Councilman's Birthday Bash

GLEN COVE, N.Y. --- Close to 200 logged-on or submitted videos for Councilman Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews’ virtual birthday bash held on Sunday, February 21st and many others attended via phone or by submitted cards or letters. The event, a fundraiser for Friends of Gaitley, the councilman’s campaign committee, began with “Happy Birthday” sung by many friends from the community and included shout-outs and performances from family and friends here in Glen Cove and from as far away as Texas, North Carolina and Scotland.

Among the more than 60 people who submitted video well-wishes included many well-known leaders from the community including Brian Basile, Claudette Bryan, Jeanine Dimenna, Edward Norris, Deborah Orgel-Gordon and Carol Waldman, to name a few. There were also many shout-outs from friends from Stevenson-Mathews’ past. Some of those from the past included the former Mayor of Stevenson-Mathews’ childhood home, John McNeil; Moye Lowe, the President of the Flora Macdonald Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit that Stevenson-Mathews founded in 2005 to help preserve a historic structure that was formerly home to the Flora Macdonald College; and Patricia Baldwin, former president of the Deep Ellum Opera Theatre, the company that Stevenson-Mathews ran for many years in Dallas, Texas. Some of the presentations from local talent included Mariano Cersa, Victoria Crosby, Dr. Sheetal Desai, Gracie Donaldson, Kennedy Hyde, Evelyn Kandell, Chef Panagioti Karathanasis, Robert Lynch, Christopher Moll and Steven Dahlke with Morgan Misk, Jim Stevenson-Mathews and his band Highland Oasis, Joe Stroppel, Dolores Waller and The Wilcox Family. Out-of-town guest performers included Natalie King, Chris Kinnear, Jacquelyn Lengfelder, Elly Lindsay, Penny McDonald and Liz Mikel. There were even performances and shout-outs from a few Broadway actors from Stevenson-Mathews’ past work as a producer. Elected officials were also on hand for the celebration including Congressman Tom Suozzi, Assemblyman Charles Levine, State Senator Jim Gaughran, County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, Councilman John Peronne and Councilwoman Dr. Eve Lupenko Ferrante. Hosts for the event included Lisa-Gabrielle Greene and Chris Westfall, Allen and Kim Hudson, Dr. Maxine Mayreis, John McNeill, Kathleen Mulligan and Connie Pinilla.

Usually an in-person disco-style fundraiser, the event had to be modified due to Covid. Out of necessity came creativity, and thanks to the input of Production Director Jay Charon, Production and Publicity Manager Gracie Donaldson, Script Writer Janet Taylor and through the leadership of Event Committee Chairs Alicia Neppl, Beth Nugent, and Joann Robertson, it was decided to pool the talents of performers in all areas of Stevenson-Mathews’ life to produce a show, with a hybrid of pre-recorded performances and shoutouts as well as live hosts. There was additional audio/visual support from Jonathan Parsons and social media support from Anthony Cipriano, Mirna Garcia, Lynda Madden and Jo Ann Russo.

When asked about the celebration, the councilman shared, “I was touched by everyone’s hard work and creativity in putting the fundraiser together and moved by the many sentiments shared.”

To view a rebroadcast of the event vist the following.

FULL VIDEO - Friends of Gaitley 4th Annual Birthday Bash (3 hours)

HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO - Friends of Gaitley 4th Annual Birthday Bash (45 min)
https://youtu.be/AhvVUP0jjao