The 14th Annual WE CARE Enchanted Garden Party: 'THE WILD WILD WEST !' was held Sunday, September 12, 2010. Sherman Burdette served as our Grande Master of Ceremonies. 175 Guests filled the Gardens. A diverse group of Entertainers included, The Magic of 'Justincredible', 'From Beauties to Beasts' facepainter Louis,The Magic of Pat Ward, 'Just Juggling' by Rob Smith, 'Silly Sally' balloon Magic, The Red Hat Society Singers, Patsy Cline Tribute Artist-Jane Scott, and The Dancers Warehouse of Taylor, PA filled the Enchanted Gardens. Torony Hot Dogs provided Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, carrot salad, fries, and more, and Ice Cream from Hillside Farmes made it's appearance. It was a Great Party~
The Cast and Crew of 'The Wild Wild West' 14th Annual Enchanted Garden Party await to enter the Enchanted Gardens on September 12, 2010
The Good Fairies perpare the Cast and Crew to enter their Enchanted Gardens on Sunrise Dive for a fun party !
Entrance into The Enchanted Gardens!
... and the parade weaves through the 175 guests !
... the dancers enter the Enchanted Gardens!
The Board of Directors make their entrance.
Kim leads Master of Ceremonies Sherman Burdette to the main stage!
The Gusts await Sherman Burdette, Master of Ceremonies, to begin the festivities.
Sherman and his crew welcome all to the Party!
Kim, Sherry, Michael, Andrew greet the guests.
Julia, Lucas, & Sherry say hello to the guests.
Andrew, President/Co-Founder of WE CARE welcomes the guests.
Grand Master of Ceremonies Sherman Burdette, in the audience .
Grand Master Sherman, on stage as he begins the festivities.
John, A Board of Director Member greets the guests.
Andrew introduces Dave Jay, our tarot card reader.
Times Leader Reviewer, Mary Therese Biebel, interviews Andrew about WE CARE.
Kimberly McHenry Carney, a volunteer at ‘The Wild Wild West’ party to benefit We Care, hands out a cowboy hat to guest Rick Schmid of Plains Township.
Posted: September 13,2011 The Times Leader Newspaper
Cowpokes of all shapes and sizes moseyed into Andrew Buleza’s Wilkes-Barre backyard on Sunday afternoon, many sporting Western boots and fringthat would have done Marshal Dillon or Annie Oakley proud. Kimberly McHenry Carney, a volunteer at ‘The Wild Wild West’ party to benefit We Care, hands out a cowboy hat to guest Rick Schmid of Plains Township.“Where did you leave your horse?” event photographer Curtis Salonick teased a newcomer. “We should have a hitching post right here.”Sorry to disappoint you, pardners, but none of the approximately 150 guests who attended Buleza’s “The Wild Wild West” party – his 14th annual fundraiser for We Care HIV/AIDS Support Network Inc. – arrived on horseback. Still, thanks to a chuck wagon-style menu of franks and beans and plenty of country music, it was easy to imagine the scene was the O.K. Corral or maybe the Ponderosa.To add to the ambience, party volunteer Kimberly McHenry Carney of Kingston swished through the crowd in a red gown that would have made Hoss and Joe Cartwright’s eyes light up and handed out cowboy hats to anyone who had neglected to bring his or her own.“That covers the bald spot,” Rick Schmid of Plains Township said with a laugh.
Former WNEP-TV personality Sherman Burdette played to the crowd as he emceed the afternoon’s events. “How’s my butt look?” he demanded from the stage, turning around so everyone could see how a pair of chaps accentuated his denim-covered derriere.“Did you ever see a cowboy wearing glasses?” he added as he put on a pair of specs to read the list of prizes to be won – ranging from a cactus tree decorated with $1,000 bills to a sterling silver necklace with turquoise gem stones donated by Bartikowsky Jewelers in Wilkes-Barre and a black hat and handbag from R.K. Furs in Alden Station, Newport Township.
Mentalist Dave Jaye, meanwhile, sat at a table under a tent and read tarot cards for anyone who wanted a forecast of the future. He said similar divination probably took place in the Old West, most likely with a regular deck of playing cards.“He told me there will be big changes in my life,” Jessica Tokach, 22, of Plains said, sounding pleased with her reading. “And I did just find out I’m going to have a baby.”
