Big Names at Housantic Valley Association Benefit

Dale Stewart reports from Washington, Connecticut.More than one hundred exuberant bidders had their pick of a well-curated mix of local artisanal crafts and high-end auction items at the 22nd annual benefit auction for the Housatonic Valley Association at the Washington Montessori School in Washington, Connecticut, on Sunday, November 18. Items up for auction were donated from all over the region the HVA serves and ranged from an on-set experience with Chris Noth; a private studio tour of Diane von Furstenberg’s NYC flagship store; tea with Henry Kissinger; vintage 1940’s Tiffany & Co. candlesticks; and a selection of vacation packages to such tony locations as the Hotel Plaza Athenee and the Le Meurice in Paris, a week at a 13th century chateau in Provence, three nights at 45 Park Lane in London as well as stays in India, and Indonesia. The money raised at the auction helps protect the land and water within the Housatonic River watershed, which flows through the Berkshires and Connecticut to the Long Island Sound. Prior to the afternoon’s live and silent auction, actress Christine Baranski, the event’s honorary chairman, pictured above with fashion maven Linda Allard, hosted a standing rooming only pre-auction reception at the Community Table.

HGTV personality and event co-auctioneer Tim Luke with Susan Houlihan; philanthropist Kirsten Peckerman, Jane Klein and Anthony Zunino.