Welcome summer parties kick off the season
June 18, 2008
There’s no place like Ocean City in the summer so it’s no
surprise there were lots of welcome summer parties as this
popular season got underway. When Jim and I arrived at Winnie
Piriano’s annual gathering at her Asbury Avenue townhouse, our
hostess and guests waved to us from her third floor deck while
they checked out the fabulous view. We opted to take the steps
to the third floor instead of the elevator so I was glad to sit
down and chat with Carla Heist, Portia Thompson and Sally Huff
on the sofa. Cindy Campione was on the run in her bright orange
sneakers and Bermuda shorts to match as she set out hors
d’oeuvres on the third floor, the Italian dinner on the second
floor and made sure everyone had something cold to drink.
Winnie’s daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Bryan Tochterman,
stepped up and lent Cindy a hand. Deborah and Anthony Guerriero
are busy at their three Ta Dah’s shops and Anthony looked sharp
as he stopped by the party before heading over to Atlantic City
to the casino to work. Joanne Budnick found time to bake one of
her famous apple pies for the party after spending the morning
at our neighborhood yard sale. Alice Wolf also joined us at the
sale where she had plenty of interest in her daughter’s Barbie
doll collection. Suzanne Matura has one of my favorite shops on
Asbury Avenue, La Bottine Boutique (high button shoes in
French). When everyone admired my Anne Klein Akhagan
white/natural leather weggie I introduced them to Suzanne and
pointed out her shop directly across the street. Although Susan
Sheppard-Faverzani, Frank Feverzani, Marlene Sheppard and Vince
Tisa arrived late, they quickly settled in on the deck to relax
and enjoy the view with Carol and Gus Bruno and Beverly and Ron
Denney.
Jim and I enjoyed meeting and getting acquainted with Andrea and
Bud Newdeck and Ellen and Jim Hagen who retired to Ocean City
and love our quiet little seashore town. Maryellen and Sal
Perillo stopped by after attending the yacht club’s opening
night. While everyone checked out Marion McCaughey’s patriotic
outfit, her husband, Ned, was outside in the car waiting to
drive home, but he’s used to waiting for Marion. We thanked out
hostess for a lovely evening as she visited with Joan and Dennis
Meyers, Susan and Fred Miller, Gail and Bob Blevin and Denise
and Gary Jessel.
Next stop was Susan and Fred Miller’s “Back to the Beach” open
house. Dan Flynn and brother, Bob, were leaving when Jim and I
arrived along with neighbors, Marie and Lew Pinto, and Dan and
Bob joked about finishing all the food so they left. Actually
they were taking their wives out to dinner. Fred and Susan were
at the top of the steps welcoming their guests when they arrived
and the party was in full swing as I passed Nancy and Harry
Delventhal, Barbara and Jerry Gheen and Annette Jackson as they
headed back to the sofa in the living room after filling their
platters at the buffet. Mickey and Bill Bender arrived early
this year as they didn’t want to miss getting their picture
taken. Joan Shaw sported one of the bracelets she makes and I
told her I had to have one. While Tom Mullineaux is busy running
the beach patrol, wife, Rae Jaffee, has been organizing the
flower show, heading up projects at the Bayside Center and
working at the Fine Arts League. I stopped to see Stu Sirott and
he poured me a cold soda then I chatted with Rita Doto and
Angelo Psaltis while sampling the buffet. Marge Loeper sported a
cute hat and husband, John, made sure I noted he was wearing
clean shorts. Bill Woods enjoyed the party while his wife,
daughters and granddaughter were in Atlantic City at Boardwalk
Hall to see Andre Riu. Lew Shupe sported a brace around his
waist as he recently had disk surgery. Joanne Budnick looked
great in a red and white polka dot jersey blouse and baked
another apple pie for this party. However it was this
columnist’s navy and white polka dot high heel shoes with open
toe accented with red patent leather trim that garnered the most
attention as all the ladies wanted a pair and Kathy Brooks and
Rose McShane said they reminded them of “Sex and the City.”
