West Hartford Celebrity Chefs Cooked Up a Great Event Saturday Night

Published On: April 2, 2017Categories: Schools

Audio By Carbonatix

Hall High School Principal Dan Zittoun (left) and Conard High School Principal Julio Duarte at West Hartford's Cookin'. April 1, 2017. The event had to be canceled in 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

[Updated, April 5, 2017] The Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools’ popular annual fundraiser, West Hartford’s Cookin’, was a great success.

By Ronni Newton

Dozens of celebrity chefs – aka West Hartford Public Schools and Town of West Hartford administrators, and elected officials – were dishing out samples of their favorite dishes Saturday night to a crowd of about 350 at the annual West Hartford’s Cookin’ fundraiser for the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools.

Guests included teachers from every one of West Hartford’s public schools.

The chefs served traditional favorites like mac and cheese, chili, meatballs, wings, and potato pancakes, as well as gazpacho, beet and ginger soup, and Israeli salad – and desserts galore – to parents and other supporters of the organization that since 1997 has funded more than $1.4 million in grants to classroom teachers from preschool through high school.

The video below, prepared by Charter Oak International Academy students and teachers, shows an example of what funding by the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools does.

Town Manager Ron Van Winkle, who will retire on June 30, 2017, after more than 30 years with the Town of West Hartford, served as honorary chair. Event co-chairs David Casarella and Teresa Duprey presented Van Winkle with a copy of the Dr. Seuss book “Oh the Places You’ll Go” to mark his retirement.

Organizers report that after ticket sales, sponsorships, additional donations, and expenses were taken into account, the net result is that the event raised $50,000 – an increase of more than $7,000 from last year. The “raise the paddle” addition to the live auction netted $5,300, and will be included in next years event.

Anyone who was unable to attend or would otherwise like to consider making a donation to the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools can do so through the organization’s website http://www.fwhps.org/.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!

Town Council member Ben Wenograd. West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools Board member Michael Schramm. West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Town Manager and Honorary Event Chair Ron Van Winkle (left) with Ted Newton. West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Probate Judge Owen Eagan. West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Roszena Haskins, Ryan Cleary, and Kelly Brouse. West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Middle school principals Joy Wright (King Philip), Steve Cooke (Bristow) and Andrew Clapsaddle (Sedgwick). West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Director of Human and Leisure Services Helen Rubino-Turco (left) was one of the celebrity chefs at West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Judy Casperson, Beth Kerrigan, and Jody Mock. West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Dallas and Jessica Dodge prepared wings. West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Assistant Superintendent Andy Morrow served potstickers. West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Town Council members Chris Williams (left) and Chris Barnes. West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Town Clerk Essie Labrot serves up meatballs to Bristow Middle School Principal Steve Cooke. West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Tammy Exum, Dave Pauluk, and Becky Pauluk. West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Event co-chair Teresa Duprey presented honorary chair Town Manager Ron Van WInkle with a copy of Dr. Seuss’ “The Places You’ll Go’ to mark his retirement. West Hartford’s Cookin’, April 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton