Longest Dinner Table

The Longest Dinner Table Fundraising Event
SAVE THE DATE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012

Download Scenes from the Longest Dinner Table 2011

Check out a Video done by Carolyn Mirek
Four Years of the Longest Dinner Table (2007-2010)

Please click on this link to see our 2011 Invitation

Become a Business Sponsor

Become an Individual or Table Sponsor

Saturday, September 24, 2011 5:00pm-10:00pm
Rockville Bank Park (Near LL Bean) - Evergreen Walk - South Windsor, CT

Food - Entertainment - Prizes - Fun

Print a 2011 Invitation
and Response Card

We have more auction items than ever this year due to the extreme generosity of our
local and state businesses. Locomotion will keep us dancing and our newly featured
coffee bar sponsored by SWEA will keep us awake!

Come and join in on the fun at our fabulous community building event.

Longest Dinner Table 2011

Five Years of Fab Fun Funding Our Schools

Five years. Hard to fathom. It was the best of times, it was the worst of weather (sort of). Predictions of a Saturday deluge failed to materialize and while the weather outside was fair and foggy, the weather inside the Nomads Gym was fun, festive, fantastic, and fatally hot. That did not stop over 500 supporters from having a great time and raising money for the South Windsor Public Education Fund which provides grants to our local South Windsor schools and educators.

This year’s Longest Dinner Table, the signature fundraising event of the South Windsor Public Education Fund, raised $17,500 on September 24, signifying its best year for raising funds. Our event this year was held at Nomad’s Adventure Quest and our sincere thanks go to Tracey and Doug Nation who helped us bypass the inclement weather predictions.

All proceeds will go toward building the SWPEF endowment fund and for providing grants for South Windsor educators. To date, SWPEF has awarded $40,000 in grants for programs in our public schools and built an endowment fund of $30,000. Application forms and grant guidelines for South Windsor School District employees can be found on the South Windsor Community Foundation, Inc.’s website: www.swfoundation.org
Grant application deadlines are November 30 and May 31.

	LDT 2011 celebrated our SW Teacher of the Year from SWHS, Mr. Greg Frank, whose dinner was generously donated by Burton’s Grill for Greg and his guests:		Also recognized was our SW Support Staff Employee of the Year, Mrs. Jennifer Wilson of Pleasant Valley School. Jen and her guests’ meals were donated for Jen’s by Bellini’s Italian Eatery. Honorees’ flowers were donated by South Windsor Stop and Shop
	Locomotion always gets us on the dance floor:		SWHS Jazz ensemble courtesy of the South Windsor Music Department
	South Windsor Democrats Headed South of the Border
	Wood Memorial Library Table Celebrated their 40th Birthday and Main Streeters honored the occasion		Many thanks go to the energetic and hard-working committee led by Mrs. Mary Ann McAndrew: Maura Horan, Maureen Gilligan, Penny Brice, Michele Grigorian, Kathy Reed, Tara Filingeri, Lori Stewart, Janet Gallugi, Anni Resetarits, Annie Mohanty of Rockville Bank. We would also like to thank our generous community sponsors who made our evening the biggest success in 5 years.
2011 LONGEST DINNER TABLE Table Contest Winners as Judged by Parks & Rec. Dept. Judges: Ray Favreau, Keri Apt, John Caldwell, Evelyn Fowler, Jaime Krajewski & Patrick Telma
	CATEGORY 1 “MOST CREATIVE” 3rd Place: The Class of ’82 , Susan Mazur: Organizer PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN”		CATEGORY 2 “MOST COMMUNITY SPIRIT” 3rd Place “THE LONGEST DINNER TABLE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, Five years and going strong.”	Tables organized by Dianna Burnham and Jodi Oliver
	2nd Place - “ Winter Wonderland: Tom Delnicki: Organizer The Republican Town Committee		2nd Place The night was all about contributions & donations for South Windsor Schools, but this truly was about donors: “MOOKIE’S JOURNEY” The story of finding a kidney donor for a good friend.	Tables organized by Mary Ann McAndrew, Pleasant Valley School.
	1st Place Carrie Avery’s Ttables 2 and 3: “MOVIE NIGHT”		1st Place South Windsor High School’s 3 tables- “SURVIVOR”. We were very pleased to see so many administrators and teachers at the event.
	CATEGORY 3 “MOST ELEGANT” 3rd Place: “BY THE SEASHORE” by Michele Grigorian, Family & Friends		CATEGORY 4 “BEST OVERALL” The final award is for best overall and the unanimous judges’ choice, and the winner of the coveted “fork” trophy. This group brought the largest contingent of costumed characters and had the best tasting tea - congratulations to our tea-toadler friends from ALICE IN WONDERLAND“ Organized by The Swans.	Marlene and Jeff Swan, Laurie and Andy Bakas, Dave and Jeanne Donahue, Lisa Burke, Paula and Kevin Herlihy, Sheryl and Dan Sylvester Bruce and Tara Filingeri, Kevin and Donna Gilligan, Joe and Amy Siracuse
	2nd Place “BLACK & WHITE” Timothy Edwards Middle School parents and friends organized by Mrs. Kristin Heckt; Principal.		A Few More Fun Pictures of Our Guests	Janice Snyder, Len Bestoff, and Chief Matt Reed
	1st Place “CONNECTICUT WINE TRAIL” Bill and Karen Myers, Holly and Jim Richardson, Mike Brezel, Sandy Glieco, Rick and Liza Love, Jeff and Mary Waitt, Caty and James Langston, Monica Zelinksi, Deb and Mike Spagnesi. Absent: Ben Love, Lisa and John Smith-Horn, and Barb Brezel.			Ali Jennings, Kathy Reed, Robin Lagasse and Dr. Kate Carter
Our LDT 2011 Auction Donors			Major Sponsors
	Al Veniscofsky-AAA Barbara Robinson-quilt Battiston’s Cleaners Between Rounds Bicycle South Windsor Bob’s Discount Furniture Boston’s, The Gourmet Pizza Broad Brook Gardens Camp Bow Wow Carolyn Didden Cary and Karen Prague CT Beardsley Zoo CT Trolley Museum Dance Progressions Destination Maternity Foster Farms Fred Astaire Dance Studio Garden BarnPampered Chef Geissler’s IGA Green Tangerine Spa Hampton Inn and Suites Hartford Stage Hartford Symphony Holly and Jim Richardson Intrepid J & B Sportswear and Lettering Jacobsens j. Gilberts Jorgensen Center Kim’s Nail Salon LA Fitness LL Bean Marcus Communications Maura and Ted Horan	Max’s Restaurants Michelle Dion Moe’s Southwest Grill Munson’s Candy Mohawk Mountain Mystic Seaport N.E. Air and Space Museum New England Rockcats Panda Palace Post Road Stages Red Sox Nation Rita’s Ice Rockville Bank Manch. Big Y Rockville Bank Foundation Ron-a-Roll Sal’s Pizza Shady Glen Ski Sundown SW High School SW Fire Department SW Police Department SW Soccer Club Sparkle Stone Age Climbing Gym Stop and Shop Strong’s Autocare Style Point Susan Mazur The Yoga Shop TE Middle School Topstone Golf Course Unity Yoga Wadsworth Atheneum White House Black Market	Dessert Sponsor: $1000 USA Hauling and Recycling Main Course Sponsors: $500 Burstein Dental Camp Bow Wow Rockville Bank Foundation SW Rotary Club Appetizer Sponsors: $250 Cary and Karen Prague Mary Ann & Brian McAndrew N.E. Silica Ruben/ Horan, P.C

Longest Dinner Table 2010

Another Night of Fun!

Click Here for a Complete List of Winners

Click Here for Additional Pictures

It was a beautiful night. The type the people love to be outside in. The night was perfect. The band was playing great music. People were having a great time. The 4th annual Longest Dinner table was a great success and again raised over $13,000 to benefit our schools, teachers, and children.

Longest Dinner Table 2009

Oh What a Night is Right!