I stopped to congratulate John McShane on his retirement from
the OCBP as he wants to spend more time with 8-year-old son,
Matt, a future lifeguard of course. Michele Gillian was flying
solo as she left husband, Jay, at Wonderland on this busy
weekend. Michele, Sally Huff and I checked out the lifeguard
memorabilia that fill the Miller’s fabulous beach house with
spectacular view. Beverly Denney sported a Hawaiian print shirt
with wood buttons her grandmother brought home from a vacation
in Hawaii in 1960 and the shirt still looked new. Chuck Betson
enjoyed the party with his son, Matt, who is fluent in Chinese.
Paula Green assured me she would be at her brother, Bob Blevin’s
Roast. Carol Heenan looked great in a colorful jacket from one
or our favorite boutique’s, Cache. Carol and Eric Wakabayashi
took a break from their busy weekend schedule to stop by the
party. “Domino” Specca is looking forward to another summer on
the beach patrol and admitted he still does his Domino
demonstrations, but hasn’t had a gig on TV in a long time.
Sharon and Joe Grimes didn’t have to find a parking space at the
party as they just walked around the corner from their summer
home. Alice Wolf caught Marion McCaughey and this columnist
cutting icing from the great beach scene cake by Ward’s as we
didn’t want cake. As we bid farewell to Susan and Fred former
lifeguards, including champion rowers, Tom Oves and David Smith,
were still regaling everyone with stories from their days of
glory on the OCBP.
Our final stop was at Denise and Gary Jessel’s home where guests
were still enjoying the party, but when Peggy and Ed Howe and
Donna and Steve Ang left shortly after we arrived they said it
wasn’t a reflection on us. I waved to Patti and Norm Haas then
stopped to thank Keith Hartzell for giving me a ride back to the
office in his golf cart after the opening of the Haven Avenue
bike path. I enjoyed catching up with Sue and Tim Murphy and
when I spotted their daughter, Sam, I told Sue she looks just
like her. I caught Gail Blevin, Gail Ping, Joanne Budnick, Alice
Wolf and Marion McCaughey picking out their favorite Shriver’s
salt water taffy from the box and there were no molasses left
then I checked. Betty Ray, who helped Denise get ready for the
party, was busy cleaning up and washing dishes as the evening
wore on and I asked her to my next party. Jon Werley didn’t have
any trouble finding a parking spot as he rode his bike and was
glad he had a jacket as he prepared to bike home in the wind. My
husband and Ned McCaughey were sitting on the sofa watching a
NASCAR race but when they wanted to head home Marion and I got
ready to go, but only because we wanted to as we knew the Jessel
party would go on for hours.
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Cathy Finnegan (center) checks out the view on Winnie’s deck
with Marie Repici, Suzanne Matura, Debby Murphy and Art Ford.
Susan and Fred Miller (center) hold a Siesta Key
license plate with Siesta Key snowbird neighbors, Sal and Kitty Paone and Mickey and Bill Bender.
Bud and Marie Knight, Beverly and Ron Denney and
Maryellen and Sal Perillo relax at a welcome summer party.
Winnie Piriano (center) poses for a picture with her
girlfriends, Mary Ann Stover, Ellen Hagen, Andrea Newdeck,
Joanne Budnick, Kathy Geller, Portia Thompson, Kathy Balin and
Carla Heist, at her welcome summer party.
Gary and Denise Jessel pose for a picture at a welcome summer
party with Bob and Gail Blevin and Betty Ray.
Caryl and Lew Shupe, Cindy Campinoe and Paula and Bryan
Tochterman enjoy the view at a welcome summer party
Jack and Kathy Brooks, David and Lynn Smith and Ann and Vince Hink enjoy a
welcome summer party.
Gail and Scott Ping, Melissa and Tony Wilson, Keith Hartzell and
Arlene Stryker get together at a welcome summer party.
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