Rose’s View (Pines)
By Bob LevineFirst let me thank everyone who came to my show on Saturday, June 27. Due to the stormy weather we missed some friends, but we still had a sold-out house! Some guests we even had to turn away unfortunately. Come my next show… whenever that is. Bill Moore and Tony LaRocco along with their guests had to be put up at Roseland for the evening because water taxis were not running due to the storm. The night was a great success.SOS — Shopping On Saturday, shopping on Sabbath, save on sales, however you say it, FIPAP held their annual sale day once again at Whyte Hall, chaired by Hal Rubinstein. Many popular designer brands were sold at real bargain prices. Lots of Pines residents helped to make this a spectacular day. They included: Steven Alan Black, Morgan Johnson, Gito Calvarez, Bruce Halpern, Cathy Tanelli, Jane Groveman, Fern Lee, Lori Zeller, Robbie Regina, Jim Vandernoth, Albert Rousso, Ralph Gilmarin, Louis Bengiverni, Lois Tecksha, Bill Moore, Jim Streaker, Sandy and Lila, Bobby Michelle, Lou Bullock, Mark Ricigliano, David Nuiess, Jennifer Hartstein and her husband Mat Fields, Laura Hartstein, Ariodne Villarreall, Andfre Almeida, Lenny Vanella and many others.Enjoy the ultimate facial/spa nutrition workshop for you and five friends. Arbonne is a 35-year-old health and wellness company dedicated to providing pure, safe, green, and beautiful products that you use every day for skin care with no chemicals, toxins, animal testing, or animal by-products. There is also no whey, soybean, or gluten in their products. Contact Daniel McDonald to schedule a complimentary workshop, at 917-501-7420.Strolling along Fire Island Boulevard were two old-time Pines residents Susan Weinblatt and Harvey Alter who were enjoying the Fire Island climate. Then they ran into me — so we chatted, hugged and kissed.The Pines Invasion will go off without a hitch. This will be the biggest year ever. Two boats will leave Cherry Grove around 1:45 p.m., arriving in Pines Harbor about 2:15 p.m. You must be cross-dressed to ride the Invasion Boat. The surprise of the year, which I now reveal, is that The Big Gay Marching Band will perform live in the Grove and then in the Pines. Lynn Hutton, one of the original invaders, will be joining the Invasion. Panzi, Lynn, and yours truly, Rose Levine, are the last three surviving members who were among the 15 originals that rode that first invasion boat in 1976.The fun and complimentary drinks will be hosted by P.J. McAteer and will be available at all Pines establishments including The Blue Whale, Pavillion and Sip-n-Twirl. So join the crowd and let your hair down! The fun and the excitement will continue at The Ice Palace and Cherry’s when the invaders return to the Grove. The boats will leave the Pines around 4 p.m.Steve and Chris Nicosia of The Pines Liquor Shop continue their generous gesture of hosting free wine tastings. Last week, Franck Petronio from Franki Wine, LLC served up a delicious dry rosé wine.The 5th Annual Women’s Pride in The Pines was another tremendously successful event at Whyte Hall. Congratulations to Linda Gottlieb, who works tirelessly year-round to bring this event to the Pines. The weather was great and everyone looked festive dressed in white. Originally this party began as a modest gathering at Sip-n-Twirl, but soon it exploded to a major event now 200 guests strong — mostly women from the Pines, Grove, and elsewhere. However many men were in attendance as well. For me the surprise of the evening was meeting old friends from years ago, Sherri Mandel and Ayse Kenmore. Sherri and I appeared in “Pines Needles” in 1981. She and her late partner, Lorraine, moved to Southampton in the latter 1990s. Ayse and her late husband, Bob Kenmore, also lived in the Pines. As a child, Bob actually grew up in Cherry Grove. The party was split with a dance till 5 p.m. and then a nice sit-down dinner with entertainment by Joi Caldwell. It was a great day. The proceeds went to Hetrick-Martin Institute for LGBTQ youth.The Florida Exchange: Charles Andrews who winters in Fort Lauderdale and summers in Fire Island Pines is happy to be back this season. Michael De Falco and Bill Matthews are back in the Pines this season, living in and enjoying their beautiful new house on the ocean. They had a luncheon for their guests Ken Farley and David Hagerman from Fort Lauderdale. Tony La Rocco and Bill Moore were invited as well with their guests, Mickey Sullivan and Wayne Shannon, also from Fort Lauderdale and Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. Bill and Tony are having their friends, Frank Lynch and Luther Gray, also from Fort Lauderdale, as their guests for the July 4 weekend.Congratulations to Ray Starr, a real estate associate who has worked in the Pines for many years, and is now working with Doreen Katen at D. Katen Fire Island Properties. Our condolences go out to Doreen on the loss of her mother, Christine Corwin, who lived in Palm Coast, FL. Doreen’s father was the late George Corwin, who was the original electrician in the Pines.Enjoy the Piano Bar with Jack Aaronson at the Blue Whale every Friday and Saturday, from 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
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