Date: Fri 14-May-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

hospice-Newquist-Reilley

Full Text:

Arts Festival In Ridgefield Will Benefit Regional Hospice

RIDGEFIELD -- Seventy-six nationally renowned artists and sculptors will

exhibit their work at the Annual Arts Festival and Cosmopolitan Buffet on

Friday, May 21, at 7 pm. The event is again being sponsored by the Regional

Hospice of Western Connecticut.

A highly acclaimed cultural and social event, the Hospice Arts Festival is a

juried show offering a $1,000 first prize. All paintings, sculpture and

pottery are offered through sale, either outright or through silent auction.

All proceeds from the event go to the non-profit Regional Hospice of Western

Connecticut, which provides a program of psychological, social and spiritual

care for terminally ill patients and their families in surrounding towns

including Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding,

Ridgefield, Southbury and Wilton.

"A gourmet tasting with wine and champagne will be prepared by 17 of our

area's finest chefs," said event co-chairman William J. Stax, the general

manager of Connecticut Light & Power. "A number of talented musical groups

will be interspersed throughout the show to play for our guests throughout the

evening. We salute the artists, restaurateurs and musicians who are coming

together to support Regional Hospice."

Newtown artists participating in this year's event include Sawsan Ali, Betty

Christensen, Ruth Newquist and Carol Reilley. Entertainment will be provided

by the tenor Philip Tropea, a resident of Ridgefield, who will present musical

comedy, operetta and "neopolitan love songs." He will be accompanied by the

pianist Paul Nickolloff. Also, the three-musician ensemble Trio di Camerati,

of Danbury, and the Danbury jazz band Cool Struttin' will be performing Friday

night.

Restaurants who will be represented include Adrienne of New Milford, Chuck's

Steak House of Danbury, Emerald City Cafe of Bethel, Kabuki Japanese Steak

House of Danbury, Loree's Kitchen & Catering of Bethel, Food For Thought of

New Milford, Two Steps and Ciao! of Danbury, and New England Brewing

Corporation of Norwalk.

"With fine art, fine music, fine food and wine, this promises to be an evening

that appeals to the senses," said co-chairman Anthony Rizzo, Sr, the president

of Rizzo Electric. "It is a wonderful way to benefit one of this area's most

valuable non-profit resources, while embracing some of the finest art, music

and culinary delights in the region."

The Arts Festival and Cosmopolitan Buffet will be held in the corporate

headquarters of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation, on Old Ridgebury Road in

Ridgefield. Admission is $75 per person, of which $25 can be credited toward

the purchase of artwork. For additional information, contact Jeanne Banks of

Regional Hospice at 797-1685.