How Nassau Chapter No. 718 Turned Baldwin Bowl
into Long Island’s Must-Attend Charity Affair
Custom sparkle. Luxury prizes. And a Caribbean getaway that left the winner breathless — well, almost.
The clatter of pins against polished wood … the rustle of veils brushing past scoreboards … the unmistakable hum of seventy-plus voices laughing, cheering, and calling out frame-by-frame updates to teammates across the room. That was the soundscape at Baldwin Bowl & Lounge this past Sunday, April 12th, where Nassau Chapter No. 718, Order of the Eastern Star, hosted the kind of afternoon that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about charity bowling.
Three Dots from the Lanes
The doors opened and the energy never dipped … Nearly every lane claimed before the first hour was up … W. Leslie Jacobs, the chapter’s Worthy Matron, gliding between groups with the ease of someone who understands that leadership is showing up everywhere at once … W. Amari Daniel-Bey, Worthy Patron, spotted coordinating the Ultimate Crew Challenge with the focus of a tournament director and the grin of someone having the time of his life … R.W. Rosetta Cargin, Associate Matron and Past Matron, greeting arriving guests alongside her husband R.W. Martin Richards, Associate Patron, both of them radiating the kind of institutional warmth that makes newcomers feel like lifelong members …
Fashion Forward, Bowling Backward (in the Best Way)
The costume contest was supposed to be a sideshow. It became the main event. Pandora’s Magic Box didn’t just win first place for Best Outfit — they redefined what “dressed for bowling” means for the foreseeable future. Picture this: an entire team adorned in pearls, wearing tiaras that caught the fluorescent light like chandeliers, white veils cascading behind them as they approached their lane with the solemnity of a coronation procession. Behind them — in spirit and in the rankings — came Monique Perry’s crew rocking custom sparkled “Gutta Gang” tees that turned every high-five into a small fireworks display. Between the two teams, the phrase “casual Sunday” suffered a permanent defeat.
Camelia’s Caribbean Surprise
The raffle table groaned with prizes all afternoon. Door prizes came and went. But when the grand drawing arrived, the room contracted into a single held breath. The name pulled: Camelia. The prize: a $3,000 all-inclusive escape to the Dominican Republic, courtesy of Ultimate Soul Escape. What followed was less a reaction and more a seismic event — a full-throated outpouring of joy from the woman who runs C&C Quality Nails in Baldwin and manages the Phenix Suites. Seventy-plus people felt that moment in their bones. Some teared up. Most cheered. Everyone understood: this is what community makes possible.
District Solidarity on Display
Among the afternoon’s attendees were faces from across the wider Nassau-Queens-Brooklyn District … R.W. Nathalie J. Smith — universally adored as “Muffy” — arrived from Floral Park Chapter No. 726, bringing her signature mix of grace and good humor … W. Mary Jane Smith traveled from Cassiopeia Chapter No. 453 to show support, her presence a quiet but powerful endorsement of everything Nassau Chapter No. 718 has built under its current leadership …
Charity with a Clear Address
The money raised on those lanes is headed somewhere specific. 1World Fest Global will receive support for its mission of weaving cultural connections across communities worldwide. Angel Hearts for Hope, a registered 501(c)(3), will direct funds toward the individuals and families who need them most. Two organizations. One shared belief: that generosity creates ripples far beyond the initial splash.
The Next Invitation Is Already on Its Way
Put a star next to Sunday, May 10th — Mother’s Day. Nassau Chapter No. 718’s Legacy Brunch will honor the women who raised us over a three-course meal, an open wine bar, and the soul-stirring sound of live music. After what unfolded at Baldwin Bowl, expectations for the chapter’s next gathering have officially been raised to unreasonable heights. Something tells me they’ll exceed them anyway.
Three dots until we meet again …
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