The Audubon Center at Bent of the River in Southbury will host a distinctive fundraiser this Sunday, August 23 in the sumptuous Pine Meadows Gardens in Southbury. The “Summer’s Twilight in the Garden” event will fully benefit the Center and will be held from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m. with a rain date of Sunday, August 30th.
“Summer’s Twilight in the Garden” is very different from the Audubon’s annual BentFest fundraiser. Leslie Kane, the Audubon Center Executive Director, commented, “We’re hosting our fundraiser for 2015 only away from the Bent. For 2015, we were offered the very distinguished opportunity to host our annual fundraising event at the stunning Pine Meadow Gardens. Owners Wesley Rouse and Robert McWilliam generously offered their lush gardens for guests to gently enjoy the end of summer while supporting our mission and helping to raise funds to support the year-round operations of our non-profit Audubon Center at Bent of the River.”
Sunday’s event will allow attendees to stroll the beautiful numerous gardens while being entertained with vignette ‘pop up’ presentations that will include flute music by Stephanie Tornatore, musical director for the Newbury Musical Theatre Company in Southbury, dance and song entertainment by the Sisters of Song of Southbury, live birds of prey demonstrations with birds from Sharon Audubon Center. Butterfly, bird and plant experts will be also be on hand while appetizers, beverages and wines will be served.
Musical director for the Newbury Musical Theatre Company in Southbury for the past seven years, Stephanie Tornatore is also a member of the Connecticut Chamber Choir. She is also a private instructor who teaches oboe, flute, piano, saxophone and voice to music lovers of all ages. A former Manhattan resident, Ms. Tornatore played with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, One World Symphony and New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra. Prior to Manhattan, she toured Europe with the internationally-recognized University of Delaware Chorale.
Sisters of Song of Southbury is comprised of the three young Bower Richardson sisters Anna (16), Julia (14) and Grace (13). Working as a family team, they are activists for environmental causes, raising funds and affecting recycling efforts in area towns. They have also been featured and profiled as members and supporters of the PRWC and Bent of the River, and as founders and leaders of a non-profit foundation, they have presented their concerns and ideas to the Federal, State, and Southbury governments. Their ongoing efforts have been recognized with awards for community service. The young sisters are also singers, dancers, and musicians, performing in local ballet and theater productions, most frequently with Newbury Musical Theatre Company and Main Street Ballet.
Sponsors of the 2015 “Summer’s Twilight in the Garden” event include Gager, Emerson, Rickart, Bower & Scalzo, LLP; Giuliano, Richardson & Sfara LLC; Southbury Printing Centre, Inc.; Union Savings Bank; Merrill Lynch; Savings Bank of Danbury; Connecticut Community Foundation; and hosts, Pine Meadow Gardens. Parking for the event will be at the Medical Office parking lot at 22 Old Waterbury Road in Southbury where attendees will take shuttle service to the gardens.
Parking for the event will be at the Southbury Medical Office parking lot at 22 Old Waterbury Road where attendees will take shuttle buses to the Pine Meadows Gardens.
Tickets to the “Summer’s Twilight” fundraiser are $50/person and can be purchased in advance at http://bentoftheriver.audubon.org or at the gate. All proceeds will benefit the not-for-profit Audubon Center. For more information, call the Audubon Center at 203.264.5098.