Friends Toast Library with Fine Wines

The  library was the place when the "Friends of The Livingston Public Library " held its annual wine tasting fundraiser. About 120 people enjoyed food, wine and music for an affordable contribution of $60 per couple ($52 for members).  In addition to the numerous wines that were available for sampling, there were snacks, live classical piano music, a silent auction and numerous raffles. 

Thanks to the generosity of numerous private and merchant supporters, the evening was a "great success," according to organizer Barbara Bye. "We were very pleased with the evening, which raised about $7,000  for the library," she said.

Friends of the donate about $20,000 each year to help the library present the summer reading program for children and teens, and visits from authors and lecturers.

On April 28, old friends gathered together but many made new acquaintances as well. Barbara Davey commented that the event "provided a great opportunity for networking . It was a good showcase for the library. And, as a bonus, everyone had a great time."

The wine was poured by knowledgeable men and women who were happy to talk about their selections with the folks who were happy to drink it.  The odd man out was Jeff, on loan from  Kings Supermarket, who was pouring several beers available from the Hunterdon Brewery.  

If we were the type to drink while working, we would have really enjoyed the Robust Porter from Smuttynose.  Also, being the type that prefers white wine while not at work, we would not mind settling down with a bottle of the Sancerre `les Longues Fins` Domaine Andre Neveu 2008, provided by "Wines of France."

So after an evening you could call "Oenophiles Meet Bibliophiles," many people went home with prizes from the raffle or the silent auction. But everyone took with them a gift bag, which contained a most appropriate souvenir: a new book.