The Alternative Press

FREDON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Horses and Black Angus cattle grazed on the rolling hills of WaterWheel Farm, oblivious to a crowd of people near the farmhouse.

The livestock probably would not have enjoyed the libations being enjoyed by the people at the 28^th Annual Wine & Cheese Festival to benefit the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. The largest annual fundraiser presented by the Friends of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice was held on Sunday, Sept. 9, at the horse boarding facility owned by Jennette and Willard Klemm.

“About 29 years ago someone approached me about having the wine and cheese here,” Jeanette Klemm said a the end of the festivities.

She said she and her husband had not been involved with the hospice before.

The Klemms bought their 400-acre farm in 1965.

“We started out as dairy farmers, but we switched to horses,” she said.

Although they have weddings on the property, the wine and cheese festival is the largest event.

Randy Burke of Burke’s Liquors in Sparta provided the 18 stations of wine for the event. The first station featured Kir (dry which wine blended with Bois Crème de Cassis) and the second Cardinale (Beaujolais Nouveau blended with Bois Crème de Cassis), the others a selection of wines from throughout the world. Warren Distributing sponsored a station of beer from around the world and Black River Traders sponsored beer from Butternuts Brewing Company in Garrattsville, N.Y.

The wines were offered at sale prices guaranteed until Monday, Sept. 24. Since 10 percent of the purchase prices are donated by Burke’s to the Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation, patrons can deduct 10 percent of each purchase of their taxes. Guests could circle their selections on the order form and hand it in at the event or drop it off or fax it to Burke’s.

“We’ve worked with Randy Burke since the beginning,” event planner Jennifer Smith said. “His wine expertise and his loyal customers lead the way for the success of this event.”

All of the wine pourers at the festival are volunteers who know Burke, she added. The festival also featured a live and silent auction.

Smith said there were 30 items at the silent auction

“The Friends reach out to local businesses,” she said, noting that while generally the live auction items are more expensive, some more economical items are deliberately placed in the live auction so more people can be involved.

“We have people approaching us with donations,” Smith said, noting some were brought the afternoon of the festival.

The Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice includes the hospice facilities in Newton and Milford, Pa., the bereavement centers in Newton and Hackettstown, and the Karen Ann Quinlan Home Health Care in Phillipsburg. It was founded 32 years ago by Joseph and Jullia Quinlan.

Julia Quinlan is still the diminutive powerhouse behind the hospice. She spoke briefly after the auction, thanking the Klemms and auctioneer Ray Cordts.

She speaks to many groups, Glenn Lewis of the foundation said, at colleges and nursing conference among other events.

Lewis is in charge of the new plan to foundation has, the Hospice Home, which will be built near WaterWheel Farm.

Plans are complete and approvals secured for the building. Ground-breaking is scheduled for November and completion for sometime in 2013. It will include 10 patient rooms, spaces for families, a chapel, and other venues.

Lewis said the Friends are working hard to raise funds for the home which “is very much needed in the area.”

Smith said the Wine and Cheese Festival is the biggest fund raiser for the Friends, but the foundation is planning its annual Lights of Life for late November and early December in Sussex, Warren and Pike counties. Tree lightings are held in Newton, Milford and Belvidere with memorial services following.