Mastic Beach Conservancy held its inaugural fundraising gala, the Bivalve Ball, on the evening of Sat., Oct. 22 at La Buena Vida restaurant in Moriches. The group honored several local environmental advocates and raised over $20,000 to protect and promote use of the Mastic Beach waterfront and wetlands at this sold-out event. 

The gala was attended by over a hundred people including Jim Mazzarella, Suffolk County legislator, and councilman Dan Panico, and featured a silent auction and raffle along with dinner and dancing. Honored guests were Alison Branco, Ph.D., climate adaptation director, The Nature Conservancy; Tei Carpenter, designer at Agency—Agency and critic at Yale University School of Architecture; Walter Meshenberg, Save the Great South Bay Creek Defender, of Mastic Beach; and Sarah Lansdale, commissioner, Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning.

The Bivalve Ball was also the culmination of an exciting silent auction that featured amazing items generously donated by local businesses and New York institutions. Winners of the auction took home tickets to “Saturday Night Live” and Steven Colbert and gift certificates to Lucharitos, Silly Lily and Mastic Seafood.

The Conservancy would like to thank all event sponsors, including Radical Relief Fund and Sunrise Wind, as well as those who donated items for the event, including Violet Cove Oyster Co., Macari Vineyards, Westhampton Brewing Company, Ice Cream Cottage, Frank & Sons Bakery and Lacorte’s Farm Stand.