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Allegheny County Park Foundation board member Sally McCrady, left, with Executive Director Caren Glotfelty and board member Jim Mitnick at Twilight Picnic for the Parks on Saturday at Hartwood Acres.
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SEEN: Twilight Picnic for the Parks and Cindystock

John Colombo for the Post Gazette

SEEN: Twilight Picnic for the Parks and Cindystock

Nearly 400 guests made their way to Hartwood Acres Saturday evening for Twilight Picnic for the Parks, a benefit for the Allegheny County Parks Foundation. Benny Benack III came in from New York City to entertain for the party and sit-down dinner catered by the Fluted Mushroom. Pinwheel centerpieces caught the gentle breeze and mimicked the meadow’s flowers as planned by Nancy Byrnes Events designers.

Dan Onorato (with Shelly) welcomed everyone to the event, representing Highmark, the presenting sponsor. He noted that Caren Glotfelty, Allegheny Parks Foundation’s executive director, will be retiring at the end of the year. Carol Brown, who founded the sculpture garden at Hartwood Acres, made a brief appearance to honor Glotfelty, who has said she will probably return as a docent for the sculpture garden.

“The parks have been so special this last year and a half,” said Glotfelty. “I am so proud of what we have been able to do ... to help make the parks better. The meadow behind us is an example of the kind of project we have brought to a park to make it special.”  

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She was delighted to find out the meadow at Hartwood was named in her honor.

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Enjoying the summer evening by the meadow were host committee members Sean Gray, Beth and Dave Short, and Veronica and Charles Toran, mingling with guests including Shelley and Walt Stoecklein, Paula Lockhart, Tim McVay and David Bush, Sally Wiggin, Janet and Harris Ferris, Gail and Bill Simpson, Paul Purdy, Lois Pruitt, Fluted Mushroom owner Lee Deiseroth and his son, Peter, David Fintan Onufer, Kirk Johnson and Henry Krakovsky.

18th Cindystock

The Cindystock concert and picnic was again held at the Franklin Park home of Cindy and Ted Yates on Saturday night. The annual event that benefits local cancer organizations and screenings featured four bands and was a tribute to Mrs. Yates’ mother, Dolly Bandula, who died due to COVID-19 last year. 

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“I am just so excited to have this yard filled with people again,” Mrs. Yates said, thanking guests for their support.

The buffet-style picnic included sweet and hot sausage and chicken sandwiches, pasta salad and homemade cupcakes for dessert. Rocking the night away were the Yateses’ daughters, Maura and Makiala, Sean and Cindi McDowell, Judy Sapos, Bonny Diver and Jamie Hall, WTAE-TV’s Andrew Stockey with Jenn Daley, Lyn and Walt Robertson, Rebecca Whitlinger, Melonie and Jeff Piatt, and Renee Adams.

Patricia Sheridan: psheridan@post-gazette.com.

First Published: August 24, 2021, 9:36 a.m.

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Allegheny County Park Foundation board member Sally McCrady, left, with Executive Director Caren Glotfelty and board member Jim Mitnick at Twilight Picnic for the Parks on Saturday at Hartwood Acres.  (John Colombo for the Post Gazette )
Ted and Cindy Yates are the founders of Cindystock, an annual benefit at their Franklin Park home for local cancer organizations and screening. The 18th annual event was held Saturday.  (Ted and Cindy Yates)
Host committee members David Onufer, left, and Paul Purdy at Hartwood Acres.  (John Colombo for the Post-Gazette )
Highmark sponsors Mary Starusko, left, and Christa Fleck at Hartwood Acres.  (John Colombo for the Post-Gazette )
Serving cupcakes at Cindystock on Saturday were Denise Vay, left, John Slekar and Patty Twidwell.
Guests are served dinner under tents at Hartwood Acres on Saturday at the Twilight Picnic for the Parks.  (John Colombo for the Post-Gazette)
Host committee members Sean Gray, left, with Beth and David Short at Twilight Picnic for the Parks on Saturday at Hartwood Acres.  (John Colombo for the Post-Gazette)
The Benny Benack Band performs at Twilight Picnic for the Parks on Saturday at Hartwood Acres  (John Colombo for the Post-Gazette)
Walt and Shelley Stoecklein at Twilight Picnic for the Parks on Saturday at Hartwood Acres.  (John Colombo for the Post-Gazette)
Henry Krakovsky, left, Lois Pruitt and Kirk Johnson at Twilight Picnic for the Parks on Saturday at Hartwood Acres.  (John Colombo for the Post-Gazette)
Gail and Bill Simpson at Twilight Picnic for the Parks on Saturday at Hartwood Acres.  (John Colombo for the Post-Gazette)
David, left, and Leigh Pugliano and Devon Mitchell at Twilight Picnic for the Parks on Saturday at Hartwood Acres.  (John Colombo for the Post-Gazette)
Shelly and Dan Onorato at Twilight Picnic for the Parks on Saturday at Hartwood Acres.  (John Colombo for the Post-Gazette)
John Colombo for the Post Gazette
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