Meet our appraisers

David Perrelli is the owner of Old Beautiful in Clinton, CT and a host of Antiques Trail on iCRV radio.  He is an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, the New York School of Interior Design and the Winterthur Summer Institute.  For Fireside Tastings & Treasures, he will appraise American and continental furniture, glass, ceramics, artwork, silver and metal objects, woodenware, and textiles.  

Gay Sherman is the owner of online vintage jewelry shops, Vintage Under the Sea, both on Ruby Lane and Etsy.  Gay has several celebrity clients and has provided vintage jewelry for hits like AMC's Mad Men.  One of Gay's passions is vintage Christmas tree pins and nearly 100 rare arbors from her collection have been featured in two books on the subject.  For Fireside Tastings & Treasures, she will appraise jewelry, glass, collectibles, clothing, and accessories.  

The aim of our events is not just to raise funds for our grants program. It is also to provide activities that engage and entertain the Durham/Middlefield community. Here is a brief rundown:

·         Every other year, we hold a community Trivia Bee. The 2018 Bee included 17 teams vying for the top honors, won by RSD 13 Strong School's faculty team, "The 221 Bees." Costumes, team-themed music, special awards and even audience participation all make it a lively event.

·         In alternate years, we hold an evening "gala," where the venue and event has varied from cocktails and conversation at the Independent Day School's performing arts center to items crafted by local artists being silent-auctioned at Kalmia Gardens.

·         In November, we invite the community to "Talk of the Towns," where, each year, four local residents engage the audience with their 10-minute presentation of anything from the study of Egyptology, the art of making costumes for a Broadway musical like Hamilton, or what it was like to be in China during the 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square.