KENT, Conn. — Laughter and smiles bubbled over inside the Kent Volunteer Fire Department the evening of Saturday, Sept. 20.
The firehouse served as the venue for Kent Memorial Library’s annual Quiz Night fundraiser.
Guest enjoyed pizza, sandwiches, sushi, and other dinner fare they brought to the event, along with snacks and an assortment of beverages for the evening.
More than 40 teams, each with up to four players, participated in 10 rounds of questions of 10 questions each. A panel of four judges reviewed answers submitted by a player from each team. Based on the titles of each round, teams indicated one round they would double prior to the quiz commencing.
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The fifth round of the event, which is live music, Rob Brereton, who had a music store in the center of Kent a number of years ago, played the mountain dulcimer for nine clues about folk music.
When revealing the answers, the firehouse was filled with hundreds of players singing “Yankee Doodle.”
After an evening of 100 questions, the winning team with 98 points of a possible 110 was Team Stone Cold Jane Austen, comprised of Gene Campbell, Max Spurlin, Rufus L. de Rham, and Emilie Harjes.
“I think the key was neurodivergence,” de Rham said of the win.
Second place, with 95 pointswas Team Spanish Inquizition, comprised of Sierra Thomsen, Matt Willis, Ginger Blake, and Rachel Zimmerman; third place, with 92 points, was Team Aggradays, made up of Liz and Adam Radday and CJ and Jen Agro; and last place, with 58 points, was Quizzing My Pants, headed by 45 on Main owner Gary Kidd.
“You know, we were three foreigners and an American,” Kidd said of his team taking last place.
Andrea Schoeny contributed to this report.The Kent Volunteer Fire Department serves as the venue for the popular Quiz Night sponsored by Kent Memorial Library. Photo by Deborah Rose
Attendees bring an array of meals and snacks. Photo by Deborah Rose
About 200 people turned out for the Kent Memorial Library’s annual Quiz Night fundraiser held Sept. 20. Photo by Deborah Rose
Tobi and John Gebauer, members of the Three’s Company team, debate which round they want to use as double round. Photo by Deborah RoseMore than 40 teams participated in the annual fundraiser, with each team scored on a master sheet in the front of the firehouse. Photo by Deborah Rose
Friends and families attend the event. Photo by Deborah Rose
Emcee Steve Pener welcomes guests to the Kent Memorial Library’s annual Quiz Night fundraiser at the KVFD firehouse, and reviews the evening’s agenda and rules. Photo by Deborah Rose
Kent residents Bill Braislin of the We Knew That team, left, and Bill Collins of the Lawn Enforcers share pre-game strategy before the start of the event. Photo by Deborah RoseWest Cornwall residents Chet Krayewski and Wendy Weinberg say they “go head to head at Interlocken for trivia” on a regular basis and are looking forward to facing off on different teams for Quiz Night. Photo by Deborah Rose
Kent resident Rufus L. de Rham reflects on the answer to the question, “What does the ‘zip’ stand for in zip code?” at the Kent Memorial Library’s annual Quiz Night fundraiser. Photo by Deborah Rose
Answers to questions are written down on paper and submitted to the judges at the library fundraiser. Photo by Deborah Rose
Judges, from left, Geoffrey Stewart, Alex and Glenn Sanchez, and Kent Memorial Library Director Sarah Marshall, review submitted answers from teams after round one. Photo by Deborah Rose
Cassidy Pratt of Kent smiles as a question a question about supporting cast members of TV shows is asked at the Kent Memorial Library’s annual Quiz Night fundraiser held Sept. 20, 2025, at the KVFD firehouse. Photo by Deborah Rose
Kent resident Rudy Mohlo, foreground, and other players respond as answers to round two are announced at the Kent Memorial Library’s annual Quiz Night fundraiser held Sept. 20, 2025, at the KVFD firehouse. Photo by Deborah Rose
The Moops team members David McMillan, left, and Tim Booth discuss the possible answers to one of the questions. Photo by Deborah Rose
Victoria Sanchez cheers that she and teammates correctly answered a question geared toward Gen Zers. Photo by Deborah RoseMaisi Boon of Kent, a member of Team When Pigs Fly, enthusiastically cheers when an answer is read because her team got it correct. Photo by Deborah Rose
Front row is the winning team with 98 points of a possible 110 on 100 questions was Stone Cold Jane Austen, comprised of, from left to right, Gene Campbell, Max Spurlin, Rufus L. de Rham, and Emilie Harjes. In back, Kent Memorial Library Director Sarah Marshall and emcee Steve Peter join the winners. Photo by Andrea Schoeny
Deborah Rose is a lifelong writer, photographer, poet and award-winning journalist. As assistant editor of the Kent Dispatch, she brings us more than 25 years in community journalism and, as a lifelong...
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