Is a winklepicker a way to choose at whom to wink or a style of shoes? Most people have never heard the word, but at Webster's War of the Words, it could mean the winning points! (FYI: they're a style of shoe popular in the 1950s. And when did "FYI" join the Merriam-Webster family of words?) This entertaining gala event is centered around Noah Webster's impact on American culture.
Emceed by Brad Drazen, the evening will include live music, hearty appetizers, a wine and beer tasting, and an auction. The featured entertainment for the night will be a game show centered on language and culture and hosted by Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's Editor at Large.
The fourth annual Webster's War of the Words will take place at the West Hartford Town Hall on Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m. The museum's Executive Director Chris Dobbs said, "War of the Words has quickly become the museum's signature event. With colorful personalities and a witty game show, it's a perfect blend of education and entertainment".
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The game show contestants this year will include Hartford Courant columnist Susan Campbell, University of Hartford President Emeritus Humphrey Tonkin, West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka, journalist and radio personality Diane Smith, television and radio food show host Prudence Sloan, former news anchor and entrepreneur Susan Christensen Stoner, and syndicated columnist and author Rob Kyff. The three-person team that wins each round will have its points turned into dollars to support school programs at the Noah Webster House for underserved children.
Each year the museum serves approximately 2,000 children free of charge from lower income communities around greater Hartford and over 10,000 children statewide. Beth Sweeney, the museum's Education Coordinator offered this letter from one of the many children who visit the museum each year: "Dear Staff of Noah Webster, Thank you for showing us around the house. It was really wonderful of you to invite us with out money. We hope you'll come back very soon to Betances all the best, sincerely, Nora".
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Reservations are highly recommended. General tickets are $50 in advance ($60 after April 5 or at the door). Champions of Noah Webster tickets are $75 and include an acknowledgment in the museum's newsletter of the individual's support. A portion of the ticket price is tax deductable to the extent allowed by law and will help to support the museum's school programs. Tickets are available at www.noahwebsterhouse.org, or by calling 860-521-5362 x10.