Another part of the yard was devoted to children’s activities. “We have a coloring contest, cowboy hats to decorate, dream catchers and you can make cowgirl bracelets with ponies and cowgirl hats on them,” 18-year-old party volunteer Tamara Geiger explained.Buleza, who seemed to be everywhere at once on Sunday afternoon, has hosted a series of garden parties to raise money for AIDS/HIV support services every year since his 50th birthday in 1997.
“It’s a celebration of life,” said Buleza, who is himself HIV positive. “And We Care is all about unconditional love.”As he carried baskets of Western-themed DVDs to give out as prizes, Buleza paused long enough to say last year’s party raised $8,000 in three hours. Because of the struggling economy this year, he said it was difficult to predict how much the party might raise through ticket sales, raffles and donations. We Care has 48 members who receive visits and gift cards throughout the year, Buleza said. Sometimes, it can be the visit itself that means the most, We Care board member John Bestider of Plymouth added.“Some can be absolutely alone and desolate,” said Bestider, who lost his son, Gene, to AIDS 14 years ago, about the time Buleza founded We Care. “We’re not in this for the glory. We just want to help people with HIV/AIDS.”
Dancer's Warehouse Julia Emmet opens the party with a splash!
Julia smiles for miles!
...and jumps for joy ! She's GREAT!
Dancers Warehouse Lucas Dibiasi taps, taps.taps!
Backstage view of Lucas in his "coffee grind" !
Lucas captures the audience applause and Ya Hoos !
Dancer Lauren Dempsey of Dancers Warehouse taps her heart out !
Lauren glimmers and glees as she SELLS IT !
Lauren captures the audience ! Dancers Warehouse is in Taylor, PA 570.562.2772
Jim Dunn, George Hunzinger, & Debbie Dunn greet the guests at the beverage tent!
Smilin Dr. Jeanne Torony, stirs the meat sauce for the Torony Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, and secret Carrot Salad that pleased the guests 150% ! Yum! Yum !
Rick Schmid, Helen Gudaitis, & Edward Gudaitis enjoy the Torony Hot Dogs, & LOVE the Carrot Salad !
The MAGIC of 'JUSTINCREDIBLE' creates magic in front of your eyes.
Justin gets help from a member of the audience!
Justin dips into the bowl and glasses, and...
'Justincredible' asks the guests for some help!
...and wooo...out of his magic mouth the string for rope flows, and flows, and...
...flows for some forty (40) feet! WOW...now that's INCREDIBLE...JUSTINCREDIBLE !
Lizzy Dutko in Red and her guests greet Photographer Curtis Salonick with smiles.
Flo Miller in Blue jacket and Cheryl Tokach in floral print blouse pause to say hello !
Cowboys, Cowgirls and Indian Maidens join the pow wow!
Guests from Greater Wyoming Valley say ' Howdie' !
Very Rev. & Mrs. Joseph Martin of Wilkes Barre greet Photographer Curtis Salonick !
Linda Evans Gruner ( with red scarf) and her Mother Dolores Evans ( pink scarf) party with Pink Cowgirl hats !
Debbie Dunn ( wearing sunglasses and Cowgirl hat) and her family are at The Beverage Tent.
Carol, Jackie, Alexia, Roxanne, & Joan await Rob Smith the Juggler !
Audrey ( bright blue blouse with purple scarf and parents from The Dancers Warehouse in Taylor, PA.
The Cowgirls await the next act on the main stage...'Just Jugglin' by Rob Smith...he's great !
The Red Hat Ladies...are waitin' to take center stage !
...Red Hatters are always smilin' they're GREAT !
Fun Faces' From Beauties to Beasts" by Louis 570.262.3847 check his site: www. funfacesonline.com
...and Louis begins his magic
Magic Face Painter...creates magic!
...and butterflies appear!
time for Hillside Farms Ice Cream!
The brothers prepare for the coloring book contest !
...and she is NOT blushing ! Just Smilin !
Curtis Salonick is the Official WE CARE Photographer Professional Photographer www.salonickimagery.com
