BY CAMERON PRICE
Let your friends know you’re booked on Friday, Aug. 2, and head to the Osterhout Free Library’s 11th annual summer fundraiser at Wilkes-Barre Intermodal Center.
Brewsterhout Rooftop Party, set for 5 to 8 p.m., seeks to bring the community together with entertainment, plus fare from more than 40 local restaurants and breweries, as attendees enjoy the outdoors and a great view of the sunset.Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, with proceeds benefiting operations at Osterhout.
The library emphasizes support, solidarity, literacy and individuality, making it an influential pillar within Luzerne County. Since 1889, Osterhout has placed area residents at the forefront of its mission, which vows to incorporate recreation, education and conversation into their everyday agendas. By arranging countless activities for all ages to appreciate and enjoy — including story times for children, creative writing clubs for teens and knitting and crocheting for adults — and by granting free access to various academic and leisurely resources, the library aids patrons with creative expression and expansion of knowledge in personal and professional realms.
Christopher Kelly, Osterhout’s director of development and community relations, looks forward to the rooftpo party, which is expected to attract more than 600 guests.
“It is great for us to get that many people together who are passionate about the library,” Kelly said, “And also to get together on a Friday during the summer at a unique location.”
DJ Josh Beatz will set the tone as guests indulge in samples from local eateries. Kelly believes this to be a key component of the event’s success, because it enables vendors to “get creative and try out some new items,” while also giving guests the chance to experience the hard work and craft of these family-owned businesses.
Kelly also acknowledged the “amazing volunteers” who make the event possible.
Jamie Johns, who began as a volunteer member of the planning committee and has since been promoted to co-chair of the event, said that the fundraiser is a great deal of work, but that everyone does their part to sustain a “well-oiled machine.”
“We always hear, ‘Oh yeah, I’ll be there again.’ Everyone puts it on their calendar for the next year,” she said.
To ensure this satisfaction, Johns explained that her team looks for ways to improve the event, whether including new businesses in their list of vendors or adding unique activities, such as miniature golf hosted by the Rotary Club of Wilkes-Barre. The Brewsterhout Rooftop Party’s hope, Johns said, is to attract and delight its guests with every coming year.
Through her roles as volunteer and co-chair, Johns has learned first-hand the considerable amount of good works that the library provides to the region.
“I never really knew how many programs and events they offer or how much value the library brings to the community,” Johns said. “When you get involved, it opens your eyes to their own involvement in the community.”
With its diverse offerings, Kelly and Johns agreed that the rooftop party has something for everyone to enjoy, much like the library.
“We want to encourage people to come and check out the library and enjoy its assets,” Kelly said. “The reason we raise this money is to keep the library open and support all the wonderful things it has to offer.”
Contact the writer: cprice@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9127
If you go
- What: 11th Annual Brewsterhout Rooftop Party
- When: Friday, August 2, 5 to 8 p.m.
- Where: Wilkes-Barre Intermodal Center, 47 S. Washington St.
- Details: Tickets cost $25 in advance and $30 at the door, and can be purchased at any Osterhout Library location or online at 2019brewsterhout.eventbrite.com. Guests must be 21 and older. The event will take place rain or shine; in the event of inclement weather, the party will be moved down a level at the venue.
