BERNARDSVILLE – The Bernardsville Library Foundation (BLF) held a recognition event on Sunday, Feb. 26, to thank donors for successful 2011 fund-raising efforts that contributed to operational costs for the library.

Special recognition in the form of bricks to be placed at the library was given to Ellyn and Saul Dennison, Susan Landmesser, and Roni and Ernie Larini by Kathleen Palmer, the foundation’s events committee chair, for their hosting “Homes of Distinction’’ for 2011.

Howard Lemberg, BLF chairman, and Donald Burset, president of the Bernardsville Public Library Board of Trustees, both congratulated donors for helping the library continue to provide  excellent services to the community.

“We’re deeply grateful to the many 2011 donors who responded to the library’s budget gap last year with generous contributions to the foundation that helped the library maintain staffing, hours and quality of services,” said Lemberg. “And we’re especially grateful to the three who helped us sponsor our Homes of Distinction events and are being recognized with engraved bricks for the library’s patio area. These families, who volunteered their homes for our 2011 Homes of Distinction events, have helped set the pace for our April 2012 Homes of Distinction events.”

The foundation was started in 2011 as a source of private funding to enable the library to operate at or above current levels  without regard to adverse changes in public funding.  To meet that goal this year the foundation is planning activities to include an appeal letter and several group events.  

2012 Homes Tour

The foundation’s 2012 fund-raising event, Homes of Distinction, will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, offering guests the opportunity to attend an afternoon cocktail party at one of Bernardsville’s finest mansions.

This year’s selection includes Kenilwood, owned by Richard and Andrea Hall, Country Home, owned by Rich and Pat Sostowski and Tall Oaks, owned by Herb and Cathy Vinnicombe.

The cost is $100 per person.

• Kenilwood was built by and for George B. Post in 1902.  The Post family rebuilt the Gothic Revival Style home the next year after a fire and continued to live there for eighty years.  One of its most famous owners was Mike Tyson, world heavyweight boxing champion, who lived there with his wife, Robin Givens, in 1988.

Tennis great Martina Navratilova and Oprah Winfrey were frequent guests.

• Country Home was built 1988.  It is a spacious, contemporary colonial on a private road, which was originally a pasture of the Engelhard estate.  It has been the venue for many events for friends and family and is known for its hospitality to the Bernardsville Garden Club.

• Tall Oaks, a sprawling Georgian Style Mansion, was originally named Brick House when it was built in 1909.   One of its most famous owners was Swing Era Band Leader Tommy Dorsey, who lived there from 1935 to 1944.  The home had a reputation for huge parties with famous guests like Frank Sinatra, Lana Turner and Jackie Gleason.

Three local restaurants are catering the food for the event as their gift to the fund-raiser.  They are: Bistro Seven Three of Bernardsville, Cafe Azzurro of Peapack, and Two Fifty Two of Bedminster.  

There will be other fund-raising opportunities available during the event.  The available selections are on display in the lobby of the library.

Items include a one week vacation at a resort of your choosing; 30 tickets to the Patriots Ball park for a game in the Somerset County Freeholder’s skybox with fireworks; the use of a private vacation home on Cape Cod for one week; the watercolor painting by Mark de Mos, used for this year’s invitation; and a private party for 10 guests at a mansion in Bernardsville.

Invitations are available at the library. Everyone is welcome.

For more information, contact Kathleen Palmer at (908) 963-0365.

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