A Taste Of Vineland & Volunteer Recognition Event Returns On October 23

Main Street Vineland’s signature fundraising event, its A Taste of Vineland & Volunteer Recognition Event, will return on Wednesday, October 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Greenview Inn at Eastlyn Golf Course. 4049 Italia Ave., Vineland.

The major sponsor for this event, now in its ninth year, is Century Savings Bank.

Vineland’s finest restaurants will be offering a vast array of delicious foods—main courses, appetizers, and desserts—at this event, which will also include a fabulous silent auction and much more.

Main Street Vineland will also recognize those of its volunteers who have contributed greatly to the work of the organization, as well as a “Community Partner” and a “Media Partner” who have worked closely with Main Street Vineland on its projects and initiatives. Vanessa Sosa, who chairs Main Street Vineland’s Design Team, will receive the “Volunteer of the Year” Award. Sosa is being honored for her work on several projects that are part of the Design Team’s mission of beautifying The Ave. The Vineland Board of Education is being recognized as the “Community Partner” for their close collaboration with Main Street Vineland on a number of projects and events. Alfonso Bermudez, of the area Spanish-language newspaper Visto Bueno is being recognized as the “Media Partner” for the regular coverage he has given Main Street Vineland and projecting that coverage to the area’s Hispanic community.

Tickets are $40 and are on sale now, and proceeds will go toward downtown beautification, business recruitment and development, and events. Tables of 10 are available for $400. “The value of this great event will have a large, visible impact on our downtown and the important part our downtown plays in our city,” said Main Street Vineland Executive Director Russell Swanson.

Additional sponsorship opportunities are currently available and ad space is available in the event program book. A limited number of spaces are also available for restaurants that would like to be part of this event.

“This has been a wonderful opportunity over the years for sponsors and restaurants to be part of a popular event that has been a large draw each year,” Swanson said. “We also want to recognize our Main Street Vineland volunteers who have given so much of their time and talents this year—and in past years—to help us accomplish our goals.”

Tickets can be obtained online by going to the event link on the Main Street Vineland website—www.TheAve.biz. A limited number of tickets are available at the Main Street Vineland office. Please call their office, visit their website, of visit them on Facebook.

For more information on this and other Main Street Vineland activities, please call their office, visit their website, or visit them on Facebook.

About “Volunteer of the Year” Vanessa Sosa

Since taking over as chairperson of Main Street Vineland’s Design Team, Vanessa Sosa has been involved in a number of important projects to enhance the appearance of The Ave. “She has really hit the ground running on projects ranging from our updated “Operation Facelift” façade improvement grant, to our Military Mural project and much more, Main Street Executive Director Russell Swanson said. “As someone with experience as a business owner on The Ave, Vanessa knows what is needed and has put her experience and knowledge to work for us in a big way.”

About “Community Partner of the Year”—Vineland Board of Education

The Vineland Board of Education has been helpful to Main Street Vineland in several ways over the Years. They have partnered with Main Street Vineland in the annual Scarecrow Contest/ Pumpkin Patch Party events by not only spreading the word to the schools, but also in the creation and delivery of the scarecrows and announcing the winners. For the annual Christmas Tree Contest, they have arranged for the schools to create the trees that give holiday cheer to business storefronts on The Ave. “They have been true partners with us in so many ways,” Swanson said. When we need something that they can provide—even something like providing a school bus for our Realtor Tour—Dr. Mary Gruccio, Ross Stanger, and Rossini Salerno have made the Board’s resources available to us.”

About “Media Partner of the Year”—Alfonso Bermudez of Visto Bueno

Alfonso Bermudez, of the area Spanish-language newspaper Visto Bueno, has long been active in covering events for the area Hispanic population, for with the newspaper Su Voz and then with his newspaper Visto Bueno. His regular promotion of Main Street Vineland events—articles and photos—has played an important role in getting the news out to Vineland’s large Spanish population. “It is rare that Alfonso misses one of our events to get copy for his newspaper,” Swanson said. “Whether it is an article, press release, or an ad, he is right there to help us.”