The Glen Cove Beautification Commission — the volunteer group behind the city’s colorful murals, seasonal flower plantings, and litter-prevention drives — will hold its first-ever fundraising celebration on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at The Metropolitan, 3 Pratt Blvd. The event aims to raise money to expand projects that keep Glen Cove’s parks, beaches, and public spaces clean, green, and visually appealing while building community pride. Commission Chair Lora Cusumano said the event is designed to help the group scale up its efforts beyond what the municipal budget can cover. “ We have been saying we would like to do a fundraiser because if we can get some more donations we will be able to do more great work with either doing beautification things or litter prevention events throughout the city,” Cusumano said. “We want to be able to do more for our community.” While the commission is established by the City of Glen Cove and receives an annual budget line, Cusumano said private support will let volunteers take on more projects. Beautification commissioner Barbara Peebles, who is chairing the event, said the night is about awareness and momentum. “We’re a 501c3, and it’s our first fundraiser but it’s not about just fundraising. Of course, we want to raise some money but this all about community engagement.” She added that the group is prioritizing “projects because we want them to be visible so that the whole community sees it,” emphasizing that “it’s all volunteer.” Peebles said she expects the event to spur new sign-ups by showing how flexible the time commitment can be. “I believe more people will volunteer because they’ll be able to better understand that when you volunteer, it could be as little or as much as you want,” she said. She noted the commission often pairs its outreach with community events so residents can pick up literature or donate clothing that generates modest revenue for projects. The commission’s recent work includes the 60-foot Mill Hill mural, seasonal cleanups at Pryibil Beach and citywide tulip plantings. The mural also sparked a new partnership. Kiwanis Club of Glen Cove President Ann-Marie Gailius, who lives near the Mill Hill retaining wall, recalled greeting the crew. “I looked out the window and I noticed that the road was closed, and so I went down,” she said. During the hot stretch, she brought volunteers cleaning near the wall the first day, two gallons of tea and a box of cookies, returned with more refreshments, and spent some time with volunteers. Gailius said she was “very pleased to see that this time around they were addressing Mill Hill, because this is a very old and very historical part of town.” Peebles said she agreed to lead the inaugural fundraiser to elevate the mission. “I was happy to volunteer to chair our first fundraising event. A terrific opportunity to raise awareness, engage the community, and raise funds to implement our growing list of projects!” she said. Cusumano framed the goal simply: “Every dollar raised helps us do more — from planting flowers and trees to keeping our parks and beaches clean. Together, we can make Glen Cove the best place to live, work, or visit.” To purchase tickets, become a sponsor or donate, contact Barbara Peebles at bpeebles@optonline.net. Checks may be made payable to Glen Cove Beautification and mailed to One Laurel Avenue, Glen Cove.
