St. Joseph of the Pines Health System celebrated its volunteers Wednesday, April 23, with a special luncheon in Belle Meade's Henley Dining Room, complete with a gourmet meal, exceptional entertainment, special guests and presentation of the organization's distinctive award of volunteer of the year.

The Rev. Carl Naylor, St. Joseph's mission and pastoral care director's invocation included the lighting of a memorial candle by Sister Mary Zeno in honor of the volunteers who have died in the past year.

Guests, including St. Joseph volunteers under the volunteer services department, members of the board of trustee and St. Joseph Guild board and committee members, enjoyed an appetizer of rigatoni ala vodka, feasted on petit filet with morel demi accompanied by salmon dijonaise and a dessert of a warm chocolate lava cake enhanced with whip cream and fresh berries.

Guest speaker Linda Hubbard, Moore County community schools coordinator, gave the guests a descriptive overview of the school projects for which St. Joseph of the Pines' associates volunteer their time, and Ken Cormier, president and CEO of St. Joseph of the Pines, had many words of praise for the volunteers.

The volunteers were entertained by Ethan Uslan, the first place winner of the 2007 World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest in Peoria, Ill. He has performed on National Public Radio's "A Prairie Home Companion," as well as various concerts and festivals nationwide. After graduating from college, Uslan found his way to Charlotte. He is a recipient of the North Carolina Regional Artists Grant and performs regularly in the Charlotte area and beyond.

In addition to performing, Uslan serves as visiting lecturer of music at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. His first CD, "Carolina Moon," was released in 2006 for Rivermont Records.

St. Joseph of the Pines is sponsored by the Sisters of Providence and is a member of Catholic Health East.

It includes the Health center, Coventry, Belle Meade Retirement Resort, Pine Knoll Overlook and Villas and affordable senior housing of Providence Place and Red Springs.

Jeralie Andrews is the volunteer director for St. Joseph of the Pines.