A lakeside benefit gets the dancers out on the floor

WATKINS GLEN, New York, USA - Saturdays are always pretty wild around Watkins in the summer. Yesterday, in addition to the usual boating madness, a benefit for a local youth - who is recovering from multiple organ failure - had several hundred people tapping their toes to music, munching down barbecued chicken and, of course, drinking draft beer.

A lot of draft beer.

The benefit was held outside at the Village Marina, owned by the Schamel family, who in addition to running their usual restaurant crowd through the place, also handled the barbecue - and there were a lot of chickens who sacrificed their lives.

We arrived at the benefit in style - via Cousin Roger's ski boat which got us down the lake much faster than the Spirit of Louise would have.

At one point early in the benefit, one of the organizers told me that they had already taken in more than $700 - just on the raffle. And given that the draft beers were $3, with $1 of that going to the family, well, the benefit took in a lot of money. Cousin Roger and I contributed quite heavily to all components.

Roger's son Brett Beardslee was front and center, playing his own set of songs and also jamming with other local musicians. Dancing started, early, too and went on well into the night.

And the weather? Perfect end of August temperatures.


Even the canines enjoyed the music


Enjoying the sun and afternoon


Roger, Nancy and nephew Nate