Second annual Jazz in the Garden to benefit 'Room to Read' campaign July 24
Posted Jul 15, 2010 By Ashley Kulp
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Guests were treated to tasty hors d'oeuvres and delicious desserts throughout the afternoon.
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EMC Events - What better way to enjoy the lazy, hazy days of summer than sitting back and listening to great music with good company, surrounded by beautiful gardens. That's exactly what's in store for visitors to the second annual Jazz in the Garden fundraising event for the North Grenville Public Library's (NGPL) 'Room to Read' fundraising campaign for the new central library Saturday, July 24.
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The second annual Jazz in the Garden fundraiser for the North Grenville Public Library's 'Room to Read' campaign is set to once again take place in the gardens of June and Peer Norgaard on July 24. The event will feature garden tours, live jazz music, a silent auction and cool refreshments and hors d'oeuvres. (Royal LePage Gale Real Estate's Harry Pratt, right, and 'Room to Read' campaign honourary co-chair Norma Fisher, take a spin around the garden at the inaugural event last year.)
Once again this year, local residents June and Peer Norgaard will generously open up their lush and expansive gardens, located at 2384 Clothier St. W. in Kemptville, from 2 to 5 p.m. Guests can leisurely tour the beautiful landscape, indulge in cold beverages (beer, wine, lemonade and iced tea) and delicious hors d'oeuvres while enjoying the sounds of Ottawa Valley's New Orleans Express Jazz Band.
According to 'Room to Read' campaign committee chair Bill McElrea, planning for the event, which will also include a silent auction, is coming along quite nicely. He noted 250 tickets were printed for the July 24 event, increased from the limit of 200 last year and some are still available for $30 per person or $50 for a couple.
"Ticket sales are going very well and at the moment, we still have a few left. But they're going fast, which is good. We've had a good response from people calling from around the area," he remarked during a phone interview last week with the EMC. "I think we're already over what we sold last year and we're certainly looking forward to it (event) and we have a number of great silent auction items."
McElrea credited local businesses and organizations who have jumped on board to help with the event, as a critical component to its success. "We have so many sponsors that anything we make is going to be a profit," he noted, adding that Scotiabank is once again matching ticket sales as they did for last year's event which raised more than $10,000 for the campaign.
Another big reason Jazz in the Garden has been such a triumph is also due to the Norgaards. McElrea indicated they have been "so supportive" of the venture, which was actually a concept that June came up with and "we just ran with it," he said.
"Without them we wouldn't be having it," he admitted. "It was June's idea and at first she thought of an afternoon tea, but wanted to add more to it so she came up with the Jazz in the Garden idea."
"She's worked very hard on this and has done a lot of legwork, including going out and getting sponsors for the event," McElrea added.
He also pointed out that having the opportunity to tour the immaculate Norgaard gardens is also an incentive for people to attend the unique event. "The event is such a success because of Scotiabank and their matching grant, but also the Norgaard gardens," he stated. "They have been on previous garden tours for the Ottawa area and the Norgaards have a reputation for being wonderful gardeners. People like that and they like the idea of listening to music in the garden."
For the convenience of those attending Jazz in the Garden, parking will be available at Holy Cross Church (505 Clothier St. W.) and a shuttle service will take people from the church to the Norgaard home.
Tickets (which include your beverages and hors d'oeuvres in the price) are available at the Kemptville Scotiabank located at 139 Prescott St. McElrea noted that out-of-towners can also phone the 'Room to Read' campaign office at 613-608-3509 to reserve tickets and send a cheque made payable to North Grenville Public Library CEO Sue Higgins, who will cash it and then mail the tickets. Cheques can be sent to: North Grenville Public Library, 669 South Gower Drive, Kemptville ON, K0G 1J0. "Or people can call the 'Room to Read' office, leave a message on the phone and someone will get back to them," McElrea said.
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