Literacy Connections fundraiser includes home view
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on September 6, 2015 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Bethany Perry explains how her rose garden, which was transplanted from her former family home, serves as a great place to read.
Those attending this year's Reading Between the Wines fundraiser at the home of David and Bethany Perry will definitely have a chance to stop and smell the roses. That's because a rose garden in back of the house is filled with 30 rose bushes in a variety of colors.
And if roses are not your thing, you can also take a look at the herb garden and Civil War breastworks outside or tour the inside of the home, which has recently been renovated by the Perrys.
Reading Between the Wines will be held Sept. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. and is a fundraiser for Literacy Connections of Wayne County.
In addition to a variety of wines chosen especially for the occasion by local wine Experts, Bob and Susan Crenshaw of HealthHabit, two local restaurants, Ed's Southern Food and Spirits and Chef Herb's Bistro, will provide special hors d'oeuvres for the occasion. There will also be an array of foods from local cooks -- everything from ham biscuits, meatballs, bruschetta, pimento cheese finger sandwiches, avocado dip, asparagus spears and various sweet treats.
Musicians on the back patio will provide background music. Pat Preston will play the keyboards, while Scott McConnaughey will play the saxophone.
Those attending will have the opportunity to hear presentations by author John Hart and local poet Lenard Moore -- the "reading" part of the event.
But as if that is not enough there is an added plus -- the chance to get an up close look at the Perrys' lovely home, including one of Mrs. Perry's favorite rooms -- the downstairs powder room.
It contains a piece of furniture that is very dear to Mrs. Perry's heart.
"I lived with my grandmother Betty DeBusk and grew up in her home," Mrs. Perry said. "So every holiday meal was spent at our home with all the extended family. She gave me her grandmother's buffet and kitchen table that was in her home. So having food pass along that buffet and having all the beautiful linens inside and seeing the punch bowl and the fudge plate, I could just see it now."
The buffet is serving a different purpose now. On it sits a sink. But it's still just as special and Mrs. Perry feels like a part of her grandmother is always with her.
"She lives in Pennsylvania, but is still very active in our lives," Mrs. Perry said. "Knowing all these little creaks and handprints and stains, they are all memories. This piece definitely speaks."
Visitors might also enjoy seeing the expanded bathroom upstairs, which houses a huge tub, a walk-in shower and a huge mirror on one wall with a TV in it.
Outside the home in the back yard, a 20-by-40-foot canopy tent will be set up for Reading Between the Wines. Under it will be folding chairs and some tables.
"We're going to take some of the patio furniture on our screened-in porch and scatter them out in the back yard and really make it a garden affair," Mrs. Perry said..
Part of that is the rose garden.
"Some have been transplanted from our first house on Harding," Mrs. Perry said. "I absolutely love to cut them and share them."
At one end of the rose garden is a bench, where you'll frequently find Mrs. Perry just sitting and smelling her roses.
"It just recharges me when I stop and embrace the beauty of nature," she said.
Also in the back yard are hydrangeas and even a small herb garden with basil, thyme, mint, parsley and oregano.
"I love to sit there and watch the birds and butterflies," Mrs. Perry said.
The Perrys decided to host this year's Reading Between the Wines because they believe in the cause.
"My grandmother was a longtime librarian in our community and such an example for the importance of reading," Mrs. Perry said. "My grandmother is one of my very favorite people in the world. For her to be a mentor and introduce reading to me and the love of books, and for us to pass that on, I know how much that means to her."
Betty Rand, former librarian at Wayne Community College is Mrs. Perry's adopted grandparent and she instilled in Mrs. Perry the importance of reading and reminded her to continue to read throughout her life.
Committee member Sherry Archibald added that the Perrys "are notorious for giving back to the community in so many ways."
Tickets to the event are $60, available at the Wayne County Public Library.