Design center puts on a ‘Pinkout’ to raise awareness

To raise breast-cancer awareness throughout the community, the Dakota Design Center in Merrick kicked off its “Pinkout” event at its Merrick Road showroom last Friday.

Dakota Design owner Patricia Sakedo, events coordinator Randi Satnick and senior designer Christina Piekut were joined by New York State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. and Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion. Kasmir Fabrics and Frills & Things of Bellmore donated the ribbons.

Local residents, including two Kennedy High School seniors, also strutted down a runway for a special fashion show to cap off the night. Runway Couture and Salon Nouveau, both of Bellmore, arranged the show.

Throughout October, Dakota Design will hang pink ribbons on Merrick and Bellmore streets to continue the Pinkout, and will encourage local businesses to “go pink.”

Four Long Island-based charities were also on hand — the 1 in 9 Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition, the NY Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program at Adelphi University, the Carol M. Baldwin Research Fund and the F.A.C.T. Foundation.