Sarah Ellen Rindsberg reports from Washington, CT. Not even the torrential downpour on the evening of Saturday, May 10 could dampen the spirits at the After School Arts Program’s (ASAP) 9th annual Celebration of Young Writers. Partygoers gathered under a tent in front of the First Congregational Church in Washington to enjoy hors d’oeuvres from Anne Gallagher Catering and sip libations from County Wine and Spirits. Items in the silent auction included a teen party with Chef Gallagher, a Marcel Breuer and John Johansen house tour and a vintage 1954 Fender Stratocaster guitar. As a rainbow appeared in the sky, attendees proceeded to enter the church for the evening’s program hosted by internationally known author and broadcaster Frank Delaney. The works of 13 young writers were read by local luminaries including Ellen McCourt, an ASAP devotee who attended many previous events with her late husband, the Pulitzer Prize winning author (for Angela's Ashes) Frank McCourt. But it wasn’t only young writers who were being celebrated at the event; teachers Anthony Weymouth of Washington Primary School and Mark Truini of Westover School in Middlebury received the Frank McCourt Prize for Excellence in Teaching. ASAP, founded in 1999, brings in arts professionals to conduct workshops in schools in Washington, Bridgewater, Roxbury, Woodbury, Litchfield, New Milford, Torrington and Waterbury. Above, Ellen McCourt, ASAP Executive Director JoAnne Torti and Angie Silverstein gather under the tent.
Rati Madan, who is in the jewelry business, and Suzanne Day, a board member of the Washington Scholarship Fund; Brian Lancaster, William L. Fuchs, Steven Fuchs and Anna L. Fuchs. (William and Anna are ASAP camp alumni.)
Author Frank Delaney presenting the evening's program in honor of Hugh Rawson, longtime friend and ASAP board member; Chris Smith, ASAP board member, with Emelie Samuelson.
Randy Lehrer, Wendy Louers,U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal,Kathleen Bakewell and Jane Whitney.
ASAP Board President Jill Faherty Lloyd and Carol Lenz, grandmother of ASAP camp participants; Visko Hatfield, an ASAP board member and freelance photographer, with Sophie Guillemette and ASAP volunteer Sarah Guillemette, and the rainbow in the background.
Written by
Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
