Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 10:13 pm:

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Dear Friends:

For those of you who do not already know, I am sponsoring a Mayor's Ball on Friday, April 8, at the Maplewood Country Club, beginning at 7 PM.  It is a dinner/dance, with great entertainment.  Jacket and tie for men. The intention here is that this becomes an annual event. 

Each year, the beneficiary of the Ball will be a local worthwhile cause.  This year the Ball Committee has selected renovation of the Columbia High School gym entrance and lobby.  This project was suggested by the CHS Beautification Project, a group of talented private citizens who select and plan renovations. 

The net proceeds from the door on April 8 are dedicated to the renovation.  But that will not be enough.  The project will cost between $35,000 and $50,000.  What will make this work are promises by individuals and institutions to match the net proceeds. I promise to do that.  So does the CHS Alumni Association.  Maplewoodians Ed Stuart and Deryck Palmer have  stepped up.  So have a number of anonymous donors.  The list is growing.  If any of you are motivated to join the group, please let me know.  The net proceeds are likely to be in the area of $2,500.

The entertainment will be super-special.  Through the efforts of jazz aficionados Al Kuehn and Don Greenfield, world-famous clarinetist Ken Peplowski, pianist Deryck Smith, trumpet player Randy Stanky, and two other notables will play for us.  The New York Times has called Ken the best jazz clarinetist playing today.  There will be plenty of standards, Benny Goodman swing, and some wild improvisations.  You should go to hear these guys, even if it were not for a great cause.  Jazz lovers will be blown away.  Others will become jazz lovers.

The price of admission is a $100 minimum donation per person.  The easiest way to make reservations is to call 973-762-6304.  You should do it right away, because the reservations are already coming in and space is limited.

I just finished taping a Ch. 35 Meet the Mayor segment in which I interviewed Audrey Rowe (Head of the Beautification Project), CHS Principal Rene Pollack, architect Pat Tine, and HSA representative Mary Nieves.  Don Greenfield was on the panel to talk about the music.  If you would like a full and glorious description of the renovation project and the evening, watch for this show on Ch. 35 at the following possible times:

Sunday - 10 AM
Monday - 3:30 PM, 9:30 PM
Tuesday - 11:30 AM
Thurs - 3:30 PM
Friday - 10:30 AM, 8:30 PM
Sat. - 3:30 PM
 

See you April 8.

 

Fred Profeta

 

 

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