New Year’s party wraps up the holidays

Last Updated on Friday, 06 January 2012 14:54 Written by Cathy Finnegan Friday, 06 January 2012 14:34

Everything was merry and bright when members of the Republican Club arrived at John Barretta’s new restaurant Nonna’s Trattoria & Pizzeria at 755 Asbury Ave. for their Christmas party. Mary Ann Nespoli sported a Santa hat as she greeted members at the door. JT Williams never tires of portraying the jolly gent in the red and white suit and had ladies lined up to sit on his lap. Mary Ann and John Barretta and daughters Giovanna and Rose set out the buffet while Frank McCall welcomed everyone and introduced freeholder-elect Christine Gabor. John’s granddaughter, Marina Salugta, lent a hand. Marina is in fourth grade and loves to play volleyball. I chatted with Sallie and Al Eachus and Judy Kolea while filling our plates with the Italian buffet. When I admired Sallie’s black sweater with bright colored Christmas packages, she told me she got it at Pappagallo quite a while ago.

Judy just finished baking all her Christmas cookies in time for the big day. Betty Brady is looking forward to spending the month of February in Florida. Shirley Baker, who volunteers at the Baptist Church and has lived year round in Ocean City for 22 years after summering her 20 years, has three children: two daughters that live in Florida and son Chuck who owns Shore Clean Car Wash in Marmora. Jon Batastini arrived late. I enjoyed dinner chatting with Marlene Sheppard, Jean Quaranta, Winnie Piriano, Carol Heenan and Eric Wakabayashi. Sitting at the next table were Marie and Lloyd Hayes, Barb and Bart Russell, Sandy Simpson and Sharon Capizzi, who after celebrating her father’s 90^th birthday sent Sam and Jo off to Florida for the winter while she is busy renovating the Pavilion Motor Lodge. After helping Mary Ann Nespoli award the door prizes, JT Williams changed out of his Santa attire so he could relax and enjoy dinner.

Linda Gronert had to leave early to get to Colony Club’s American Home Christmas party while husband, Curt, stayed a little longer before heading to the party to play Santa. John Quinn left early to attend the Planning Board Christmas party. Tony Frank got into a picture when he stopped to pick up a pizza for dinner. Lucy Wilent also stopped in to get pizzas for her Scout troop. Everyone admired Gary Schaffer’s crisp white shirt with its sheriff’s insignia, American flag and lots of brass, as he was off to official business after the party. Gary gave kudos to GG’s Diamond Tailor Shop who does his shirts. Keith Hartzell and Tony Wilson were also off to a City Council meeting after dinner, while County Clerk Rita Fulginiti stayed to visit with friends. Republicans Mary Louise Hayes and Rick Mendham ate dinner at a table for two. Mary Louise loves to walk the boards while Rick keeps busy working at Island Beach Gear. Lenny Desiderio was easy to spot when he arrived in his red, plaid blazer. Maribeth Neall, Joanne Budnick and Rose Haas admired this columnist’s new black tuxedo coat as I prepared to head home.

Just days before Christmas, the Exchangettes gathered at The Crab Trap for their holiday dinner. Kieran Murray made sure everything was perfect while Linda Gronert and Maribeth Neall who coordinated the dinner, set out favors: mirrored disco balls and snowmen, Santas and reindeer ornaments, for all the guests. Bonnie Richards-Ryan arrived early to check out the packages as they came in. Peggy Doyle’s package was almost as big as she is. Anita Culp enjoyed meeting all the ladies, but was sure it would take some time before she remembered their names. Joanne Budnick and Rose Haas brought their neighbor, Barbara Evans, to the dinner. Barb Adams stopped by with her sons, David and Todd, who just flew in from California for the holidays, so they could meet everyone. Alice Wolf was packed and ready to leave for Virginia to enjoy granddaughter Ashley’s first Christmas. Denise Jessel sported a white cardigan sweater accented with red poinsettias. Maribeth Neall coordinated the gift exchange and got things rolling before dinner. Andrea Paul was the first to select a gift from a table. Andrea was delighted with the two red and white snowmen and hid them under the table in hopes everyone would forget about them. As luck would have it, she still had her snowmen at the end of the evening. Another popular gift, and the largest one, was a Santa climbing a ladder brought by President Joyce Trofa.

New member Melanie Iannace got the hang of things when she had her gift stolen; and she was off and running to get her favorite unwrapped gift. Kara Hill and Vonnie Price had some strategy planned to make sure Vonnie got to keep this year’s Charity League pin this columnist brought. A fall on the slippery parking lot when arriving at The Crap Trap didn’t deter Exchangette Treasurer Dottie McClain from having fun at the dinner. Betty Ray told me she had a great book for me to read on my vacation in Punta Cana in February. Sue Doll sported a blue snowman sweater and didn’t mind having the last number called as she had her pick of all the unwrapped gifts, but opted to take the last wrapped packed on the table. Elaine Novello played musical cars as she rode over to The Crab Trap with this columnist, whose car was full so she opted to take a ride home with our hostesses, Linda and Maribeth.

Gary and Denise Jessel’s New Year’s Eve party was in full swing by the time Jim and I arrived. Gary sported a New Year’s top hat that Frank Faverzani ended up wearing later in the evening. Denise looked great in a New Year’s glitter tiara and black feather boa. Winnie Piriano and Maribeth Neall stopped by after working at First Night. Gail Blevin is delighted with her new light-weight luggage as now she has more pounds for clothes for her upcoming vacation in Punta Cana. Joan Walker is headed for Florida for the winter, but is also spending a week skiing in Utah. Linda Riley and I enjoyed sharing stories about our teenage granddaughters. Speaking of grandchildren, Betty Ray just found out she is going to be a great grandmother. Ron Denney discussed plans for an upcoming Exchange Club trip with two venues in mind. Susan Sheppard took daughter Nora home to see in the New Year, while husband Frank Faverzani and son Mark opted to stay at the party. Aimee and Jim Schultz arrived late after watching Aimee’s daughter in the production of “Annie” at the high school. I spotted Gail Ping cleaning up in the kitchen and throwing paper plates in the trash. As the countdown to midnight approached, everyone headed upstairs to the third floor deck to watch the fireworks that lasted six minutes. When it was over, Tricia and Paul Audino congratulated their 5-year-old son, Jake, as this was the first time he was awake to see the New Year. After wishing everyone a Happy New Year, Jim and I were headed downstairs with Carol Heenan and Eric Wakabayashi and passed Marie and Lloyd Hayes, Jon Werley and Jenny Sylvia just returning from watching the fireworks on the boardwalk.