By Rob Sample
Evoking a bygone era, the Marlboro Free Library’s sixth annual tea-party fundraiser drew about 50 people to the Stoutridge Distillery and Winery on Saturday, May 4.
The sold-out event, which seeks to recreate a popular tradition from late the 19th and early 20th centuries, is sponsored each year by the Friends of the Marlboro Library. It began in 2017. The years 2020 and 2021 were skipped because of Covid shutdowns.
This year’s tea raised more than $1,200 and supports adult and children’s programs at the library. This year’s tea also marked the library benefactors’ first event at Stoutridge. Prior Friends of the Marlboro Library teas have taken place at The Falcon, Marlboro Yacht Club, and DuBois Farms.
Cheryl Werba, the Friends of the Library member who coordinated this year’s tea, noted that funds support library events such as a popular recent talk about the Beacon Incline Railway. The library also runs a robust array of children’s events, thanks to the Friends’ fundraising efforts.
“These are all programs not specifically in the library’s annual budget,” Werba said. She thanked the event’s sponsors, which included Comparetto Bakery, Love’s Flowers, and Frank’s Delicatessen.
For Bonnie, Emily, and Stella Amoia, love for the library is very much a family affair. They are, respectively, grandmother, mother, and daughter: Little Stella will turn six in September. “She loves the library, and she attended her very first library tea party when she was 10 months old,” noted her dad, Stephan Amoia. “She now likes to go all the time and pick out her own books.”
For Stephan Amoia, the tea party provided a long-anticipated look inside the Stoutridge Distillery and Winery. “A friend had told me to visit Stoutridge, but we live on the other end of town, and I wasn’t even sure where it was,” he said. “I have not done the tour yet, but after walking through it to the event space, we will definitely come back.”
For Friends member JoAnne Pagnotta, supporting the library has been almost a lifelong habit. “I’ve worked at library and served on its board – it’s important for all of us to support the library,” she said.
“The library always had all sorts of events when my kids were younger, and still does,” said Grace DeMarco. “It’s a great place and offers wonderful things for everyone.”
A bit of historic context: In early America, tea was very much a luxury but by the late 19th century, it had become more affordable. This allowed the growing middle class to enjoy the “afternoon tea” ritual that began with our British forebears, and tea parties became popular. Typically, they became fancy affairs and ladies often donned elaborate hats. Some even had musical entertainment.
“We do this in the style of a British country tea party,” noted Joanne Zambito. “People can get all dressed up if they want, and of course, hats are welcome.”
New developments are under way. Early in 2023, the library received a New York State grant totaling almost $500,000 to expand and renovate its community room and north side entrance. The project will increase the size of the current community room and will feature upgraded technology, storage, and furniture, natural light, energy saving systems, improved ADA accessibility, and the option to accommodate multiple groups at once.
Then, in September, the library received a $297,575 grant for renovations to the circulation desk and work areas – also with an eye toward efficiency and accessibility.
These will be monies well spent, as the library’s community programs have grown extremely popular, noted Library Staffer Ashley Poulin. “The presentation about the Beacon Railway was so well attended that we had to bring in extra seats to handle the crowd – and we had just enough,” Poulin said. “It will be great to have more space for these important community programs.”