Author’s luncheon is a page turner
Written by Cathy Finnegan Monday, 31 October 2011 13:41
The sun was shining bright when over 300 guests arrived at the Flanders for the Annual Fall Author’s Luncheon presented by the Ocean City Free Public Library Board of Trustees and Friends and Volunteers. I stopped to chat with Evie Bachich who was sitting on a bench enjoying the beautiful day at the entrance to the Flanders waiting to welcome acclaimed writer and featured speaker Carol Higgins Clark. The lobby was filled with early arrivals as Al Crescenzo was stationed at the steps till 11:30 when everyone was allowed upstairs. Fran Thornton, Jean Quaranta, Joan Ricketts, Dottie McLaughlin and Rita D’Androsio, all members of the American Italian Club, are looking forward to the upcoming Road Rally. Fran, Joan and Rita are headed for Naples, Fla. in January. Dottie loves all the social activities in Ocean City having moved here 13 years ago from Chadds Ford. I joked with luncheon chair Sandy Crescenzo about recruiting her husband again this year after giving him a year off. Sandy is looking forward to a much needed vacation after the luncheon as she and Al are going to visit the pyramids in Egypt. I chatted with Irene Rice as we headed upstairs to the luncheon and I stopped to chat with Carolyn Lothian who was entertaining at the grand piano and Sandy Crescenzo even broke into song while I was standing there. Pat O’Connor welcomed guests and tore tickets in half for door prizes. Barbara Riggione was stationed by the entrance to the dining room taking pictures for the library while Elaine Novello and Barbara Weber directed guests to their respective tables that looked festive with bright color mum centerpieces and yellow, orange and light red napkins.
I found my table next to the stage and podium and where Tracie Discoll was sitting. Tracie just returned from the Napa Valley and is headed for Palm Springs and Denver next week. Joan Wismer waited for her friends to arrive and told me her husband Ed has been laid up at home since the end of July. Sallie Eachus and her husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a dinner party at Tomato’s in Margate and this weekend are headed to New York City to see “Jersey Boys” on Broadway. Mayor Jay Gillian stopped by to say hello to everyone before rushing off to pick up his son who was getting out of school early. However, city business administrator Mike Dattilo showed later and stayed for the luncheon. Fred Marcell sported a great Snoopy tie with pumpkins and Fred admitted he had lots of ties celebrating all holidays. Delores Dengler-Vitas is delighted to be a new Ocean City Pops Trustee and also serves on Shore Medical Center’s Women’s Auxiliary Board. Madell Scheible drove down from Philadelphia for the luncheon. Nancy Larraabee serves on the library board and is also an avid bird watcher and admitted if she wasn’t at the luncheon would be in Cape May birding. President of Friends of the Library, Rose Marie Ricci, welcomed everyone to the luncheon then Board of Trustees president Ed Price introduced board members. When Ed forgot the invocation he quickly asked former mayor Bud Knight to give the blessing. I enjoyed lunch chatting with Sandy Stango, Gail Damone, Elaine Novello, Gerri Cusato, Mary Lee Shanahan and Nicollette Mirra. After 40 years Sandy is enjoying her retirement from the Philadelphia school district. What a coincidence, Vince Stango and Joe Novello were neighbors growing up in Philadelphia and now are neighbors in Ocean City. Although Gail will be in Naples, Fla. for part of the winter she promised to bring Ocean City in her heart. Elaine admitted participating in the Author’s Luncheon is one of her favorite activities while Mary Lee loves working in the children’s department of the library. Nicollette is looking forward to becoming a great grandmother for the first time when Edward III arrives.
Rita and John Stauffer just got back from Mackinac Island and enjoyed the luncheon with Rita’s mom, Norma Lusch. Dana Sheppard loves oil painting and has already sold several of her sunrise and sunsets offerings. Sue Jones and her husband celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Spain and Italy. Marie and Bud Knight, who flipped his tie over his shoulder during lunch, are headed for St. Michaels next week and will spend the winter in Florida. Paula North toured Paris and Normandy on a recent river cruise. Margie Balotsky and Carol Heenan enjoyed the luncheon with girls from their morning workout class, Helen Amnon, Cathy Herron, Maryann Jones, Joan Judge and Fran Sritch. Karen Bergman has here eye on an orange and black Mini Cooper and is trying to make a deal with Harry Klause but her husband Steve is trying to talk her out of it. Members of Holy Trinity Church, Dottie Cianci, Jean Robinson, Grace Wagner, Gwen Pieklo, Dot Johnson, Jean Simpkins, Jean Ruckman, Carla Heist, Ginny Coco and Pat Angarano had a table on the other side of the stage. These ladies are busy getting ready for Holy Trinity’s Holiday Fair. Dot is in charge of the plant room while Jean Simpkins is in charge of the jewelry table along with Ginny and Pat. Jean Ruckman runs the bake table and Dottie takes care of the something old room. Carla just returned from visiting Cinda and Jack Hathaway at their summer home in Camden, Maine. Gwen just joined the choir and sings tenor and loves it. Grace is the president of the Master Gardeners of Atlantic County. Jean Robinson is headed for Rehobath Beach with her golf buddies. Sally Condon, Theresa Montferrat, Eileen Kennedy, Marty Crowell, Peg Heller and Peg Kendrick are all members at St. Francis Cabrini and enjoy playing Mahjongg, their weekly Bible study and read and review a book every month. Colleen Forte, a retired interior designer who also worked in public relations at the gas company, is now enjoying her six grandchildren. Billie Lewis has twin grandsons and now has twin great granddaughters who were born in September.
I hurried back to my table when Carol Higgins Clark stood at the podium. This vivacious lady grew up in Washington Township and is the daughter of best selling suspense writer, Mary Higgins Clark. In Carol’s younger days before computers she typed up her mother’s notes for several books and was hooked on being a writer. Carol’s latest book “Mobbed” was published last April and is her 14th Regan Reilly mystery. Carol had everyone laughing with her funny stories and easygoing style. Before heading back home Carol posed for pictures and signed books for her fans. Katherine Pileggi almost didn’t get her door prize when she was late coming up to the podium to pick it up. Gail Damone won the Mums on our table as her birthday, July 25 was closest to Carol Higgins Clark’s. I enjoyed chatting with Ruthann Firmani and Marlene Sheppard on the way to the parking lot and stopped to say hello to Joan Luongo who was backing out of her parking space. Among the guests at the luncheon were: Marge McGuckin, Joan Andrews, Jean Jacobson, Sylva Bertini, Dolores Wilson, Phoebe Lindacher, Peggy Lloyd, Dot Turner, Mary Benson, Rita and Fred Donatucci, Nancy Waddell, Angel Smith and Lynn Brock.
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