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NewswireTODAY - /newswire/ -
Waukegan, IL, United States, 2010/08/03 - The Waukegan Public Library Foundation will host an outdoor fundraiser, August 21, 2010, from 7 to 11 pm, at five private gardens along Sheridan Road.
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For several years, the Waukegan Public Library has coped on the fly with an aging infrastructure. When the roof leaks, staff use buckets to catch the drips. Now, the library’s foundation board is raising funds to effect a more permanent solution. The board plans to host its first fundraiser, an elegant Starry Night Gala, August 21, from 7 to 11 p.m., amid the starlit gardens of five private homes in Waukegan’s historic district.
Befitting a library event, each garden will showcase a classic novel or literary theme, with live music, hors d’ oeuvres, alcoholic beverages and decor that conspire to recreate the literary setting.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
936 N. Sheridan Road
Big band sounds, wine tastings and Roaring Twenties appetizers
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
915 N. Sheridan Road
Classical string music, vodka sampling and hors d’ oeuvres
The Secret Garden by Frances Hogson Burnett
927 N. Sheridan Road
Vocal melodies, a coffee bar and sweets
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
906 N. Sheridan Road
Jazz ensemble, bourbon and scotch tastings, southern hors d’ oeuvres and a cigar lounge
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
218 Gillette Avenue
Sultry music selections, aperitif tastings and flaming-hot appetizers
Caribbean Tribute to Earnest Hemingway
918 N. Sheridan Road
Steel drum band, microbrew samples and Latin American flavors
The event is open to the public, and tickets are on sale now for $50 each at the library’s website, waukeganpl.org. Guests must be 21 years or older, with evening attire recommended. Complimentary parking is available in lots off Sheridan Road, just north of Grand Avenue. From there, guests may board a free trolley to and from the event registration area, at 907 N. Sheridan Road. In the event of rain, the gala will take place in seven private lounges at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee Street.
Attendees may pick up an order form at the registration area, offering special pricing on each beverage available for sampling at the various gardens. Orders will be available for pickup after the event at a designated retail establishment.
“The library has been around for 112 years, making a difference in people’s lives and serving the diverse needs of our community,” says DJ Leonhardt, foundation board member. “It’s exciting to see so many residents come together to show their support—from our garden hosts, to city officials, and all the local caterers, musicians and suppliers. This event reflects the true spirit of Waukegan.”
All proceeds will go toward repairs to the library’s infrastructure, including replacing its leaky roof and windows with new, energy-efficient “green” models. The library also hopes to update its aging HVAC system to help control humidity levels and ensure the safety of one of the largest book collections in Lake County.
“Our circulation shot up 35 percent this fiscal year compared to last,” said Elizabeth Stearns, Assistant Director of Community Services. “At the same time, state funding plummeted. We’re indebted to our foundation for taking steps to help keep the library not only vital, but viable.” The Waukegan Public Library Foundation (waukeganpl.org) is governed by a board of seven members, commissioned by the library’s trustees to develop programs that focus public attention on library services and needs, and support its development.
Leonhardt, who drove the planning of the Starry Night Gala, calls it an inaugural event—the first of many festivities designed to recognize and celebrate one of Waukegan’s cornerstones.
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