A Pleasant Valley Evening for Crickets, Critters, and Cocktails

Samara DiMouro reports from Lenox.Mother Nature served up a perfect evening of sunny, then starry, skies on Saturday, July 21, for the annual Crickets, Critters, and Cocktails  benefit for Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. Nature-loving guests enjoyed each other's company along with food and wine, live music by Benny “Fingers” Kohn Jazz Genius Band, a silent auction to support the sanctuary and its local school outreach programs, and—after sunset—a bonfire, heated up by the samba sounds of the Berkshire Bateria, to end the night. Auction items included donations from local artists, restaurants, theaters, and more. Now in its fourth year, Pleasant Valley’s annual summer benefit has captured some attention, including that of Mass Audubon’s president, Laura Johnson, who made a special guest appearance. Co-chairs of the event Alan Bauman and Mary Garnish (left), noting that a record number of tickets were sold for this year's event, marveled at the evening's success and claim that next year’s benefit will be even more spectacular.

Bill Reichert, Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary property manager Janice Cullen, and Robert Wincuinas; Ingrid and Eric Johnson.

Brenda and Jeff Noble; Heather Biernacki and Avery.

Brian Majewski and The Clark's  Sally Majewski with Jeff Hiltpold, Berkshire Museum's Laurie Werner, and Jan Werner; Rick Costello, Allen Hamlin, and Stacy McCann.

Guests enjoy music from the Benny "Fingers Kohn" Jazz Genius Band.

David Lotto, Norah Walsh, Alyce Kaplan, and Kathy Gideon; Mass Audubon regional director Gail Yeo, vice president Nora Frank, president Laura Johnson, and Pleasant Valley Sanctuary director Rene Laubach.

Co-chair Mary Garnish;  Suky Werman with Nancy Kalodner.

Rick Costello with Evangela Terpak; Tom Kiely with Lori Gazzillo of Berkshire Bank.

Guest bid on artwork, theater tickets, excuriosns, care packages, and more in the silent auction.