An Evening Spent At The Vineyard

Supported Kevin’s Community Center

By Kendra Bobowick

The soft candlelight rippled against glasses of merlot and threw ruby reflections across white linen tablecloths outdoors at McLaughlin Vineyards last Saturday.

Crisp cedar scents sparked from open patio fires where guests mingled, laughed, and tasted the different zinfandels or chardonnays suggested by Morgen McLaughlin, owner of the Sandy Hook winery that hosted the event. Saturday evening’s vineyard guests soon moved beyond sampling the grape bouquets and settled down to listen to Kevin’s Community Center (KCC) Director of Development Phyllis Cortese as she introduced Dr Z. Michael Taweh, MD, and various sponsors and supporters of his free medical clinic in Newtown.

The guests were treated to a wine tasting during this year’s KCC fundraiser, “Napa in Newtown,” the third annual fundraising event held for the clinic that was founded in 2002 by Dr Taweh and his wife in memory of their son Kevin. The center’s mission is to provide free health care to residents age 16 and older who are underinsured or uninsured and have limited financial resources.

Since the clinic began seeing patients in the last several years, Ms Cortese explained, “We have more and more people  needing our services.”

When doors first opened, “We expected to see a lot of cases of the common cold,” Ms Cortese said. The reality of those walking in for help was much different, however.

“We were seeing severe illnesses and things people didn’t know about like diabetes, breast cancer,” she said.

Ms Cortese believed that some people may have placed health care at the bottom of their list of necessities. “When you are uninsured and have limited resources your priorities are to get food on the table, not [to go to] the doctor,” she said. “People were waiting until the urgent care level.”

As guests mingled, Ms Cortese thanked sponsors such as The United Way of Northern Fairfield County, which contributed $20,000.

Newtown Woman’s Club (GFWC) Inc President Peg Forbell also made a contribution on her club’s behalf. Newtown  Savings Bank was the primary sponsor for this year’s event, while McLaughlin Vineyards provided a venue for the event. Seated were the various individuals and groups who had also contributed to the fundraiser. Peter and Carol Fusco were this year’s vintage reserve sponsors. Table sponsors included Advanced Dermcare, Danbury Internal Medicine Associates, Flagpole Realty, and Debby and Bob Tendler. Gem Jewelry was the Vin De Casa Sponsor. Gisele Frank, Dr Taweh’s sister, served as the evening’s event chair.

Both Dr Taweh and Ms Cortese are hoping to expand the center’s programming in the months ahead.

Dr Taweh talked about budding medical outreach and described his desire to strengthen medical programs cosponsored with other organizations. He also thanked the supporters who help maintain the center’s services.

In a recent announcement posted on the center’s website (KevinsCommunityCenter.org), Dr Taweh noted: “Because of your generous support … KCC is continuing to meet the needs of [its] many patients … We have seen remarkable turnarounds of patients who were living with longstanding, untreated, and undiagnosed conditions.”

Kevin’s Community Center is now open and staffed on Wednesdays from 1 to 5 pm. Services include free primary health care, free laboratory and radiology services, free referral specialty care, and prescription medications. Eligibility screenings are coordinated through Newtown Social Services Department. The center can be reached at 426-0496.