The Crystal Winter Gala -- a time for celebration

A candle and wine bottles are centerpieces for the beautifully prepared tables for guests at the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal greets guests at the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal poses for a keepsake photo with Mayor Pat Murphy, right, and Fran and Bill Babbino during the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce's 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013 at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

Danielle Van Doren, left, president of the New Milford Animal Welfare Society, chats with Debbie Hartman of the Savings Bank of Danbury during the cocktail hour at the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

Hannes Callisen of New Milford selects a vegetable spring roll from the tray of hors d'oeuvres server Bob Thompson during the cocktail hour at the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

More than 200 people attended the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Among those in attendance were, from the top center, clockwise, Katherine Webster-OíKeefe and her husband, Bob OíKeefe, Yvonne and Wayne Locke of New Milford, Jenn and J.D. Gattie and Monica and Richard Herrington of Bridgewater, Gail Cowan of Bethel and Gary Passineau of New Milford, and Hedy and Richard Kinney of Kent. Photo: Deborah Rose

Cheryl Bakewell, at the podium, the president of the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce joins the Chamber Board of Directors in a toast before dinner during the Chamberís Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Those joining Ms. Bakewell in the toast are, from left to right, New Milford police Chief Shawn Boyne, Andrea Rynn, Bill Babbino, Annette Field, first vice president Bob Hanna, Cecilia Buck-Taylor, second vice president Michael Gold, Tammy Reardon, Jennifer Birdseye, Cindie Nimiera, executive director Denise Del Mastro, Darren Piper, Lori Gordon, Bonnie Blackman, Richard Herrington, Rebecca Guendelsberger, Katherine Webster-OíKeefe and administrative assistant Kate Gray. Spectrum/After Cathy Setterlin of New Milford gets assistance with a spinning demonstration from Isabella Gimenez, Ms. Setterlin ties a woven bracelet onto the seven-year-old's wrist at Sunny Valley Preserve's Open Farm Day held Sept. 17, 2011 in New Milford. Photo: Deborah Rose

John NeJaime, right, owner of the New Milford Spirit Shoppe and NeJaimeís Wine & Spirits in New Milford and NeJaimeís Fine Wine & Spirits in Watertown, was presented the Chamberís Business Award during the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Above, Mr. NeJaime is congratulated by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, who also gave Mr. NeJaime a certificate of recognition from the U.S. Senate. Photo: Deborah Rose

New Milford resident Bill Babbino, former longtime president of the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce, was given the Chamberís Lifetime Achievement Award at the organizationís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Above, Mr. Babbino, right, is congratulated by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who also presented Mr. Babbino with a special recognition certificate from the U.S. Senate. Photo: Deborah Rose

New Milford resident Bill Babbino, former longtime president of the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce, celebrates the recognition with his wife, Fran, and others at his table after being presented the organization's Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chamberís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

Jon and Joan Clow of New Milford show their fancy footwork as they dance to ìMack the Knifeî during the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

Webster Bank employee Jami Dohoney, left, shares a photo with her colleagues Jennifer Birdseye and Debbie Ouellette during the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Spectrum/After Cathy Setterlin of New Milford gets assistance with a spinning demonstration from Isabella Gimenez, Ms. Setterlin ties a woven bracelet onto the seven-year-old's wrist at Sunny Valley Preserve's Open Farm Day held Sept. 17, 2011 in New Milford. Photo: Deborah Rose

Yvonne Locke of New Milford and Jon Kinney of Kent dance to ìAinít No Sunshineî at the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

Rob and Nancy Grenier of New Milford slow dance to ìAt Last,î performed by Higher & Higher during the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

The Venetian table of desserts attracts a crowd of guests. Above, from left to right, Kim Johnson and Marie Crawford of New Milford and M.J. Grillo of New Fairfield debate which desserts to try during the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

Den and Nila Taylor, formerly of New Milford and now of Delaware, dance to ìAt Lastî during the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

New Milford residents Jeff Kilberg, left, and Dimitri Kouloris offer a toast after dinner at the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

Cheryl Bakewell, left, president of the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce, and Chamber director Cindie Niemiera enjoy a spin around the dance floor during the Chamber's 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

Ivan and Dawn Shiffman don festive hats before having a keepsake photo taken in a photo booth at the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís 15th annual Crystal Winter Gala, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose

In recognition of the 15th anniversary of the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerceís Crystal Winter Gala, an ornate ice sculpture, approximately four feet high, took center stage at the Jan. 26, 2013, gala event held at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. Photo: Deborah Rose