Savory fundraiser results in delicious support for Sewickley library

Sewickley resident Leslie Liebscher could hardly believe an idea more than two decades ago to bring local restaurants together to support the borough would grow into its booster group’s largest annual fundraiser.

“I love the library, and it’s so fantastic that our community supports it so well,” said Liebscher, former president of Friends of the Sewickley Public Library. “It’s such an asset to our community.”

Liebscher was one of at least 400 people at the 23rd annual Savoring Sewickley event on Nov. 3, including nearly 350 who bought tickets, as well as vendors and volunteers.

It was the highest paid attendance since the event was spearheaded by Liebscher and former Friends board member Don Reinhardt. Tickets were capped at 300 last year. Organizers increased ticket availability to 350 to accommodate demand. The event raised at least $35,000.

Desks usually reserved for quiet study served as candle-lit dinner tables and conversation hubs as local leaders and business owners mingled with regular library patrons and newcomers alike.

The children’s department was transformed into an open bar and the adult reference department had as much hustle and bustle as a Downtown eatery during the dinner rush.

There were 16 vendors, including 424 Walnut, Allegheny Country Club, Altered Genius, Cafe Notte, Andora, Caliente Pizza & Draft House, Edgeworth Club, Sweetwater Center for the Arts and newcomer Trish’s Truffles and Sweet Treats, which provided specialty desserts like stuffed dates dipped in chocolate.

Ultimate Pastry Shop is one of the event’s original vendors. Its table was near the main entrance so people got a good look at the sweet selection coming in and going out.

Owners Bill Eichert and Tina Echement provided strawberry daiquiri cheesecake, margarita cheesecake, tiramisu cupcakes and assorted cookies.

“It’s always a pleasure,” Echement said. “It’s a worthy cause.”

Former Friends board members Maria and Joel Swanson donated wine. Sewickley councilman Todd Hamer was among the volunteer guest bartenders.

Other attendees included council members from the borough and neighboring communities, Quaker Valley School Board members, Sewickley Valley YMCA officials and board members from numerous nonprofits like the Sewickley Valley Community Fund.

“I’m very happy with it,” said Valerie Kahrs, current Friends president. “I think it was very successful. It just keeps growing and growing. We saw a lot of non-patrons this year. We usually see a lot of familiar faces. This year we saw some very new faces, which I love. It means more people are learning about our library, and that’s the best we can do.”

Kahrs also praised the efforts of event co-chairs Kate Jeffe and Jamie Hamilton.

Other activities included basket raffles and an auction for 100-year-old Spanish roof tiles that were removed from the library as part of a major renovation project last year.

Those tiles were used by local artists to create portraits and other works of art.

Fabrizio Gerbino of Stowe was one of those artists. He crafted beautiful Italian landscapes on two of the tiles.

One was called “San Gimignano,” named after a small hill town in Tuscany, southwest of Florence. The other was “Boboli Garden,” named after the historic park in Florence.

Gerbino said he drew inspiration from the original colors on the tiles, and that it was challenging doing oil paintings on a curved metallic canvas.

“This is the organic stuff,” he said. “The color gave me the indication of the subject. This is important. I never painted tiles. I want to support the library. This is my goal. The library needs to be preserved for future generations.”

More painted tiles are expected to be auctioned off at future Savoring Sewickley events.

Students from Quaker Valley High School and Sewickley Academy, as well as Sewickley area Boy and Girl Scouts, served as bussers.

More information about Savoring Sewickley, including a photo gallery, is available at savoringsewickley.com.

Businesses that want to get involved in next year’s fundraiser can contact the Friends of the Sewickley Public Library at 412-741-6920 or email sewickley@sewickleylibrary.org.