CORNWALL, NY – Palaia Vineyards, a local vineyard and winery in Cornwall, New York, hosted a benefit on Sunday which raised money to aid in awareness and research for Lyme disease.
The walls of Palaia Vineyards are lined with old memorabilia which make it reminiscent of your local Applebee’s. Inside, all souvenirs play off the popular milk ad and ask, “Got Wine?” Everybody seems to know each other; mothers greet each other with hugs, and their children run around freely outside as if the vineyard is their own backyard.
According to Joe Palaggi, 21, employee and partial owner, the vineyard hosts about three events per month.
“It keeps people happy and at peace with each other,” said Palaggi.
And this event was no exception. With a $25 donation toward Lyme disease, those involved enjoyed live music, free wine-tasting, and a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
“I’m having so much fun,” said Cornwall resident Flair Banke, 40, who looks like a free-spirit straight out of the 70s. She then leaned in and spoke in a whisper, “Especially after the wine tasting.”
Bernie Sussman, 74, who works as a museum curator for the Boy Scouts of America, and reminds you of every young child’s rosy-cheeked grandfather, was volunteering at the event.
“Well, it’s a wonderful day,” said Sussman. “Truthfully, [the weather] shouldn’t be like this at this time of year, and obviously it’s nice when any crowd gets together. There are nice vibes. How could you not like it?”
Kate White, 25, a public relations representative for Hawkins International, who actually suffers from Lyme disease herself, said she came to the event to get away from the city for the day. “It’s a very Sunday, easy-breezy, simple, nice, country thing for people who live in the city,” said White.
One employee at Palaia Vineyards, Nicole Kozlowski, 20, said she was enjoying the event, even though she was working. “Of course I think it’s a good idea. It’s benefiting a disease,” said Kozlowski. “It’s also a good social gathering. People can take it easy and not worry about work”
When asked if she was having fun, Kozlowski added, with a playful sigh, “Yeah, I’m good. I’m stuck to this chair, and I’ve got the box of money.”
Once inside the benefit, participants had the opportunity taste the wine the vineyard has to offer, as well as purchase it by the glass or bottle. People could also buy food, as the event was being catered by a local Italian restaurant. Consequently, many saw the event as a great opportunity for local businesses.
“I cannot tell a lie,” said Banke. “Coming on a nice sunny day was my first priority, but I wanted to support the local businesses, too.”
Rob Mandel, 43, and member of the band 87 North who performed at the event, agrees. Events like this are helpful for the town’s tourism and economy, he said.
However, despite everyone’s happy mood, which could perhaps be attributed to the wine, most participants genuinely cared about the issue at hand: Lyme disease.
According to Banke, while on stage, one of the guitarists took the opportunity to speak about how Lyme disease personally affected him.
“It’s really sad because the first guitarist said he had Lyme disease, and that it went to his brain,” said Banke as she became visibly upset. “[He said the Lyme disease] was so bad that he couldn’t move and had to stop playing guitar. We’re all sitting here having wine, but we can’t forget what this is really about.”
Banke then watched a fellow Cornwall resident drop some money into the donation box. “You know, you’re a sport,” she said to the donator without hesitation “It’s so nice to donate.”
Another Cornwall resident, Pat Dineen, 32, agrees with Banke. “Anything to raise money for a disease is a good idea,” said Dineen. “I didn’t realize how debilitating Lyme disease could be.”
Mandel also felt that the benefit was important. “Truthfully, I don’t know much about Lyme disease,” said Mandel. “But are there a lot of people raising money for Lyme disease? Probably not. I guess somebody has to do it.”
Whether people came for the wine, to help boost the economy of Cornwall, or simply just to support cause, the event at Palaia Vineyards was, by most accounts, a success.
The people of Cornwall came together to fight for a good cause, and at the same time, strengthened their own bond as a community.
““Events like this really bring everybody together,” said Bruce Perone, 40, and member of the band 87 North. “It’s all about unity.”
