An almost five-decade tradition returns to the Village of Patchogue on Wednesday, April 29, with a taste of Ireland at James Joyce Pub & Restaurant in support of the annual Eloise Staudinger Beautification Fundraiser Luncheon & Dinner.
Guests can join for lunch from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. or dinner from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and have a chance at a raffle for a wheelbarrow of cheer.
The event is sponsored by the Greater Patchogue Foundation—the charitable arm of the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce—and aims to beautify the village.
“It was started by Eloise Staudinger, who was the owner of The Colony Shop here in Patchogue, and I’ve been doing it probably 20 years,” said Paula Murphy, chairwoman of the Beautification Committee heading the event.
Since people today live busy lives, she said the flexibility of the event “seems to work out well."
This is the committee’s only fundraiser, but with community support from almost 200 people each year, projects have been extensive. Especially eye-catching is the 10,000 daffodil planting across from Blue Point Brewing Company. Funds have also gone to a memorial sculpture at the Terry Street parking lot entrance, as well as maintaining Foley Square, landscaping the railroad station and Terry Street, and contributing toward Patchogue’s 9/11 park overlooking Great South Bay.
This represents “one of the first beautification groups that started to make a difference at the time that Patchogue was having kind of a renaissance about 30 years ago,” said Murphy. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and I love the way it’s grown.”
Tickets are priced at $35 for lunch and $55 for dinner, gratuities included. Participants can make reservations through James Joyce at 631-562-4000 and get tickets from the Chamber at 631-207-1000 or patchogue.com. See the website for details.