Resort Report: Friends group hands out Spirit of Wethersfield Award
AMENIA, New York ― Arts advocate Barbara Tober was the honoree at the annual luncheon of the Friends of Wethersfield Gardens.
The event, calling for "festive garden hats," took place Sept. 3 at Wethersfield Gardens.
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Elizabeth Mayhew, Tim Mayhew, Christopher Spitzmiller and Anthony Bellomo were chairwoman and chairmen of the luncheon, which included a reception in the gardens, lunch and the presentation of The Spirit of Wethersfield Award to Tober.
Presenter Marion deVogel cited Tober's tireless devotion to preserving the beauty and accessibility of Wethersfield as a board member, as a founding member of the Friends group and as an advocate for making arts and culture accessible to the public.
“In 2017, when Wethersfield needed help, Barbara was at the front of the line, contributing her immense wisdom," deVogel said. "With Barbara’s encouragement and underwriting, bridle trails have been rebuilt; carriage driving competitions and exhibitions have returned; seasonal dance, art, and music performances has been added for adults and children, and, this year, Barbara contributed the largest unrestricted gift to Wethersfield ... to inspire others in our community to give.”
The afternoon continued with dessert and a live auction led by chairman Mayhew.
More than 350 people attended, including board members Nancy Hathaway, Kelly Morgan, Farnham Collins, Bernadette Murray, Candace Platt, Stanley Stillman, Jacqueline Thorne and George Whalen, IV; as well as Carolina Gunnarsson Kim, Meghan Klopp, Deanna Mulligan, Bernadette Murray, Claire Mann, Julie and Jim Dale, Lacey Schwartz Delgado James Brayton Hall, Mary Hilliard, past chairwoman Karen Klopp, Peter Lyden, Katie Ridder and Peter Pennoyer, Carolyne Roehm, Jill and Peter Kraus, Kalliope and Michael Rena, Alease Fisher Tallman, and Ashley Whittaker.
Proceeds from the luncheon are earmarked for the restoration, preservation and enhancement of the estate’s garden and grounds as well as for the creation of both cultural and recreational programming for the community.
Wethersfield Estate & Garden has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of the Interior for its significance in architecture, landscape architecture, conservation, the arts and entertainment/recreation.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Resort Report: Friends group hands out Spirit of Wethersfield Award
