By: Hannah Bolandian ’19

The County Assembly Charity Ball, often referred to as Counties, is an annual tradition dance for juniors across Fairfield County. The 2018 dance, which is the 80th anniversary, is planned to be held on Jan. 20 for Staples, along with Wilton High School and Weston High School students. In previous years, all the towns included in the county ball attended the event on the same night. However, this year they have divided the event into two nights. Joel Barlow, Fairfield Warde and Fairfield Ludlowe will be attending the dance at the Marriott in Stamford on Friday Jan. 19.

With this new change came a variety of opinions. “Some of my closest friends go to Ludlowe and I was so excited to be able to see them at Counties. Now that I won’t I’m not as excited for the dance” Emily Putman ’19. On the other hand, Logan Varsano ’19 feels that “a smaller dance will be more fun because you will be more likely to meet new people instead of just staying with your friends.”

Registration opened on Nov. 9 for both the junior girls and their escorts. In past years, there has been a trend of tickets becoming sold out therefore a portion of students who had not yet registered or registered late, were unable to attend the dance.

With registration, the girls purchase entry tickets for themselves and their dates. Tickets cost $125.00 per pair. “At first I was taken aback by the price of the tickets and the fact that the girls traditionally pay for them, but then I realized that the boys pretty much pay us back with prom” Isabel Handa ’19 said.

As The County Assembly is a non-profit organization, all the money acquired from ticket sales, and any other further donations, is allocated to various charities that are tax-exempted and benefit children and teens. These charities are chosen by the two appointed student ambassadors for the dance every year.