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Golden Oldies 2007 Reunion

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Cerulean blue skies, bright sunshine and gentle breezes ushered in the 7^th annual GRRI Reunion.  The theme selected for this year was “Golden Oldies”.  Fifties “Doowop” music provided a nostalgic backdrop for the day’s festivities.

Had there been a “human” costume contest, GRRI volunteer Elaine Furnari would have taken first place in her “modified” poodle skirt – crinoline and all!

Beautiful Cleo Kazahaya won first place in the “furkids” costume contest sporting her black leather “biker babe” outfit embossed with silver studs spelling her name!  Second place went to Rusty “Fonzerelli” Slamp, and third place to Sandy Johnson.

Plenty of canine tongues were wagging as canine and person competed in the kissing contest.    First place went to GRRI adopter Pat Bean and her Golden, Chrissie; second place to Matt Veiga and his GRRI Golden, Finn, and third place to GRRI volunteer Drew McFadden and his GRRI Golden, Ryan.  But we all unanimously agreed that the best picture of the day was of Elaine Furnari and her Golden, Scout.  EWWWW.

 

GRRI volunteer Mark Urso and his Golden, Zoe, won this year’s musical hula hoops competition.  Second place was won by Scotty and his mom, Nora Anne DiLemmo, and in third place was Sandi and her mom, Annette Johnson

The hot dog toss was won by Rocky Walter.  Toby Meyer won second place and Keara McLaughlin won third.

Keeping with the theme of the day, a “Golden Oldies” senior rescue parade was introduced.  Twenty-one GRRI adopted Goldens, age 9 and above, strutted their stuff around the ring. Each dog received a goodie bag containing a participation certificate, a parade ribbon, a paw print collar charm, dog biscuits from the Salty Paws Biscuit Shop and a red dog bowl donated by Commerce Bank.  Participants included:

Hannah Heitman, Cody Ready, Ernie Gentile-Geary, Rusty Slamp, Barney Maywald, Casey McFadden, Jessie McFadden, Holly Osman, Sammy Olson, Amber DeSarno, Allie Decina, Julie Ringen, Brandy McLaughlin, Jake Loeffel, Brittney Schurzky, Cody Jorgensen, Harry Potter Roethlin, Rush Bergner, Murphy Collins, Angel Patton and Chrissie Bean.

Of course the reunion wouldn’t be complete without the wonderful foods prepared by our volunteers, the sandwiches from Wegman’s supermarket, the raffle baskets, the 50/50 drawing and our merchandise table.  GRRI would like to thank John Meyers who won this year’s 50/50 and donated it back to GRRI!

Throughout the day Jeanne Urna once again donated her photographic talents, taking wonderful portraits of our adopters, volunteers and their families.  To view Jeanne’s photo gallery, visit her website at http://www.photosbyjeanne.com/gallery/3608263

In addition to all the volunteers who made this event possible, we’d also like to thank:

The Town of Mt Pleasant, Westchester County, NY – sound system

The Pleasantville Tennis Club, Pleasantville, NY – tennis balls

Jeanne Urna, PhotosbyJeanne.com

Commerce Bank, Thornwood, NY – dog bowls for senior goodie bags

The Healthy Hound, Inc., Pleasantville, NY – senior parade goodie bags, ribbons, certificates 

Raffle items:

Starbucks Coffee, Pleasantville, NY

The Hungry Hound, Somerville, NJ

Yellow Farmhouse Candles, LLC., Belvidere, NJ

Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Tinton Falls, NJ

Jess Gerhart

Nancy Myers

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