Oyster Bay had a gala weekend on May 2 and 3. The first event was for the grownups and the second was - just for the kids!

Lori and Roger Bahnik both received standing ovations from those attending the gala on Saturday evening May 2. They in turn thanked Frinny Storrs and Ray Searby for their help in "Making the dream come true."

The gala was not only a chance to celebrate the completion of the new Bahnik Center, the clubhouse for the Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay, but it was also their annual Spring Benefit. The participants at the live auction made sure good things would happen at the club as they bid $83,100 for the items which will help to buy the furnishings and fund the summer program.

The children were still the focus as 46 bids were made to offer $500 summer camp scholarships to kids. Board chairman Larry Schmidlapp offered a sunset cocktail cruise for 14 aboard the Gatsby, his classic 1957 Elco motor yacht built in 1930. It included hors d'oeuvres by The Metropolitan (who did the super ones for the gala!). The winning bid was for $4,000 and was won by Bill Gagliano who did all the electrical work on the building.

A pool party for 30 at Frinny Storrs brought a bid for $3,000 bought by Jamie Deming.

One thousand daffodils planted at your home brought in $2,300 twice and was won by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Ade and Mr. and Mrs. Basmajian. (Well worth it if you have tried planting bulbs yourself!) The items were offered by Dodds & Eder.

Golf with Roger Bahnik, of Mill-Max Manufacturing, at the Nassau Country Club which includes dinner with their wives, was won by Larry Schmidlapp and George Bourne, bidding together and by Paul Aarfman's FPS - Frames Per Second of Oyster Bay.

A gourmet dinner for 12, cooked and served by the benefit committee at their home was won with a bid of $2,300 placed by Roger Bahnik. "He wants us cooking for him," said Lori with an infectious laugh.

It is always a great affair: one year the benefit committee members dressed up like kids to cook and serve.

Bill Quinlan and Jim Scoroposki bought all the sponsorships for Foosball, Billiards and a Ping Pong table. "They sponsored everything," said Lori on Monday. "They were making it happen. It was phenomenal."

The lady's marquise and round diamond cluster ring set in white gold of approximately 2.43 karats from Freedman Jewelers, Huntington Village Diamond ring went for $4,100.

Lori and Roger also donated the golf weekend at the Equinox, Manchester, Vermont in the Presidential suite with a round of golf a day for three days. It went for $3,200.

Two tickets to Saturday Night Live went for $3,700. "It was unbelievable," said Lori. "It was just mind boggling. People seemed to really want to spend money and help furnish the club. They were bidding very generously that night."

It was a real black-tie evening and dancing followed the live auction as benefit committee members tallied up the winners in the silent auctions. Frank Ozol played in the Hal Hoffman Band to everyone's pleasure.

Sunday, May 3 was just for the kids! Everyone waited at The Bahnik Center for the parade to arrive. There was a ribbon cutting ceremony with Patricia Redman, a member of the "After School... " program, handling the scissors.

The Oyster Bay High School Band, like pied pipers, lead the parade into the gymnasium and played there, filling the room with music and enthusiasm. After playing, they marched out the side door.

Larry Schmidlapp was a truly patient MC as he waited for the crowd to fill the room and to get a semblance of quiet. Roger Bahnik announced that the politicians agreed to stand for applause, but not to speak. The crowd greeted Former Senator Ralph Marino, NYS Senator Carl Marcellino, NC County Executive Tom Gulotta, Supervisor John Venditto, Legislator John Canning, Assemblywoman Donna Ferrara, Assemblyman David Sidikman and Town Councilmen Tom Clark and Len Symons, Councilwoman Christine Preston, Town Clerk Fanny Corsentino, NC Commissioner of Inter-Governmental Affairs Eleanor Minicozzi and Timothy Quill, NC Department of Community and Youth Services.

The platform was then given over to the members themselves. Kevin Brown, member of the year, who is going on to compete nationally for the title, spoke wonderfully. George Gowe, spoke on behalf of the Torch Club. The night before the Keystone Club members had sung.

Winning raffle numbers were posted and those doubly lucky children collected their prizes, of which there were many. There were hot dogs, soda, nachos and cookies for refreshments.

As he addressed the audience, Roger Bahnik said "The club closes tonight. A little bit more has to be done: furnish the rooms, and finish the basketball courts so that the children will have to wait one more month."

He could happily add: "The weather held out. That's a good omen and a great day and that's all I'm going to say!"

Lori Bahnik's comment Monday was, "The best part was when the children were running around the building and jumping up and down in the air castle on Sunday!"

The children were taking ownership of the building!