Grovettes Cruise to Yet Another Victory
Volume 49, Issue 9
By Mike Lavers

The competition was fierce in Cherry Grove on August 3 as the Grovettes went head to head against the Copettes, better known as the Suffolk County Police Department Marine Patrol (SCPDMP), on the Tides volleyball court.

The 21st annual Cherry Bowl combined a sudden blackout with 96 degree heat and a blazing sun, which made for arguably some of the most difficult conditions to ever hit this storied, yet campy event. But these were mere after thoughts as the hometown favorite cruised to victory in three games. And Fran “The Man” Reinhardt was quick to join her teammates in a bit of friendly trash talking against the defeated Copettes as they celebrated their hard-fought victory.

“The Grove wins five years in a row,” she proudly proclaimed during an after-party at the Ice Palace. “We’re making six next year.”

Rich Sneider of the SCPDMP countered Reinhardt with some jive of his own as he began to lay the groundwork for next year’s match-up.

“We will come back bigger and better next year,” Sneider said.

More than 500 people from both sides of the bay gathered courtside to witness this battle royal that surely puts many other famed sports outings to shame. They were joined by Arts Project of Cherry Grove President Wendy Lewis, Ariel Sinclair and a very voluptuous Gusty Winds who cheered the Grovettes on from the sidelines with their variety of cheers that included “Cops are good, cops are brave but even they can’t do a save,” “We’re hot, we’re hot, we’re lobsters in a pot,” and another that The News unfortunately cannot print due to its ongoing effort to satisfy the Federal Communications Commission and uphold the highest community and vulgarity standards as possible.

Water boy Jack of Jumping Jacks Seafood Shack joined reigning Homecoming Queen Ivanna Cocktail, Porsche and Cherry Tart Rose Levine in supporting the Grovettes alongside Sal Piro of the Ice Palace. And while Grovette supporters seemed to outnumber Copette supporters, there were still those among the crowd who were all too eager to side with the boys and girls in blue.

“The cops have to win,” Ann Gilmour of Lindenhurst said shortly before the game began. “They are the good guys—they take care of us.”

Even Cherry Grove Community Association President Roland Michely sided with the SCPDMP as he donned a white and blue t-shirt that expressed his support for the opposing team.

“I guess they need some support,” he confided to The News in passing.

In the end, however, it was perhaps Cocktail who captured the essence of the Cherry Bowl best as she stood on the sidelines alongside Levine and Piro.

“Cherry Grove can bring any group of people to our community and have fun,” she said