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Arts & Entertainment

Photos, Video: BACCA Honors, Supports Local Arts

Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts holds annual gala at Chateau La Mer in Lindenhurst, honoring Babylon Town resident, Jim McGarrity, and featuring 'Best of BACCA' performances.

 in Lindenhurst became a theater - and a stage, and an easel, and a concert hall.

That's all because the best of Town's arts was on display as part of the (BACCA) Fourth Annual .

is a non-profit that has been sponsoring and promoting the arts throughout the town for more than 35 years.

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The celebrates the best of BACCA, and those responsible for cultivating art, , music - all endeavors of in our area.

BACCA holds , art exhibits, , as well as classes to help grow the next generation of painters and performers.

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Many are held at BACCA's Performing Arts Center on North Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst.

The of the center is one of BACCA's proudest moments, according to Board Member and Treasurer Jim McGarrity.

"Prior to that all of our programs had to be held at outside locations. Now we have so many , concerts, plays, children's theater; it's just a fantastic organization," McGarrity said.

McGarrity was the guest of honor at this year's gala, receiving the Senator Lifetime Arts Achievement Award. The award is named after the state senator, who's been a generous benefactor of the arts over the years.

McGarrity has been a North Babylon resident for more than 40 years, and is chairperson of BACCA's Youth Theater Awards program. He's also done extensive work raising funds for ALS research, having lost his wife to the disease in 1994.

"He's quite active in the community on a broad range of things...he's an excellent gentleman and well deserving of this award," said BACCA Board President, and Lindenhurst Village Administrator, Shawn Cullinane.

Indeed, the Best of BACCA was the highlight of the gala. Members of the youth theater performed scenes from Godspell, Jr., and Youth Theater Award recipients Dilara Altuner and Luke Van Putten performed solo numbers.

Cast members from Groucho - A Life in Revue did their best Marx Brothers impression, and local bluegrass mainstay Buddy Merriam did a set, as well. The in is a highlight of BACCA's calendar each August, and Merriam said 's support is vital to the local bluegrass movement.

"I can't do enough for [BACCA]. It means so much to me, [and] bluegrass has been my whole life," he said. "I'm behind this festival 100 percent, and really appreciative of everyone here that supports it."

 

Be sure to take a look back at the video and photo highlights of this year's Gala through the .

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