Tag sale funds scholarship

On the Sunday before last, Woodbury residents cleared out their attics, basements and garages for the Woodbury Historical Society’s tag sale. Each year, the Woodbury Historical society holds a fundraiser for the Kirk Memorial Scholarship. Although they’ve held a fundraiser for this scholarship annually for over a decade, this is the first time they have hosted a tag sale. “We’re just trying something new,” said Fred Lindlaw, a member of the Historical Society. For the past few years, the society has hired a professional appraiser. However, after noticing a declining interest among residents to have their antiques appraised, the group decided to try this new format. Nancy Simpson, inspired the accumulation in her home, suggested the new format early this year. She covered one of the tables, displaying items from every decade from the 1940s to the 1970s, including her father’s collection of Life magazines from the ‘40s. Other residents sold jewelry, pottery and collectibles. Both members and non-members were able to participate in the tag sale by paying a fee. The money generated from the fees and from the sales goes to the scholarship, which generally aims to raise between $500 and $1,000. The scholarship is named for Margaret and Adam Kirk, two of the founding members of the Woodbury Historical Society. The Kirks, as teachers, believed strongly in the value of education, and especially admired those involved in the arts, theatre and the community. “Those are among the goals we try to keep in mind when we choose a high school senior,” Lindlaw said. This year, the scholarship recipients are Angela Palaggia, of Cornwall High school, and Jason Gardellis, of Monroe-Woodbury High School. Both are involved in community service; Palaggia intends to study theatre in college. All agreed that the most rewarding and the most difficult part of the yearly fundraiser is selecting the winners of the scholarship. “When you interview these kids, you wish you were a millionaire so you could give them all scholarships,” said Dona Weyant, one of the members of the society. Weyant recalled one student the society interviewed a few years ago, who expressed a desire to become an electrician. Although most of the students they interview intend to continue their education at a four-year college, Weyant admired this student’s enthusiasm. In honor of her late husband, who had been an electrician, Weyant requested that the society offer this student a special scholarship, which he used to study at a vocational school. “I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do in memory of my husband,” Weyant said. “Everyone that we interview amazes us, and makes us feel better about our future,” said Leslie Rose, town historian and member of the Woodbury Historical Society. “It reinspires me that the world isn’t going to come to an end when the teenagers take over,” Lindlaw agreed.