The Gossip Column: May 16, 2025

WESTMINSTER … the guessing is almost over. The 2026 judging panel will be released next week, putting to rest all the speculation about who is judging and who will have the honor to judge Best in Show. While I haven't been privy to who is on the panel, I have my pick for who will judge Best in Show. If you skipped this year’s event, you missed the start of something grand. The daytime venue is clean, bright, airy and spacious, and the employees are pleasant, helpful and eager to help. It took several years, and STURZ & COMPANY made it happen. Tickets for the evening judging at Madison Square Garden are on sale on Ticketmaster. Don't forget, WESTMINSTER will be held a week earlier this year, but the venues — the Javits Center and Madison Square Garden — are the same. Next year it’s back to the usual February dates. ...

Things are pretty quiet at the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB since the revolution that dethroned DENNIS SPRUNG. One thing that hasn't changed is that MARY DONNELLEY, the most competent, efficient and lovely lady who has been the secretary to several past presidents, is still in the corner office, continuing to work part time as she has for the last two years. ...

If you have been wondering where MILAN LINT, aka MR. PORTUGUESE WATER DOG, has been, think Carversville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Several years ago, MILAN retired from the corporate world to concentrate on opening a restaurant and lodgings in beautiful and bucolic Bucks County. Following years of restoration and building, the doors have opened. Along with his partner MICHAEL BERLIN, their dream has been realized with the opening of their gourmet restaurant, the CARVERSVILLE INN. Wishing MILAN & MICHAEL the best of luck in their venture. ...

Also absent from view is PAM BEALE.  PAM and husband JOHN are the owners of CORNWELLS on Beacon Street, just a baseball’s throw away from FENWAY PARK, home of the dreaded BOSTON RED SOX. This written by a true NEW YORK YANKEE fan. There isn't a BOSTON RED SOX fan who hasn't drown their tears in CORNWELLS’ beer. It’s a rite of spring, as is the case again this year: Like most years, they are in second place behind the first-place NEW YORK YANKEES. Much to the joy of AMY GREEN and the misery of TUNI CONTI. We love PAM & JOHN and forgive them for feeding the enemy — even RED SOX have to eat. Play ball!