliver. Why the change of beneficiary? Henry said he felt that, after 10 years, he had done his part for God’s Love and that our Doctor’s Fund needed the funds. Henry’s sister, Janet Ashkenasy, came up from Coconut Creek, Florida, to assist with the sale.
| |
