By Suzanne Sproul, Staff Writer - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Article Launched:04/08/2007 12:00:00 AM PDT
Baskets are wrapped. Wines are chilling. And food preparation has begun for the upcoming Diamond Bar Friends of the Library's wine soiree.
For the past 14 years, this major fundraiser has brought the community together in support of literacy. The 2007 version is set from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at the Diamond Bar Center. Tickets are available for $50 per person, or $60 at the door. It's one of the parties of the year with proceeds going right back to the library.
"This is our major fundraiser of the year. The money we raise will be used to improve the library, specifically to replace the large 17-foot circulation desk with a smaller version, which will then add more room for our children's area. We also want to add two self-checkout machines and we want to start a new program for emergent readers through 4 years old," said Dianne Forbing, president of the Diamond Bar Friends of the Library.
The present library is used extensively and space is an issue, but reconfiguring some areas will go a long way toward making the facility more people-friendly.
"We want to create space for children, which in turn creates educational environments to play and read," Forbing said. "We want the library to be a living place not just a place to store books."
Kathleen Newe started this fundraiser years ago, and it has kept improving and expanding ever since. "The reason this idea came to me was the community was told that the county was going to cut back on the library's hours of operation down to twice a week. That just wasn't right, so some concerned citizens got together and was trying to come up with anything that might be able to save money. I heard about this type of idea and said we could do it in my backyard if we had to," Newe said.
She didn't have to. Instead, she went to a council meeting and protested the move.
"I said if the cable company shut down to twice a week the chamber would be filled with people upset about it. Some people at the Shilo Inn restaurant heard what I said and they offered to provide the food and the space. It's been going ever since," she said.
Restaurants will spotlight their menu fare, providing guests with tastes of all kinds of delicious dishes.
Participants are The Coffee Klatch, The Whole Enchilada, Jolly Bagel Deli and Restaurant, Mandarin Taste, Kyala Sushi and Japanese Cuisine, Kentucky Fried Chicken, D'Antonio's Ristorante, Aljibani Halal Market, Carbon Grill, Champs Elysee Bakery, Cold Stone Creamery, Dream Dinners of Diamond Bar, Shilo Inn Suites Hotel Catering, Mimi's Caf , Holiday Inn Select Catering, Diamong Bar Golf Course and Graber Olive House.
Eileen Tillery, longtime community supporter for various groups, has also arranged for the New World International Wine Judging Competition to donate wines.
"Libraries don't get the attention they deserve, so everyone with the Friends is thrilled that so many people care enough to come out. You'll have a great time and it's a great way to connect with friends again or to make new ones," Newe said.
The three co-chairs of the event are Nancy Lyons, Rick Rogers and Tony Torng.
"This event is so much fun. Everyone who goes has the opportunity to taste good food from very good restaurants and help the library, too," Lyons said. "You'll leave with the satisfaction of knowing you've done something good for your community."
For information and tickets, call (909) 861-2002.
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