Bailey Arboretum's annual picnic, held Sunday, July 16, was a great success. It was a very glorious event using the background of trees at the arboretum and adding a futuristic tent and tables set out in primary colors on the lawn to create a festive environment. Children had lots of open space to run and play on the rolling lawns. A great committee brought it all together. All in all, it was a memorable party with lots of interesting people attending. Besides the ones photographed, they included Jack Thomas, Len Marshall, Peter and Kathy Picoli, Trish Kennedy, Burt Reynolds, Rafael and Laura Ramirez, Gladis Riovelme and Anne Forlives.

There was a giant raffle with items reaching up to about $10,000 in value. The first prize was a Sunday Brunch for 25 donated by Heirloom restaurant to be held at the Bailey Arboretum with music by Jeff Sellers that was valued at $2,500.

Roland Cotter-Kroboth, a member of the Bailey's Arboretum board, said, "Although this was the third annual Bailey's Arboretum Picnic, we decided to have it in honor of the Village of Lattingtown celebrating their 75th anniversary. The invitations went out telling of the combination event. It was the largest gathering we have had at the arboretum, just short of 300 people including the children and the adults. Tables were set out on the lawn as well as in the house, for those who didn't care to stay outside. People explored the house and many hadn't seen the property before.

"One couple have lived locally for seven or eight years and passed the arboretum several times a day and were enthusiastic to see how lovely it is when they went through the house. They purchased artwork that was on consignment after the last art show and sale. There were 18 paintings hung throughout the main floor and when they sell, Bailey Arboretum gets a portion of the sale price. The couple spent several thousand dollars buying paintings so it was a win-win situation.

"People don't realize how much money it costs to run a mansion on 43 acres. Only about one-third of the acreage is pristine but through additional events and fundraising we are continuing our efforts to restore the gardens and the house.

"Our next event is the weekend of Oct. 7 and 8, a Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. It will be a joint venture with the Locust Valley Garden Club Flower Show. The club has representatives from all over the country come and judge their flowers, flower arrangements and table setting decorations. You can get more information about the arboretum on their website: BaileyArboretum.org," Mr. Cotter-Kroboth concluded.

The July Picnic raffle items included a floral arrangement in a huge antique vase, donated by Murphy & Company and Locust Valley Antiques with a value of $1,500. Petals & Peppers donated flowers for a year, via monthly delivery, valued at $1,000. The Boathouse and Designer Limos teamed up to provide a New York City Fantasy of dinner and limousine service valued at $600.

Petals donated eight spiked Phalaenopsis orchids valued at $500. Periwinkle Catering donated hors d'oeuvres for 10 people valued at $500. Chocolicious Chocolatier donated six months of chocolate of the month, valued at $275. Locust Valley Photography donated a family photo shoot at Bailey's valued at $250. Loafers donated a dessert party for 15 valued at $75.

An Affair to Remember to be held at Bailey's and called "priceless" was won by Eve Califano of Lattingtown. Mr. Cotter-Kroboth said, "Now that she has won the use of Bailey's she will create her own affair there; a dinner party for 10; a cocktail party for 100. As a gallery owner, she might do an art show for charity. It is all up to her."