KIMBERLY BERRY
For The Saratogian
Despite a brief rain shower, the skies cleared as the Saratoga Dressage Ball to benefit Saratoga County ARC got underway at the Hall of Springs Friday. Guests meandered along the portico and enjoyed cocktails in front of the reflecting pool, taking in a dressage demonstration, along with their hors d'oeuvres.
The ball kicked off the 16th annual Saratoga Festival and Dressage, one of the top 100 events in North America, according to the American Bus Association. That designation is an important distinction noted honorary committee member Gavin Landry, who was in attendance with his wife Darlene.The event attracts out-of-town visitors, like Dave Letersky and Dee Clark of Kingston. They were part of a party of 10 who had traveled by limo to the ball. Dave's royal blue bow tie made him stand out in the crowd, and local bank officer Rich Ferguson also made a statement in his ivory dinner jacket.
Dorothy Knowlton, who co-chaired the ball with Tracy Egan, was calm, cool and collected even when a seating snafu was discovered before dinner. This is the only event Dorothy has agreed to chair so far this season, and she was sincere in her appreciation for everything that ARC does for its clients.
Serving more than 700 people annually, Saratoga ARC provides a wide range of comprehensive programs to individuals with developmental disabilities, helping them to achieve their highest possible potential. The most important part of the evening was the presentation of Lifetime Achievement awards to Veronica 'Ronnie' Benware and Joseph Mazurkivich.
For more than 20 years, Benware has been a participant of the Wilton Day program. Her contributions include co-founding and serving as president of the 5 & 10 Variety Store, and making quilts for the 'Linus Project,' which distributes quilts to emergency vehicles for children transported in crisis situations. Mazurkivich is an active member of the Ballston Spa community where, in addition to holding down two part-time jobs, he volunteers regularly for the food pantry and Meals on Wheels.
Board president Mary Correa was complimentary of the client-centered approach utilized by Saratoga ARC and its staff members, noting that decisions are made in the best interests of the individual - what is important to him or her. In opening the program, Marty Hebert, president of the Saratoga ARC Foundation board, noted that they were projecting to raise $50,000.
In addition to the crowd from Kingston, some of the locals in attendance were Steve and Ilsa Markovitz, Chris Karsky and Mike Bush, Barry and Sally Morgan, local equine surgeon Harold (Bill) Barnes and his wife Diana, and Linda and Gordon Zuckerman, who were the high bidders on one of the live auction items, a gazebo donated by Sonny Bonacio.
Part of the evening's entertainment was a performance by students from the Ballet Regent School and music by the Spectrum Orchestra.
©The Saratogian 2005
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