By Mark Abromaitis
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Delicately carved ice sculptures and elaborate handmade decorations adorned the Brinton Clubhouse, a big band orchestra filled the air with rhythmic melodies, and a menu from the finest local restaurants made mouths water.

Maris Grove celebrated its one-year anniversary by holding its first annual gala. Community members, staff, and people from the surrounding area came together to party into the night.

A trip through the Brandywine Valley
“This wasn’t just a celebration of our beautiful campus or the bricks and mortar,” Executive Director Maureen Heckler says.

“This was a party about our people. It’s the residents and employees and  supporters of Maris Grove who make it such a special place. That’s what we are celebrating with the gala.”

Guests to the black-tie event were welcomed to the entrance of the clubhouse with music, backlit luminaires, and hundreds of strung lights. Inside, an elaborate model of a mill and handmade artificial trees lined the walls and set the mood for the night’s autumn theme—“The Gifts of the Brandywine Valley.” Guests could stroll from room to room over elaborately crafted replicas of local historic bridges.

Food, friends, and festivities
“We’ve seen the employees and the residents in the wood shop working for months at little projects, and we didn’t know what they were doing,” says gala guest and Maris Grove resident Betty Zelesnick. “And when we saw the decorations and how beautiful they were, we knew right away; it was amazing!”

She adds, “The amount of work that must have gone into planning this party was huge. It was so special. It was such a magical night.”

Guests could stroll through the decorated rooms and sample food and wine as they went. Local restaurants and vineyards provided their signature creations for guests to enjoy.