New York’s Most Dangerous Big Band cranked out classic tunes and local restaurants served up a smorgasbord of classic food for the hundreds of people who turned out for the Night on the Town in Mineola to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society last Wednesday night at Jericho Terrace.
“It’s great to see the community and surrounding communities come out to support a great cause,” said Village of Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss. “You get all these restaurants to sample. It’s great. It’s a great night in Mineola.”
The event, which was the third annual fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was directed by co-chairs Harry Zapiti and Tony Lubrano, owner of Piccola Bussola in Mineola.
Lubrano lost his father, Paquale, to leukemia seven years ago, but he said it was the 15 years his father survived with cutting edge treatments after being diagnosed that inspired him to create the event.
“I think it’s a great cause and the food is sensational,” said Village of Mineola Trustee Dennis Walsh.
Restaurants represented included Lubrano’s Piccola Bussola, Becco, Churrasqueria Bairrada, Heart of Portugal, Hibachi Sushi-Ya, La Masseria, Major’s Steakhouse, Manetta’s, Piccolo’s, Rothman’s Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Uncle Bacala’s, Vincent’s Clam Bar, Vinoco, Memories, Frantoni’s, Papa Razzi, Cardinali Bakery, Marzullo’s Pasticceria and Jericho Terrace itself.
Gina Glickman Giordan, host of “In the Mixx” presided as mistress of ceremonies.
“It was a wonderful evening, it was a nice crowd and we raised a lot of money,” Lubrano said.
He estimated that the event raised more than $50,000 for the leukemia and lymphoma research.
Zapiti estimated between 500 and 600 people attended the event.
Cancer survivor Frank Ferrante and his oncologist, Dr. Vincent Vinciguerra of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, were both honored at the event.
Vinciguerra said current cancer treatments are “less toxic” and “more targeted.”
“More and more people are surviving cancer, so clearly we’re doing much better,” Vinciguerra said. “The patients keep fighting. They don’t want to give up and it motivates us.”
He recalled Ferrante telling him, “Cancer made a big mistake with me. I’m going to beat it. And he is.”
Zapiti said Ferrante has been the event’s biggest single sponsor over the three years.
“This unassuming man has done amazing things in his life,” said former state Sen. Michael Balboni, last year’s honoree, in introducing Ferrante.
Ferrante, 73, said he was first diagnosed in February 2011 and said he now has stage 4 liver and colon cancer.
Speaking of the treatment be received from Vinciguerra, he said, “When it came to my cancer, did he mix the right stuff.”
Over the last two years, Ferrante said he had been taking 48 hours of chemotherapy every other week until recently.
“I play tennis six hours a week,” he said. “The answer to surviving cancer is keep going forward and don’t look back.”
