It was a shocking day in December 2009 when the East End farming and food community learned of the death of Josh Levine, who was crushed by a tractor while doing his job at Quail Hill Farm. By the next summer his father, Myron, had recovered enough to create a foundation in his son’s name, a way to continue the work Josh loved to do: to care for the earth and teach his children their way around a garden. That year was the first fund-raising dinner, and together with Slow Food, the foundation has been able to provide stipends for students who wish to become farmers.
This year’s fund-raiser will return to the American Hotel for the dinner, but the pre-dinner cocktail party has outgrown its previous home at the Bay Street Theater; this year guests will gather at Dodds & Eder in Sag Harbor, a garden design and outdoor door, which can hold more than 250 people.
The new space will allow the fund-raiser to take on bigger goals, says Myron Levin, Josh’s father, including a silent and an on-line auction. “The auction will feature, among other things, foursomes at the best golf courses on the East End, dinners at the best restaurants and gift certificates from a variety of local merchants.” he says, adding, “The venues, all the food and wine for the dinner and for the pre-dinner party is donated by the area’s local farms, boatmen, vineyards and merchants.”
Visit the foundation’s website to buy a ticket for the 7 p.m. dinner on Sunday, April 6 ($175, $150 for Slow Food members). The cocktail party and auctions start at 5 p.m.; tickets are $75.
