10 North Shore Towers Courier n March 2016 Hit the Deck! BY STEPHEN VRATTOS // PHOTOS BY JULIE WEISSMAN AND MARY ANNE LANGONE After weeks of unseasonably tepid temperatures, Mother Nature knocked New York City upside the head with a brutal reminder that winter was alive and not merely well, but thriving. In what resulted in the second worst storm in Gotham’s history—at least since statistics started being recorded—what would soon be known as the Blizzard of 2016 struck, dropping nearly 30 inches in certain areas, an impressive 21+ in Floral Park alone. Though pessimists kvetched, others regarded the weather walloping as the perfect opportunity for revelry. In the case of the big bash scheduled in the Country Club’s VIP Room, which was on the cusp of cancelation mere days prior, it was a godsend. In order for the Country Club to greenlight an event, on which tickets sales are dependent, a minimum amount of attendees is needed in order to defray the cost of refreshments, open bar, DJ (or band), staff, decorations and other miscellaneous expenses. If the threshold is not reached by a particular date— determined by such factors as the return policy of the entertainment—the to-do is canceled and the money collected is returned. As the deadline for the January 23 bash approached, sales were anemic and it appeared as if Country Club Manager Mary Anne Langone would be forced to put the kibosh on the festivities. This was still more than a week out from the scheduled date and the merest hint of a historic storm was nowhere to be seen on any meteorological maps. “Ticket sales were sluggish,” said Board Member and Gap (Gym/Aerobics/ Pool) Chairperson, Phyllis Goldstein, revealed. “It didn’t look promising.” So Goldstein and Linda Rappaport, of Greenthal Property Sales, “hit the phones,” cajoling residents and building up the virtues of a party in the depths of the season to help alleviate the winter doldrums. By Wednesday, January 20, Goldstein and Rappaport had succeeded in selling 54 tickets, enough to overcome the minimums. The party was on! It was soon thereafter that reports of a possible impending blizzard starting hitting the airwaves. As the predictions of the magnitude of the storm grew, so did residents’ interest in the party. In no time, the affair was sold out. “The party was a phenomenal success,” Goldstein said. “More than 120 people attended. People were turned away at the door!” But it wasn’t just the efforts of Goldstein and Rappaport that made the “Party of 2016” a success. As with every event that takes place at the Country Club, Manager Langone and her hardworking staff are instrumental in its happening. And this affair was no exception. When the original DJ, who lives in Port Washington, was forced to cancel due to the storm, Langone secured a replacement. She and her staff blew up countless balloons and beautifully decorated the room—as they do for every event—and the inclusion of Zumba Instructor Vicke, who provided so much fun, leading the crowds on the dance floor, was in no small part Langone’s brainchild. Goldstein hopes the positive outcome of the party leads to future successes without the hassle or an Act of God. “God was good to us,” she said. “He made people come.” Country Club Manager Mary Anne busts a move Snow…? What snow?! SNOWBOUNDOh, the weather outside was frightful… But the party was so delightful! Raise the roof! Everybody on the floor
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