Lubrano prepares for Night on the Town

Richard Tedesco

Night on the Town co-chair Tony Lubrano said last week that he is not satisfied with the $72,500 raised at the event last year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

This year, Lubrano said, he hopes raise $100,000.

Lubrano, who is owner of Piccola Bussola and vice president of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, said he takes the event scheduled this year for May 7 very personally.

His father, Pasquale, was given a year to live when he was diagnosed with leukemia but lived for 15 by participating in a series of medical trials resulting from the kind of research the leukemia society supports, Lubrano said.

“He ended up becoming their guinea pig. And he got 15 more years of life,” he said.

Lubrano engineered the revival of the annual Night on the Town at Jericho Terrace in Mineola with co-chairman Harry Zapiti last year to raise money for the Leukemia Society.

The event had been held as a fundraiser for the Corpus Christi and St. Aidan’s schools, but ended when the Corpus Christi closed.

This year’s recipients of the Pasquale Lubrano Community Service Award will be state Sen. Jack Martins, the former Mineola mayor serving his second term in the state Legislature, and Michael Costa, a certified public accountant who is former controller for Arnold Foods. 

A supporter of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Costa has worked with Zapiti in past initiatives to help raise $250,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  

This year’s Night on the Town is sponsored by the United Mavericks, an organization of 60 Long Island businessmen who mutually support each other’s charity causes. 

Nick Valastro, who created the group several years ago, said each member is responsible to be involved in at least one charity event each year.

“Charity is our backbone. Doing charity, you see the best in people,” said Valastro, a real estate researcher who primarily supports children’s charities and diabetes research.

Roy DiMarco, an advertising executive who serves on the board of directors of Island Harvest, said the mission of mutual charitable support is what motivates him as a member of the Mavericks.

“This is a way to have an attachment to everybody else’s charity,” DiMarco said.  

The event this year 20 area restaurants and eateries offering samples of their menu including Piccola Bussola, Piccolo’s, Uncle Bacala’s, Vinoco, Opa Grille, Vincent’s Clam Bar, Major’s Steakhouse, Memories, Becco, Churrasqueria Bairrada, Frantoni’s, Heart of Portugal, Cardinali Bakery, Diletto’s, Revel Restaurant & Bar, Rothman’s Steakhouse, Rockefeller Wine & Spirits and Stuffcakes Bakery.

Donna Vivino, former cast member of Broadway hit “Wicked” will also perform with New York’s Most Dangerous Band. 

Gina Glickman Giordan, host of “IKn the Mixx” will be the mistress of ceremonies.

An auction to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation will also be part of the festivities.

Tickets being sold for $100 per person can be purchased in advance in Piccola Bussola at 159 Jericho Turnpike in Mineola or online at https://Li.nightontown.LI.Sevent.org. Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the event in Jericho Terrace at 249 Jericho Turnpike in Mineola.

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