Full-day CSTA fundraiser in memory of the Segallas

NORTH CANAAN — Organizers of the CSTA Fall Festival fundraiser (set for Saturday, Oct. 3) hope that this will be the first of many annual events.

CSTA stands for Claudia and Stephen Together Again.

After Claudia Segalla passed away in April 2002, following a battle with cancer, her husband and daughter (now Stacey Oates) set up a scholarship fund in her name at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.

“Through the years, Dad and I tried to change the way it was set up so we could tap into the fund to help others in the community on an emergency basis, such as Ford’s Farm when their barns burned,� Oates said. “We weren’t able to make the legal changes. Then my dad got sick with cancer and passed away.�

That was Christmas night 2008. Oates began thinking about how much he’d done for everyone, pitching in to make others’ lives better.

“He did so much for everyone. He’d go off and paint someone’s house for them.�

She became determined to follow through on his wish for a fund inspired by that giving attitude.

Oates, who started CSTA Inc. with her sister, Tess, said she was amazed at the immediate and generous response from businesses all over the area, donating services and raffle prizes.

The Fall Festival will benefit the Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center, the Center for Cancer Care Fund at Connecticut Oncology and Hematology,  the American Cancer Society Relay for Life team “What Would Stevie Do?,â€� Pet Partners and local food pantries and the Claudia and Stephen Segalla Memorial Scholarship Fund. An emergency fund will also be established to help local families in need.

There is a lot going on during the day, with special events prior to the festival and a pig roast (which begins at 2 p.m.). Most, but not all, will be held at the Great Barrington VFW.

The day begins with a yard sale at 10 a.m. A horseshoe tournament and Poker Run start at 10:30 a.m. The tournament is $25 per person, which includes festival admission. Call in advance to join. The winner will take half of the pot.

The Poker Run takes participants, traveling by motorcycle, car or truck, to five area bars and restaurants. They receive a playing card at each. Back at the VFW, the best poker hand wins a 50/50 jackpot. Tickets are $30 per driver and $10 per passenger, and include festival admission.

Festival-goers will enjoy an all-you-can-eat menu, including roast pork, hot dogs, hamburgers, roast beef and southern fried chicken breast, as well as sides and desserts.

Admission for those 10 years and older is $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Children under 10 will be admitted for $5 or a bag of non-perishable food for either a local pantry or the pet food bank.

Events include a tie-dyed T-shirt station, a bounce house, face-painting, a golf-chipping contest and crafts tables for the kids. Lucky Nails salon will offer $15 manicures, with a ticket for a drawing for a free manicure;  $5 from each will be donated to CSTA.

Music will be provided by DJ Mary Fresh and Justin Victory’s band, Undercover. There will also be a chance to register teams for next June’s Relay for Life.

A silent auction will include prizes such as a sports summer camp, power equipment and a day spa package.

Two additional raffles will offer a total of 46 prizes, from private yoga sessions, makeup consultation and acupuncture to wine and spirits, gift certificates for pizza and chocolates and merchandise at all sorts of businesses.

A 50-cent raffle for children will offer more food and ice cream, as well as fishing and bird-watching equipment and more.

To buy tickets now, call 413-329-1471 or 413-229-2887.

Anyone who cannot attend the festival but would like to make a contribution may send a check, made payable to CSTA Inc./Stacey Oates and mail it to CSTA Inc., c/o Stacey Oates, 32 Leffingwell Road, Southfield MA 01259.