The Grove Gang
Volume 48, Issue 6
By Linda Dickerman
HAPPENINGS
Did you get to Bella’s show? It was wonderful as usual. Her guests were Charity, Viva Sexx, Mandy, Angel A Mercy, and believe it or not, our own Free Ta Choose came back to the stage to do her wonderful Bette Midler. She was welcomed with a standing ovation for her return. What a night. Bella was accepting proposals for the Italian Wedding she has planned for her August show. Who will the lucky person be? Barbara and I proposed as a pair, as did Lynne Tunderman, but Bella was keeping a secret as to who will be the lucky bridegroom(s). We will all have to go to the wedding to find out who it will be.
Hot Dog Night at Top of The Bay on Tuesday was a success. Sophisticated Rose Levine served hot dogs eloquently. She was wearing blond locks pulled back in a very sedate bun, a strapless daytime cocktail dress, knee length, and it was all complemented by a black shawl and black silk shoes.
Comedy night at the Community House was well worth seeing. Our own local comics made it fun for all. Panzi opened the show, followed by Sal Piro, Tall Paul, Susan and Ruth Freedner, Amelia, David Bullock and Philomena. It ended, of course, by Rose Levine accompanied by Dan Lanning. The house was packed, everybody had a good time, and all would like to see it as a yearly occurrence.
The Pancake breakfast was great as usual. The money goes to our great fire department, so it is well worth it to go and have pancakes and support them as they support us. Besides, they make an excellent breakfast.
Have you seen the new business in town? It’s called CYA Bottom of The Sea. I know the one thing we needed in Cherry Grove is a place to buy T shirts, and now we have it. It’s right next to the Hardware store, and you can see their wares on display. I stopped in and spoke to Ralph, who said he will be here all season.
DOCTOR’S
The Doctor’s Open House was a success. Thank you to all the businesses that contributed their wares, and thank you to our community people who so generously donated money to help keep a doctor in residence for almost the entire summer. Remember, it’s not too late to make a donation.
CARNIVAL
The Carnival at the Ice Palace was a hit. I was disappointed that I was not able to dunk Isaac in the water. Barbara came close, but not close enough to dunk him either. I had a wonderful time. Although at one time carnivals were brought to the Grove, it is something that hasn’t been done for a long time, and it was entirely different than some of the things (like porn) that some of the other business do.
TIDBITS
Wow, Mother’s is finally opened. I’ve tried it, how about you?
Did you know that Sheila sweeps the dock when no ferries are in? Thanks Sheila, you’re a gem.
Happy Birthday to: Francine Sardone, Cathy Ekdahl, Barbara Hirsch, and Eddie Westfall.
Best wished to Rae DiStefano. I hear she was sighted in Cherry Grove this past weekend.
Congratulations are in order for Sharon and Wendy on their wedding. It was a small family affair with Rabbi Hara Person from the Pines officiating.
Sally Ann and Amy are celebrating their first anniversary, and Billie Ann and John their third. Congratulations to all of you, and I hope there are many more.
It was nice to see Rodney Giles back after an illness. He has been in Florida and is here for the week, but he will be back for a month in August.
What Grove photographer, right after seeing her partner off to Florida for a week, was seen holding hands with Mandy as they boarded the ferry? Then, when it was least expected she was seen at Comedy Night sitting on Lynne T’s lap. You know how people will talk, but not me. I just put it down on paper and let you draw your own conclusions…
Have you noticed: the wagon rack on the east side is a disgusting mess? It’s falling apart and is in general disrepair. The oversized wagons are inter-dispersed with the little red wagons causing a tangled mess. There are also old rusted wagons that have been abandoned by their owners to rust and decay and take up valuable space. Last week when I went to remove my wagon, I had to remove cups, cigarettes, and assorted items before I could use my wagon as a wagon and not a cocktail table.
While I’m at it, for all you dog owners, please pick up after your dogs. I know most people do, but the few who don’t make it uncomfortable for the rest of us.
PIRACY?
We have Piracy on the high seas in Cherry Grove. Summer Kamp’s owner, Pete Setser is living at Above and Beyond, and had his boat stolen last weekend. He says he had it tied up with a square knot that couldn’t come loose by itself. It is an inflatable with a 10 HP motor, has a yellow lightning bolt on the side and it says Tropic on it. If you see it be sure to let him know.
UPCOMING EVENTS
There will be a benefit for Saja Lee on August 1 at the Ice Palace, with the proceeds going to VNS Hospice Care. These people were a great comfort to Saja and Marge in Saja’s last days. Please come to support this wonderful organization.
The Arts Project official Cherry Grove Archives for 2004 is scheduled to have a show on Saturday, August 7 12:00 noon, to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, August 8 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It will be at the Community House and it is open to everybody who would like to see it. Harold Seeley reported that a special gift from Jocques Coulmb would be featured this year. There will be a collection of photos from the 1972 Ball. Other gifts that were also given to the Archives were from: Violet Silver, Richard Albano, Henry Sterling, and James P. Hughes. Harold thought it was the biggest weekend ever when he was asked by Dick and Buddy to stop at the Golden Griffen for some posters, and he received two mint condition posters from “Little Mary Sunshine.” This is the community archive, and Harold is doing a wonderful job in collecting and keeping the material for us to enjoy and be nostalgic about. He asks for everybody to keep the material coming in to the collection.
Bill LaMonica’s Royal Review will be on August 29, so keep the date open.
There was a problem last week with the Grove Gang Column, so Bruce Michael asked that I insert this interview that he had about the Doctor’s Benefit:
On July 17, come to the eighth annual Doctor’s Fund benefit, the second at the Community House, cosponsored by APCG. Conceived and directed by Donald Labohn and produced by Meryl Facterman and Lois McIntosh, it is entitled “Broadway Bombshells” and a riotous evening for a good cause is guaranteed. Expect “twisted tributes,” Labohn told Fire Island News, to such legends as Mary Martin, Gypsy Rose Lee, Fanny Brice, Angela Lansbury, Jerry Herman, and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s leading men. Sketches will also take wry looks at stage fright, a long-reigning diva’s secret of success, and the theater audience. The Shapiro Sisters, Donna Piranha and Roger Cortez, Fluffy, Urban Sprawl, Charity, Cobra, Bobbi Green and Doreen Rallo, Bobbi Ferri, Dan Daly, Luisa Verde and Gary Greene, Joan Van Ness, Joann Tavis, and newcomer Ann Phetamine will star. After six years of squeezing production numbers onto the postage stamp-sized playing area of Cherry’s, Labohn pronounced himself “spoiled” by the use of the proscenium stage of the Community House and added, “It’s wonderful that the Arts Project has people like Matt [Baney] and his crew” on lights and sound. Proceeds from the benefit will help to bring the examining room at Belly Acres up to current professional standards.
Till next time… |