The South Windsor Public Education Fund Committee hosted the third annual Longest Dinner Table on September 26, adding another jewel to the community events’ crown. The festivities included table judging for Most Elegant, Most Creative, Most Community Spirit and Best Overall tables as well as a silent auction, fifty/fifty raffle and a Heads or Tails game. The evening’s events raised $12,270 for the South Windsor Public Education Fund. The committee is most grateful to the 54 area businesses who donated to the silent auction as well as the 7 table sponsors and 5 advertisers in this year’s ad booklet. Many individual donations were also gratefully received. This year’s event took place in Rockville Bank Park located at the Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk. The lovely afternoon turned into a rather chilly night but with the outdoor firepit and Locomotion’s engine to keep people dancing, there were few complaints about the temperature. Our honorees of the evening, Teacher of the Year Janet McEleney and Support Staff Employee of the Year Jeanne Budarz, also warmed up the evening reminding us why we were all there. We are raising funds for our educators who then apply for grants for programs and projects for South Windsor schools.

Longest Dinner Table 2008

The second annual signature fundraiser sponsored by the South Windsor Public Education Fund Committee was held Saturday, September 27, 2008, at Nomad’s Adventure Quest in South Windsor. The event was originally schedule to be held at The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk but with a forecast of torrential rains, the SWPEF Committee had to quickly change gears to protect its patrons and the tables from the damaging wind and rain. Thanks to Tracey and Doug Nation, owners of Nomad’s, the event was rescued and moved indoors. Over 650 people attended with their spirits un-dampened. Locomotion played as planned and the decorated tables were amazing. With a 50/50 auction, a teacup raffle, and some wonderful sponsorships, the Education Fund grew by over $17,000.

Since our inception in 2006, the SWPEF and SWHS-IF have funded over $16,000 in grants to South Windsor schools. Our goal is to grow the funds and their endowments so that we can continue to support meaningful and creative educational programs.


Winners of the “Golden Fork” were the 12 tables organized by Kristin Heckt with a fabulous global theme.	Jay Wickliff, leader of the “OZ” table and representing the Cornerstone neighborhood accepted First Place for the “Most Creative” category.	SWPEF-SWHS-IF honored the South Windsor Teacher of the Year, Mr. Ed Duclos. Judy Nevins, the South Windsor Supported Employee of the Year was unfortunately unable to attend, but was also an honoree of the event.

Sal Urso of Locomotion blew us away with some great tunes.		Our eight esteemed judges were escorted by Penny Brice’s committee to determine the evening’s winners. Judges: Mayor Cary Prague, Board of Education Chair: Janice Snyder, SW Schools Superintendent: Dr. Robert Kozazcka, Reverend Thomas White, Reverend Kristen Kleiman, Reverend Jeremiah Murasso, Mrs. Lynsey Desmond, and Mrs. Penny Hill.

Longest Dinner Table 2007

The first annual Longest Dinner Table was held September 29, 2007, at The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk. It was a huge success for the community. Nearly 500 people turned out from all parts of town on a beautiful evening to endorse the newest annual event for the town.

Tables were decorated, dinners were enjoyed and dancers were busy reacting to the tunes of Locomotion. Four judges: Board of Education Chairwoman and South Windsor Community Foundation Chair Janice Snyder, State Representative Bill Aman, South Windsor Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Kozaczka, and Town Mayor Matthew Streeter, were working hard during the evening selecting the top four tables in the decorating contest. People outdid themselves and we feel this will be even more competitive next year! The chosen winners were “The Four Seasons” a nine table section of tables corralled by TEMS principal Kristin Heckt, “Monopoly” complete with a jailer, a prisoner and Mr. Moneybags from the Cornerstone neighborhood organized by Kelly Wickliff, “Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” nicely executed by eight town kindergarten teachers, and Honorable Mention went to “Halloween” created by Donna Werkhoven.

Our Honoree of the evening, Ms. Karen Rossi, was given a proclamation from Governor Jodi Rell, delivered by Representative Aman. Guests enjoyed meeting her and looking over some samples of her art displayed for sale by the Connecticut ART School.

Our silent auction was a huge success bringing in $6,000 worth of bidding wars. The high ticket items of the evening were the Police Car Ride generously donated by Chief Tyler and a fire engine ride donated by Chief Phil Crombie. Our totals for the evening were nearly $17,000, all to be given back to our town’s educators for grants.


One Long Table	The Monopoly Table sets up.	The SWHS band starts the evening off with fanfare.	Kristin Heckt and company decorate a 9 table theme.