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EVERYONE'S A WINNER AT HOWELL'S FIRST CASINO NIGHT
By Keith Hagarty
 | | --Photo Courtesy Of Howell Chamber Of Commerce Enjoying a hand of blackjack at Howell's recent Casino Night at Our House Restaurant and Tavern are (l-r): Councilman Mike Howell; George Krebs, chairperson of the Howell Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation; Dr. Anthony Novembre, chairperson of the Howell Township Education Foundation; and his wife, Diane. |
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A cold, wet wintry mess couldn't dampen the spirits of nearly 100 patrons who tested their luck at blackjack, roulette, poker and more at Howell's first ever Casino Night.
Organized through a cooperative partnership between the Howell Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Foundation and the Howell Township Education Foundation (HTEF), Casino Night raised over $2,500 for each of the non-profit organizations.
"Given the horrible weather that day, we thought the turnout was very good," said George Krebs, who co-chaired the event with HTEF Chairman Dr. Anthony Novembre. "As far as the money earned for scholarships, we really had no concrete expectations because we had not held one of these casino nights before."
Recently held at Our House Restaurant and Tavern on Adelphia Road, Casino Night turned into a big draw for the community,
"Overall, I think we were quite satisfied with the end result," said Krebs.
Each guest bought $50 worth of initial "funny money" to gamble with, and had the option of purchasing additional amounts as the night went along. At the end of the night, players cashed their winnings in for a wide array of raffle prizes donated by local businesses and generous contributors.
Though it will never be confused with the spectacle of Las Vegas, Atlantic City or Monte Carlo, transforming the restaurant and banquet hall into a hub of glitzy entertainment for a good cause is what it's all about.
"Personally, I enjoyed the camaraderie of the crowd the best," said Krebs. "Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves," he said.
As the peak hours of the evening rose, the tables were completely full with gamers, as Krebs proudly recalled his own hot streak.
"From a success perspective, I was on fire on the roulette wheel, but I also enjoyed playing blackjack as well," he said. "I only wish I could do so well with real currency!"
As the night winded down, Krebs said organizers and the volunteer staff were both excited for the night's success but also exhausted.
"Some of us had more of a chance to relax than others," Krebs joked. "I would like to specifically mention three people who never seemed to stop working that night: Sue Dominguez, Sara Andreyev and Gene Young."
Some of the sponsors who contributed to the event included Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, Bureau of Accounts Control, Commerce Bank, Howell Glass, Howell PBA 228, Young's Appliance Sales and Service, Chick-Fil-A, Chapter House Restaurant, Carino's Italian Grill, Emilio's Pizza, Applebee's Restaurant, the Lakewood BlueClaws, Assemblyman Joseph Malone, Sheryl Gambarella, president of the Howell Chamber of Commerce and owner of Bureau of Accounts Control, Howell General Glazing, Little Hat Marketing, Shore Business Solutions and desserts donated by Sweet Indulgence Bakery.
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