The Friends of the College of Staten Island cordially invite the Staten Island community to attend their Fall Literary Brunch featuring Jay Price, former Staten Island Advance sportswriter and columnist, who will discuss his book Thanksgiving 1959 on Sunday, October 24, 2010 from 11:00am to 2:00pm at the CSI Campus Center.

Thanksgiving 1959 takes the reader on a nostalgic trip back in time Staten Island the way it was “before the bridge,” and how a football game played on Thanksgiving day between rivaling Curtis and New Dorp teams became as much a holiday tradition as turkey and pumpkin pie.

Harvey Araton of The New York Times wrote, “Thanksgiving 1959, is a one-size-fits-all American homecoming, a soaring tale and tribute that strips away the gloss and commercialism of modern sport and reminds us of how and why we fell in love with the games.”

Event Chairs are Mary Regan and Carol Berardi.

Mary F. Regan is a founding member of the Friends of the CSI and served as its President for five years. It was under her leadership that the Literary Brunch became an annual event. She was the CSI Alumni Association President for four years and is a CSI Hall of Fame honoree and recipient of the College’s Dolphin Award for distinguished service. A 1999 Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement, Regan has served as president of the boards of directors of the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art and the Lynne Robbins Steinman Foundation. A longtime educator, Regan retired as assistant to the superintendent of Brooklyn and Staten Island High Schools. She and her husband, Jim, have two daughters—Cara, a child psychologist in Rochester, NY, and Claire, associate managing editor of the Staten Island Advance.

Carol Berardi is a Staten Island Advance Women of Achievement, Class of 2002; Past President of the Friends of the College of Staten Island; Past President of the Richmond Ever-Green Garden Club; Former District Director of the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State, Inc., First District; Vice President of the Board of Skylight Center; and Vice President of the Board of Silver Mount Cemetery. She resides in Sunnyside.

According to Dr. Christine Cea, President of the Friends of CSI, “The mission the Friends has always been to explore ways to acquaint our Staten Island community with the life-enriching educational and cultural resources that CSI has to offer. One way we accomplish this mission is by inviting the community to our campus to events such as our annual Fall Literary Brunch. This year, I am particularly pleased that Jay Price will be sharing his thoughts and his writing about a piece of our island’s history.”

Raffle prizes at the event include a Tennis Basket donated by SI Community Tennis Center that includes a premium tennis racket, two hours random court time, a week of tennis camp, and two 30-minute lessons; a Book Basket that includes a family membership to the SI Historical Society (donated by SI Historical Society,) a collection of books (donated by Wilma Jones) and two tickets to the Roundabout Theater (donated by Grace Murphy) and a Wine Basket that includes a collection of premium wines (donated by the Friends of CSI.)

All proceeds will help support student scholarships and other programs at CSI. For more information call the CSI Advancement Office at 718.982.2365 by October 20, 2010. Tickets are $65, and $30 of each ticket price is tax deductible.Monies raised by the Friends of CSI are donations to the CSI Foundation. Donors receive a tax deduction based on the tax-exempt status of the CSI Foundation.

The Friends of the College of Staten Island is a volunteer organization comprised of members of the community who are dedicated to the mission and Strategic Plan of the College as outlined by the President of the College, and who have come together to devise and execute programs that will involve the community in the educational and cultural activities of CSI, promote the welfare of CSI, serve as advocates on behalf of the College, and raise funds for scholarships and/or other needs of the College.

Sportswriter Jay Price will be the featured speaker at this year’s Friends of CSI Literary Brunch.