The Werewolves

Fun and Fundraising at St. Cecilia’s

Rock music blared in the dimly-lit St. Cecilia’s auditorium, lined with tables with green tablecloths, where a crowd of long-time Williamsburg residents gathered on Saturday to raise money for the St. Cecilia’s basketball program, which provides kids not only with an athletic program, but also educational opportunities and community support.

“We keep the kids off the street,” said Anne Pinto, the Athletic Director of St. Cecilia’s basketball. “That’s our main goal.”

Proceeds from Saturday’s fundraiser will go toward maintaining the St. Cecilia’s Roman Catholic Parish basketball program, which helps neighborhood kids get into better high schools, which in turn helps them get accepted into better colleges. The money will also help fund the On Point Cyclones, St. Cecilia’s basketball team; the gym, which is in desperate need of funding; and the general needs of the parish.

While the main objective of the event was to raise money for the program, many people showed up for the entertainment—to drink beer, eat sandwiches, enjoy live music, and party into the wee hours with the friends they grew up playing basketball with.

Indeed, Fred Rubino, a local principal who organized the night’s musical performance, said half the people at the event are former On Point Cyclones.

“Even though we played music, we are all basketball players,” said Rubino.

Although St. Cecilia’s often puts on such events, this is the first year live bands have been featured, said Pinto. The bands featured at the event used to play often at local bars and basement parties in the neighborhood during the 1970s and 1980s. In fact, all the musicians have played in this auditorium at some point before said Rubino. The acts in the line-up include The Rebels, Rice Miller, the Werewolves, the Sheehan Family, and Gray Riders.

Pinto and co-organizer Bill Pallicane said that the same people come to St. Cecilia’s events, turning the soirees into reunions. Louis Pastina of the Gray Riders grew up in Williamsburg. “To reconnect with everyone is a wonderful thing,” said Pastina. “You get to see faces you haven’t seen in 20, 30 years, it’s wonderful to come back and see them.”

Mick Curcio, a former On Point Cyclone, took the two and a half hour drive from Blackwood, New Jersey for the event. “My friends,” said Curcio. “I haven’t seen these guys for 36 years. I could cry. The people are still the same. My whole life was built here. It’s amazing.”

According to Pinto, one of the main attractions of the event is that it is a cheap and fun way to spend the evening. “Can’t drink all the beer you can drink, wine, all the food you can eat, for only $35, not around here. Here you get to see all your friends, listen to live music, even do Jello shots!”