While the University Medical Center at Princeton is expected to announce the location of its new campus any day now, with sites in both Plainsboro and West Windsor reportedly under strong consideration, one important part of the hospital is already a West Windsor-based operation — this year’s 52nd annual Hospital Fete, co-chaired by two West Windsor residents.
Hosted by the Auxiliary of the University Medical Center at Princeton, and raising funds to establish the UMCP’s new Breast Health Center, the Fete kicks off Friday, June 10, with the annual dinner dance, and continues rain or shine on Saturday, June 11, at Princeton Stadium. Translating this year’s theme — Let’s Move to the Groove of the 60s — into reality is the challenge for West Windsor co-chairs Christine Calandra and Brooke Rossi, neither of whom is old enough to have moved or grooved back in the 1960s. Rossi is just barely 26 years old. The elder, Calandra, is 28.
According to Calandra, this fete is being dedicated to the young and the young at heart. “We chose the Groovy Theme and its relationship to Woodstock because we wanted to stress the entertainment angle. We’ve spent a lot of time with the entertainment to reach out to different age groups. Entertainment will be going on all around the stadium all day long. There shouldn’t be anyone who can’t find something that appeals to them.”
Adds Rossi: “Other members of the auxiliary were so excited when we came up with this idea. They instantly started reminiscing all about the ‘60s and ‘70s, and wanted to tell us about it. My parents are from the ‘60s, so we know all the music because we grew up listening to it. I remember when my parents were groovy. They still think they’re groovy, just not as groovy as they used to be.”
“Our biggest goals are to bring in people who haven’t been to the fete in several years or who have never been. We’ve brought back the Classic Car show, and have added home improvement exhibits to attract more men. We’ve improved the sports alley games and the inflatable rides so that the entire family can participate, not just little kids bouncing on the rubber tiger.”
For the younger set, the pony rides, obstacle course, giant slide, bungee walk, dunk tank, and climbing wall are sure-to-please. The more mature will want to peruse the garden tent, visit the classic car show, sample international cuisine, purchase handcrafted gifts, grab a bargain at the charity auction, or just cruise through the flea market.
Although not old, both women are old hands at volunteering. “I started out doing the fete as a child because my mom was involved and she wanted me to be active in community service,” says Calandra. “So we would go every year. About five years ago I helped her chair the car raffle. Then, for the 50th Anniversary, I handled publicity and Brooke handled children’s events. We co-chaired children’s last year, and then were asked to be co-chairs of the entire event this year.”
Calandra and her husband, Jeff, a financial planner with UBS, own Wildflowers Horse Farm on Cranbury Road. Their first child, Grace, was born three weeks ago in Princeton hospital, the fourth generation in Calandra’s family born there. Calandra graduated in 1998 with a BA in communications and elementary education from Muhlenberg College, with a minor in equine science.
Calandra took over the farm that her family has owned the farm almost six years ago, and met Rossi when she hired her as a riding instructor.
Calandra’s father, Patrick Greber, who chairs the fete’s painting and security committee, is CEO of Mershon Concrete in Bordentown. Her mother, Bettie, is responsible for corporate solicitations for this fete, and served as chair for its 50th anniversary. She is the retired executive director of the Space Studies Institute in Rocky Hill.
“People ask us why we’re doing this,” Rossi says. “Both Christine and I have friends and relatives who are survivors. I think young women are the ones it really sneaks up on. And it’s mostly young women that it really gets. I think when you’re younger, the cancer in your breast can grow so much faster.”
Rossi grew up in Medford and graduated in 2002 from Delaware Valley College with a BS in equine science in 2002. Her father, Patrick Rossi, is director of Xenova, a brain tumor research institute in Mount Laurel. Her mother, Deborah, is a physical education teacher at Voorhees Middle School.
Rossi’s aunt, Jamie Calehuf, died last July just six months after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, at the age of 40. She left behind three children in California. “I’ve talked to them and told them that I’m doing this for their mom,” said Rossi. “And that is why Christine and I push — she has someone in her family as well.”
