A night of jazz may conjure up images of dark and smoky rooms, but the Bedford Hills Free Library fundraiser, Jazz in the Garden, bore no resemblance to that stereotype.

Soothing music drifted over lush, colorful gardens for this event. The board of trustees, and the event committee worked together with Rhoda Gushue, director of the library, to create a spirited evening of music in a peak-season garden setting for a successful fundraiser—over 70 tickets were sold.

The home and gardens of Phillis and John Warden, called Nine Gables, was the venue for the evening. The Wardens, long time friends of the library, were happy to share their 7 acres of gardens. "Who is not for a library? It is a very important part of our society. I am very sympathetic to their needs," said Phillis.

Heide Shilstone, president of the board of trustees, said she believed the
board members and other library volunteers deserved a great deal of credit
for their behind-the-scenes work, both on this particular event and in so many other ways, to help the library survive the economic downturn. The board has been working extremely hard on finding alternative forms of funding to cover operating costs in this difficult economy, she said.

"Businesses come and go—especially in hard times—but the Bedford Hills Free Library has been the heart of the community since 1915," said Shilstone. Fellow board member Elin Sullivan agreed.

"We needed to step up fundraising above and beyond the usual mailing requests. The library's endowment has not as large a base from which to draw, and we sought additional funding," said Sullivan.

The gentle jazz that filled Nine Gables and extended out to the patios was performed by Glenda J. Davenport and her Davenport Trio. Catering was supplied by Catered For You, a local Bedford Hills firm that also catered the Centennial Celebration of Bedford Hills at the Historical Museum. Guests enjoyed crudites and pinwheel wraps and "Wardens Wonder Water," a southern-style sweet tea.

Guests bid on silent auction items donated from area businesses, and accompanied Warden on tours of her formal Croquet Court, Renaissance vegetable gardens, multiple water gardens punctuated by stepping stones and her koi and goldfish ponds. Warden's favorite spot? My "secret gardens," she said.

Former Bedford Hills residents Irv and Alexis Myones, who now live in Pound Ridge, returned to their former hamlet—still their favorite, they said—to support the cause. They loved that their two young daughters were able to walk to the library.

David Hochberg of Katonah supported the cause because the library supported him in a time of need.  "I was able to work here when my laptop crashed," he said.

Joanna Gustin of Bedford Hills, who also lives within walking distance of the library, was with her mother who had come up from Rye Brook. Avid users of the Westchester Library system, they have a greater appreciation of its free borrowing privileges from other branches: "My daughter is a graduate student in New Hampshire and she has to pay for books to be sent from other libraries to her local branch," said Gustin.

The library has a history of engaged staff and volunteers. Prior to becoming the current program director, Kathy Storfer was the storyteller for 18 years. The fifth graders still come on Fridays to hear her chapter book reading. "The Lion's Club has provided tremendous support to keep these traditions alive," she said.

"Miss Vicki" Kriegeskotte, children's librarian, has been helping young readers improve for over 15 years.

Other Gushue family members had ties to the event; Ron Gushue, who heads up Greenwich architectural firm ERG Architects, worked on Nine Gables restorations, and family members helped with refreshments.