Amy Krzanik reports from Hancock. This year’s Dancing for the Strays fundraiser for the Berkshire Humane Society and its Purradise Cat Adoption Center was held at the bucolic Hancock Shaker Village on Saturday, July 20. Cocktails on the grounds led to dinner by Savory Harvest Catering outside under the tent, as cows grazed in the lush surrounding fields. A live auction with Joe Finnegan followed and much money was raised for our animal friends, which is not surprising, what with giveaways such as Montauk vacations and African photo safaris up for grabs. And then, as the benefit’s name would suggest, dancing! Berkshire Pulse drummers and dancers, under the tutelage of Kim Waterman and Joanne Delcarpine, entertained the crowd before dessert. After pie and ice cream, Tuan Nguyen and his New Hotness Hip Hop Dancers really got the party started and the crowd on its feet to boogie the night away to WSBS DJ Jesse Stewart’s beats. Proceeds from the night benefit Humane Society programs such as its new “Safe Pet Room" to temporarily house animals whose owners need emergency stays at shelters or hospitals, “Humane Education" which provides camp scholarships and presentations for local children, and the “Pet Food Bank" that supplies pet food for needy families who would otherwise have to give up their animals. (Pictured: Brian Cabral, Board Member Alix Cabral, and the night's auctioneer Joe Finnegan.)
Board Members Richard Waldburger and Marsha Weiner with Richard Holzman; Marlene and Dennis Ambrose.
Executive Director John Perreault, Manuel Santelices, Vice President and Party Chairman Leslie Weil, and David Ashen.
Event Board Member Sue Connell with Ed and Marsha Weiner; Board Treasurer Pat Sinclair and Dr. Terry Sinclair.
Daniel Cole and Donna Zsofka; (Back) Tracy Hoelter and Alexandra Heddinger, (Front) Purradise Manager Danielle Hammel and Staff Admin. Assistant Diane Briggs.
Berkshire Pulse Dancers; Joane Cornell and Berkshire Humane Society President Cindy Bartlett.
Sheila Labarbera, Bob and MJ Massetti, and Sherrie Cardillo; Board Members Chris Nerrie and Pat Sinclair.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