Adds Calandra: “This is definitely the biggest thing that Brooke or I have ever done. It’s huge. What drew us to the breast health center, because neither of us are in the mammogram age group yet, is that the center will give you results while you wait. And it provides total and complete care. The support groups will be there, radiation — they’ll have everything. Right now, some of the women we work with on the auxiliary have to drive over an hour to get these services.”
Having never taken on a project of this magnitude before, why did they step forward? “Ignorance is bliss,” jokes Calandra. “We’ve learned very good time management skills. It requires tapping into your resources and getting your friends on board. Out of 70 area chairs, around 30 of them are somehow linked to the barn. We’ve got students and their parents involved. The entire children’s area will be run by my clients from the barn. The girls come out every year.
“We have area chairs who are working with us that are breast cancer survivors. And they’ve been unbelievable. We have an exceptional crew working under us.”
This year the fete is open both Friday night and all-day Saturday. All of the children’s activities, plus the sports alley, several food and beverage areas, lane of shops, and the gardens will be open on Friday night from 6 to 8 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The annual dinner dance will be in Jadwin Gym from 9 to midnight on Friday night. Approximately 30 different bands will perform back-to-back on three different stages, all day on Saturday, with the main event, The Lovin’ Spoonful, on Weaver Track at 1 p.m. All bands have agreed to perform free of charge.
“We have America’s Best Frisbee Dogs, who have done over 500 NBA and NFL halftime shows,” Calandra says. “We have more food vendors than ever before. When we look at that we know we’re kicking butt. At this point, we’re just praying for good weather. Luckily, we’re at the stadium so there’s no mud factor, and there’s shelter if it starts to rain. We’re really hoping for day-of sales. In years past, corporate donations have really helped to counter the bad weather. But this year, we’ve put so much focus on day-of attendance that we’re really hoping to see a jump in numbers.”
When asked to name their favorite part of the fete, Calandra says that “Brooke and I are both really big into the goldfish. But I love raw clams and for the past couple of years we haven’t had them at the fete. And I wasn’t allowed to have them when I pregnant. So I told our food chair, a good friend of ours from the barn, I want clams on the half shell!”
Those who need to relieve themselves after a stressful work week will be inevitably drawn down the causeway by the sound of breaking dishes. Just follow the sound — believe it or not, just listening to the noise that breaking china makes refreshes one’s spirit. This year, the traditional china smash booth, where a turn can be purchased to rocket a few well-aimed baseballs off of Lenox plates (seconds, for sure) will be augmented by a new booth called Break Mom’s Stuff. Thanks to Jordan’s Cards and Gifts in New Brunswick which, upon going out of business, donated the contents of its entire store, this year there are all sorts of things to smash.
“We’ve changed the name to Break Mom’s Stuff,” says Calandra, “and added cups and vases, frames and figurines of things like statues of cats without both ears — all sorts of things to take out your aggression on. Things that you would see, but not normally be allowed to touch, in your mother’s house.”
“Fifty-two years for a charity event is just unheard of,” admits Calandra. “It’s a long-standing Princeton tradition. And there are very few events in our area that have so many years behind them. We hope people will come out and raise money for the BHC, but even if they don’t buy one hotdog, we hope they’ll come for the free concerts and the Frisbee Dogs, and all of the other free offerings. It’s really about raising awareness and good will.”
June Fete Dinner Dance, University Medical Center at Princeton Auxiliary, Jadwin Gym, Princeton University, 609-497-4069. Silent auction, dinner, and dancing to the sounds of Jukebox Heroes. Cash bar. $100 to $1,”000. Friday, June 10, 6 p.m.
Hospital Fete, Princeton University Football Stadium, 609-497-4069. Admission free; parking donation. Proceeds benefit the University Medical Center at Princeton’s Breast Health Center. Saturday, June 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
