(Photo by Betsy Gahagan)
The North Shore Land Alliance held their 16th annual Wine Auction Fall Fête earlier in October at Groton Farm in Old Westbury. More than 400 guests were in attendance, many of whom wore bold animal prints and floral patterns as a tribute to the theme of the evening: “Into the Wild.”
“This year we really wanted to celebrate protected habitat, the natural home of plants and animals,” said Lisa Ott, Land Alliance president and CEO. “Humanity has wiped out 60 percent of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish since 1970. Habitat loss poses the greatest threat to species. By protecting open space we are helping preserve the habitat and biodiversity found on the North Shore of Long Island.”
Groton Farm is a 108-acre preserved estate owned by Land Alliance trustees Luis and Julie Rinaldini. The Rinaldinis cofounded the Land Alliance 16 years ago along with several other community members. Guests entered the farm under a blanket of stars and bid on a robust selection of wines in the barn area before heading into a heated tent for a delicious dinner catered by Sterling Affair. Beautiful flowers and plants, wood coasters, pine cones and mini gold-painted animals were among the décor that brought the theme of the evening full circle. Live and silent auction items included a trip to Napa Valley and a five-night stay in Deer Valley. The party continued into the early morning hours thanks to a DJ and dance floor in an upstairs barn loft.
The Land Alliance thanked co-chairs Allison and Jay Aston, Kate and Chad Doerge, Jenna Bush Hager and Henry Hager, Amory and Sean McAndrew and Claudia and Gunnar Overstrom, wine chairs Veronica and Jamie Beard, Helene and Stuyvesant Comfort, Paula and Cristoph Cushman and Wandy and William Hoh, junior chairs Shauna and Nicholas Leopardi, Emily and Scott McLellan, Kingsley and Caleigh Toye and Hanna and Taylor Robinson, the event committee, sponsors and trustees for all the tremendous support.
“It’s so nice to see so many new faces this year alongside so many longtime supporters,” said Ott. “Preserving our community and planet is not something we can do alone. Your support means the world. Literally.”
More than 1,200 acres of open space on the North Shore of Long Island has been preserved in perpetuity by the Land Alliance since the nonprofit’s inception in 2003. The organization owns eight local preserves now open to the public and offers several programs like The Long Island Water Education Program and Walks in the Woods.
For more information about the North Shore Land Alliance and how to get involved, visit www.northshorelandalliance.org.
—Submitted by The North Shore Land Alliance
