All-Star Experience
Gala raises money and awareness for colon cancer research
STORY AND PHOTOS
BY STEPHEN VRATTOS
North Shore Towers residents
taking a surreptitious peek
into Towers on the Green
the evening of Thursday, November
30, may have found themselves suffering
a bout of dejà vu, recollecting
the wonder from their first viewing
of the catering hall’s dramatic transformation
last spring. The co-op’s
signature space for celebrations had
seemingly undergone another even
more stunning metamorphosis.
Gone were the large dining
tables, the open space dotted with
small cocktail tables, tightly draped
from top to floor in white, tapered
midway as if to emulate the torso
of a perfect 10 model, and accompanied
with a pair of white bar
stools. Atop each, tall rustic lanterns
glowed with flickering blue
LCD candles, the vintage styling
belying the modern illumination
therein and stark nouveau design
of the tableau. Four lounge areas
of ivory sofas and matching ottomans,
fronted by phosphorescent
purple-blue cubes, sat at either side
of the pillars, bordering the dance
circle. Both pillars and floor were
lighted in soft white, accented with
glowing cobalt blue, reflecting the
circle of light and corona above and
lines of radiant blue edging the ceiling
throughout the hall. The whole
effect was transfixing, elegant and
inviting, and ideally suited to the
blue-and-white motif of the Colon
Cancer Foundation (CCF), the reason
2018
January for the night’s festivities.
This was the first such high-powered
fundraiser for the Foundation,
¢which provides community outreach
COURIER at street fairs and other
public events throughout the year,
spreading its message and mission
of “a world without colo-rectal
TOWERS cancer.” As such, hosts Buffy and
Angelo pulled out all the stops, not
only in the care and attention to
the dramatic design of the space,
SHORE but also the food and drink. Along
with its well-stocked open bar and
whiskey-tasting station, a special
NORTH cocktail tinted in the Foundation’s
signature blue, was concocted, the
tasty refreshment a combination
10 of vodka, Blue Curacao and lime
Featured artist Bobbi Terzi and the Bill Titus Trio juice, served in martini glasses.
Chef Fortis presented a delicious
selection of passed appetizers and
buffet, featuring smoked salmon,
freshly carved turkey with gravy,
keftedes (Greek meatballs) and rice
pilaf, as well as a dessert table too
pretty to eat from… almost!
Attendees also had the opportunity
to hobnob with New York
sports legend, Sean Landeta, 2-time
Superbowl champion punter for the
Giants, and Knicks 1998 first-round
draft choice, Forward John Wallace.
Not one, not two, but three local
pageant queens graced the gala:
Miss Hudson Valley, Dana Wachter;
Miss Long Island, Briana Siaca;
and Miss Teen Long Island, Alexa
Cox. The Bill Titus trio, featuring
chanteuse Bobbi Terzi, enlivened
the space with jazzy renditions of
American Standards. Local radio
personality Candice Johnson filmed
interviews with both celebs and
such event VIPs
as CCF Founder
and President Dr.
Thomas K. Weber
for her popular
program, “I Must
Say.” And thousands
of dollars’
worth of prizes
were up for grabs
during the raffle
at the end of the
evening.
But the main reason for the evening
was raising money to help the
Colon Cancer Foundation’s efforts
in spreading awareness about the
importance of getting colon cancer
screenings. Foundation Board
Director and colo-rectal cancer
survivor Alan Murphy spoke of his
fight with stage 3 cancer. Murphy is
shockingly only 29-years-old, proof
age is not a factor in falling prey
to the disease, strengthening the
Foundation’s message of not waiting
until you’re 50 before having
your first colonoscopy.
Now in her 30s, special guest
Christina McClellan confessed
at still suffering emotional breakdowns,
especially during the holidays,
following the loss of her mom
to colon cancer when McClellan
was just 18. More heartbreaking is
the fact her mother’s reason for not
getting checked was because she
didn’t want to be inconvenienced
by the prep work the night before
the test. “If you do nothing else after
you leave, ask someone you know
if they’ve had a colonoscopy.”
All-Stars (l. to r.) Legendary New York Giants punter Sean Landeta,
Miss Hudson Valley Dana Wachter, Colon Cancer Foundation Founder
and President Dr. Thomas K. Weber, former New York Knicks Forward
John Wallace, Miss Teen Long Island Alexa Cox and Miss Long Island
Briana Siaca
Beautifully ethereal Towers is ready for the big night
XL Media's Candice Johnson interviews CCF
Founder and President Dr. Thoma K. Weber for her
radio show “I Must Say”