with Cathy Finnegan

First Night volunteers honored
It was a night for celebration when volunteers for the 15th annual First Night gathered at the Greate Bay Country Club for dinner. I chatted with John Hansen as we walked into the club after parking our cars. I caught up with Jane and Scott Halliday as we checked our coats and Jane told me about the great time the entire Halliday clan had skiing in Utah over the holidays. I bent Scott Ping’s ear on the proposed ordinance to ban feeding seagulls. Sharon and Les Carestio rocked the night away with The Drifters on the Music Pier, their First Night venue. Sharon is busy working on the author’s luncheon to be held in October at The Flanders and hopes to be announcing a big name speaker for the library luncheon soon. Sue Baker and Joyce Trofa relaxed in the lounge and while Sue was site manager at the civic center she recruited Joyce to help with crowd control and dubbed themselves “good cop, bad cop.” Nancy and Dick Waddell were site managers at the primary school their 11th year working First Night and joked about being known around town as the “greyhound people.” Edwina and Roy Wagner told me they worked First Night at the high school when I stopped to admire Edwina’s navy velveteen pantsuit accented with a white lace jabot.
Ed Wood, Melissa Heisler and Walt Hohman traveled to all sites during First Night to make sure everything running smooth. Marlyn Lilley, Janet Cerruti, Frances Keenan and Jean Hirst love working First Night and jumped at the chance to have their picture taken with Ken Cooper, who has worked all 15 First Nights. John Walton was surprised when he got the Finnegan Christmas card as he took the picture at St. Peter’s 125th anniversary gala. Carol Walton is taking her husband to Miami to celebrate his 50th birthday. Meanwhile John told me to mark my calendar for the Ocean City Art League’s fourth Annual Irish night March 9. I enjoyed meeting Diana Rotella, Atlantic County deputy administrator. I guess it runs in the family as husband Jim is our new business administrator. It was Mary Ann and Mike Figura’s initial First Night and they enjoyed magicians, jugglers and comedians in the cafeteria. I spotted Jane French enjoying the social hour with Toby and Mark Soifer, Becky and Dick Stanislaw and Ted Pryor. Joann and Joe DelVescio sported great tans as they just returned from a vacation at Disney World. J.T. Williams pulled double duty at First Night serving as site manager at St. John’s and emcee at the Music Pier.
Myra and Jerry Corcoran called this columnist the “snow queen” referring to my white slacks and boots and pink snowflake sweater with white fox cuffs. Kathleen Plousis hates to have her picture taken so I was surprised when she agreed to join a group of “heavy hitters” Friday night. I stopped to chat with Edith Little and admire her pretty necklace on the way to my table for dinner. Tanya Brown worked at St. Peter’s this year and told me it was her fifth First Night, while Iris Nesbitt, who worked at the intermediate school, brought her 10-year-old son, Noir Chavarria, to dinner. The Wonderland crew filled two tables and lined up for a picture before dinner. Melissa Carr and Karen Sack processed First Night orders while Steve Schmidt headed up security. Alina Mullagalieva enjoyed appearing as “Wonder Bear” at First Night while Joe Femane and Vinnie Martinez were in charge of cleanup and their co-workers nicknamed them the “trash guys.” Wayne Seddon got the Ocean City Sandals ready for First Night with New Year’s Eve party hats. Ashley Gillian missed First Night as she was in Florida. Dave Baruso said he supported Ann Landolfi in all her endeavors. Thanks to John Kavchok who gave me everyone’s name in the picture.
Michele and Jay Gillian head up First Night and coordinated the dinner. While Jay served as emcee, Michele took care of dinner and seating arrangements. Andrew Hink entertained at the piano keyboard. I enjoyed dinner chatting with John Waters, Ted Born, Christine and John Russo, Sue Baker, Joyce Trofa and Sally Huff. Mark Videtto of Spinning Wheel Florist donated the beautiful bright colored rose centerpieces on each table. Thanks to Sally who helped coordinate pictures for my column and provided tidbits throughout dinner that was served by our efficient waitress, Eileen King. Christine compiled the ad book for First Night and she and husband John were site managers for the inflatables at the civic center. John and Ted were police officers in Falls Township, Pa. Since retiring and moving to Ocean City, Ted enjoys the beach with his three children and four grandchildren and John, who has five children and eight grandchildren, enjoys the Boardwalk with his 21-month-old great granddaughter. Ted hosts an annual “soup de shore” dinner each fall. Christine and John ducked out early to pick up their kids and drive to the Pocono’s for a ski weekend. I caught up with Chris Maloney and Keith Hartzell talking about the successful soul food meal held at the high school after the MLK program. Carol and Gus Bruno have been busy coordinating a trip to Malta, an island in the Mediterranean, south of Sicily. Sal and Mary Ellen Perillo enjoyed chatting with the volunteers and thanked them for their support.
After dinner, everyone enjoyed a First Night video made by Steven Trauger then Jay Gillian thanked the over 110 volunteers who help make First Night the success it is. Then Jay called up First Night sponsors and board members, Dick Stanislaw, Mark Soifer, Jim Rutela, Bill McMahon, Cathy Taylor, Mike Dattilo, Chris Maloney, Myra Corcoran and Steve Brady, while Michele Gillian and Jean Jacobson presented them with crystal candy dishes filled with jelly beans while Carol and Don Kravitz took pictures. Bette Hink was honored for her 15th years of service. First Night checks for $1,000 each were presented to Bill Elliott for The Hero Foundation; Ed Wood who travels to Mississippi to rebuild houses with the Seaville Methodist Church; Linda McIntyre and Debbie Buckley for Waves of Caring; Jim Rutela for the Ocean City Recreation Trust Fund, Maria Caiafa for Father Kennedy’s orphanage; Gail Ping for the After Prom and Myra Corcoran for Cystic Fibrosis. Two $500 checks were presented to Cathy Taylor and Maria Caiafa for drama and history club scholarships. Lastly, Jay presented Jean Jacobson and his wife, Michele, each with a dozen red roses for all their hard work on First Night. Each Volunteer received a maroon Airflyte pen with “First Night 2007” engraved in gold from Schoppy’s. The 2007 First Day at the Beach long sleeve T-shirts were also available to volunteers who wanted one.