Lisa Green reports from Pine Plains.A tent nearly rivaling the size of Hammertown Barn in Pine Plains was just spacious enough to accommodate the tables and displays of auction items at the venerable shop’s 7th annual Shop for a Cause Event on Saturday, September 22. The fundraiser was co-hosted by Hammertown Barn’s Joan Osofsky (left, flanked by Sally Berg and Jennifer Dowley), and the Northeast Dutchess Fund and the Fund for Columbia County, two funds of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Guests sampled fare from area restaurants and scrutinized the auction offerings, which included VIP tickets to The Colbert Report, private museum tours, Sunday dinner for 12 at The Farmer’s Wife; and a one-week stay at a villa in southwest France. Master of ceremonies Gordon Elliott of ABC’s The Chew conducted a lively and laugh-inducing auction; winning bids benefited the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program.
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation'sHeidi Reineke-Kelsey, Brian Thayer and Emily Bronson; Mark Strausman of Agriturismo and his son, David Strausman, serve pâté.
John Eboli and Taryn Cocheo of No. 9 in Millerton; Jon Oltz from Red Devon.
Joyce Lapenn of the Fund for Columbia County encourages guests to purchase "buy now" lots; Michel Jean, who donated a dinner for eight at his restaurant, Stissing House, as an auction item.
Kelley Jefferson, chef/owner of Pine Plains Platter, a new eatery in town, with sous chef Vanessa Coletti; Shop and Graze volunteers Palmer Irving and Amy Gold.
Ian Jarvis and designer Lisa Jarvis, who donated a table of her own design to the auction offerings; voiceover artist Debbie Irwin, and Kendra Simes.
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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
