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CTI, Brush benefits first signs of spring
By MARY SAMPAS, Sun Correspondent

LOWELL -- It's spring, beautiful spring, when the young do handsprings on the lawn and their elders yearn to don something light and colorful and pop into a nice party.

Luckily, two very special ones are on the horizon. Community Teamwork, Inc. will showcase its splendid fourth annual Caribbean Carnival Celebration Fundraiser to Prevent Homelessness at Lowell Memorial Auditorium on Thursday, April 6. Just a week earlier, on Thursday, March 30, the Brush Art Gallery will zip into its popular annual wine-tasting at the gallery, with 25 wines to sample and some surprises.

CTI had to move the party to the Auditorium to accommodate the growing number of people who wanted to attend, according to executive director Karen Frederick. The party raised $40,000 last year for CTI's Homelessness Prevention Service, meeting the needs of more than 500 working poor and low-income people.

The function offers a jackpot drawing of $10,000 and other cash prizes. Only 400 tickets at $100 each will be sold. People who share a ticket with friends or family can bring them to the party at no extra cost.

The Caribbean Carnival will heat up the dance floor with the music of the band Hot Like Fire with steel drums and carnival dancers. They promise a delicious island buffet, raffles and a silent auction and suggest you wear your most colorful duds, which they'll augment with baubles and beads. Plan to party from 6-10 p.m.

The committee includes board members Renee Binjour, Robert Buckel, Cheryl Callahan, Ed Cameron, Alison Carlo, Kathleen Dearborn, Karen Frederick, Marion Gerardi, Elisha Harig-Blaine, Lianne Linlavong, Connie Martin, Sandy Pereira, Ken Powers, Carol Robb, Sharon Shelton, Julie Salois, Valerie Synder and Terry Williams. For ticket information, call 978-459-0551, ext. 281.

At the Brush Art Gallery, where they do things with artistic dash, the wine-tasting fund-raiser will offer the wine selections of their great benefactor, George Miamis of The Liquor Shop. With his crew of experts, he will set up tables to display and dispense 25 different wines from American vineyards and from France, Portugal, Italy, Germany and Australia. Miamis knows -- though he finds it hard to understand -- that some people prefer libations other than the grape's glory, so he will trot out five different beers, too. Something for everyone is the idea.

There will be fine foods from area restaurants, live music to lift spirits even higher and a silent auction of good art stuff and gift baskets. And, all around, you will be surrounded by art on the walls and artists in their studios, eager to meet you. The party generally explodes into the courtyard, so they're hoping for a mild, moonlit night.

Hours are 7-9 p.m.; tickets are $40 ($35 for members), available at the door or in advance. Krista Petruzziello is chairman, and on her committee are Cathy O'Donnell, Leanne Squeglia, Amy Gallagher-Garvey, Garrett Thurston, Cathleen Stewart, John Cascio and Jay Hungate.