Southampton - Presented by the Town of Southampton Youth Bureau, Battle of the Bands was held on Friday, June 10, 2011 at Ponquogue Beach in Hampton Bays. Several bands performed to a packed parking lot of friends, family, and fans, vying for title of top band. WBAB's Joe Rock was master of ceremonies and jazz musician Charles Certain and solo artist Eva Adalai served as judges for the night. The event had many sponsors, including the town of Southampton, Rumba Rum Bar, Tanger Outlets, Atlantis Marine World, and Splish Splash Waterpark to name a few.

The bands who performed in the competition included Human Error, Degenerate Burnoutt, According to J, The Blazing Beaverducks, Urbanoid, The Entertainment, Calypsis and Patrol. Some bands performed their own original music, while others such as According to J performed covers of bands including All-Star by Smashmouth, Blink-182 and Third Eye Blind.

Battle of the Bands was won by Blazing Beaverducks from Quogue, band members include Ethan Dornfeld, Sube Clockalingan, Cory Ash, Paul Grindle, Phil Sepuluede, Dan Grendle, Cody Owen, Juan Herrera, Matt Floyd, Christian Thieviel and Mike Sullivan, all from Westhampton Beach High School.

Urbanoid covers My Own Worst Enemy by Lit. (Nicole Barylski)

Second place belonged to Human Error featuring Sam De Poto from Shelter Island High School, Sage Gibbons from East Hampton High School, Kevin Preller from Westhampton Beach High School and T.J. Dalton from Shelter Island High School.

The Entertainment took home third place, with Ryan D'Amico, Kevin D'Amico, and Kevin Wieser from Center Moriches High School and John Capuano from Hampton Bays High School. Rock 'on!

Bideawee, Inc, the leading pet adoption and animal welfare organization serving the New York metropolitan area and Long Island, held its Annual Bideawee Ball on Monday, June 13, 2011 in Manhattan. More than 250 pet lovers and Bideawee supporters attended the premiere fundraising event to celebrate animal welfare and the Bideawee mission to cultivate and support lifelong relationships between pets and the people that love them.

The evening's festivities were hosted by Loretta Swit, acclaimed actress of television, film and stage and passionate animal advocate. Swit and Nancy Taylor, President and CEO of Bideawee, presented the annual Bideawee Honoree Awards in recognition of those individuals who have made a difference in the lives of homeless pets and pet adoption.

Bideawee presented the celebrated "Bideawee Corporate Award" to IAMS in recognition of its corporate contributions to foster the health and well being of pets. IAMS has demonstrated a long-standing commitment in promoting responsible pet adoption and supporting animal shelter organizations across the country. Through the IAMS "Home 4 the Holidays" 2011 campaign, more than 1.1 million pets were adopted and five million meals were donated to shelter and rescue pets in need.

The Bideawee Volunteer Honoree was awarded to Joseph Garrison, board emeritus, and his best friend, Austin, for his more than 15 years in serving on the Bideawee Board and for their life long commitment to the Bideawee mission.

"Bideawee's annual gala is a festive evening that brings together pet owners and animal lovers to recognize the importance of our efforts in rescuing and nurturing dogs and cats abandoned on our city streets until they find forever homes," said Taylor. "All of us at Bideawee are sincerely grateful for the outpouring of support and enthusiasm for continuing the Bideawee legacy."

Proceeds from the Bideawee Ball will support the continuum of animal welfare programs, educational community outreach and pet adoption services offered the Bideawee facilities located in Manhattan and in Westhampton and Wantagh on Long Island. Bark on!



On Saturday, June 11, 2011 The Hetrick-Martin Institute held its 12th annual School's Out event at the East Hampton home of Peter Wilson and Scott Sanders. The sold out event benefitted one of the oldest and largest social services organization benefiting LGBTQ youth to celebrate the end of the school year at Harvey Milk High School and the beginning of Hetrick-Martin's summer programming.

The event premiere sponsor was Ralph Lauren polo and also drew guest appearances by political figures, leaders in the LGBTQ Community, famed fashion designers and models, such as designer Brian Atwood, with featured music by DJ Heather M.

School's Out raises money to support the more than 1,500 young people from nearly 300 zip codes in the New York tri-state area who benefit from free, year-round supportive services, hot meals, and programs which provide a safe environment for students to achieve a high scholarly performance. Right on!

"Gossip Girl" star Kelly Rutherford will host annulal Phoenix House event. (Courtesy Photo: Phoenix House)

Phoenix House, a leading non-profit provider of substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery support services will hold their annual Summer Party, hosted by "Gossip Girl" star Kelly Rutherford and "Royal Pains" star Mark Feuerstein, on Saturday, June 25, 2011. The event, which honors Elie Tahari and Julie and Bruce Menin, will raise important funds and increase awareness about addiction, treatment, and recovery. It will take place at 6 p.m. at the oceanfront home of Margie and Michael Loeb.

"Phoenix House is committed to helping men, women, and young people in the Hamptons find the road to recovery and reclaim their lives," says Phoenix House President and CEO Howard Meitiner. "For years, the Summer Party has been an evening to remember, most importantly because it celebrates Phoenix House's important work and accomplishments," said Phoenix House Board Member Charlie Walk, CEO and Founder of CWE Media, Chairman of RJW Collective and co-chair of the event.

Phoenix House provides a broad array of treatment and recovery support services for adults and adolescents throughout the country, including residential treatment, outpatient treatment, and mental health services. They also offer specialty programs for veterans, Latinos, and mothers with young children, plus ancillary services such as creative arts therapy and vocational training. The Phoenix House Academies offer intensive residential treatment alongside full-time academic education, empowering teens to find and sustain long-term recovery.

HAPPENINGS:

Southampton Social Club was packed on Friday where everyone enjoyed music from DJ Patrick Carroll.

Former "Saturday Night Live" comedian Colin Quinn had his opening weekend for his "Long Story Short" show at Guild Hall.

On Saturday, DJ Avicii played to a full crowd at new hot spot, South Pointe.

This weekend was big for live music with the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett holding 'TaukFest2011 on Friday with performances by The Montauk Project, Joe Delia and Thieves, spittinkittin, Bill Akin, Bob Stern and Terin Greene, which benefitsthe Surfrider Foundation, Eastern Long Island Chapter and the Concerned Citizens of Montauk and on Saturday The Easy All-Stars and Little Head Thinks performed.

Elm in Southampton also had live music, on Friday, Samsara and Lee Kalt to a packed crowd. Party On!

'Til next week. . .