Extraordinary and ordinary. Expensive and economical. Pleasurable and practical.
There’s something for every taste going on the auction block at the Eastern Lancaster County Library Dinner and Auction on Saturday, Jan. 11, at Yoder’s Restaurant, 14 S. Tower Road, New Holland.
Carla and Tom O’Neill found the perfect present for their daughter Alex’s 13th birthday — a hot air balloon ride — at last year’s auction.
The East Earl couple purchased one of two tickets for the balloon ride donated by Garden Spot Village. Pat and Linda Castagna, Alex’s grandparents, from Lancaster, purchased the the second one.
A third ticket was purchased from the U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team so younger sister Abby, 11, could join Alex and their grandfather, Pat, on what the birthday girl described as a “breathtaking” flight.
Said Pat Castagna, “It’s a memory I’ll always treasure, especially seeing the excitement of my granddaughters.”
Both the O’Neills and Castagnas agree that purchasing the balloon rides was a wonderful way to support the local library while giving the family a great memory.
The hot air balloon rides, donated by Garden Spot Village, will again go on the auction block this year. Other items, such as a 2002 Ford Taurus, quilts, artwork, pottery, artisan carvings and children’s toys and furniture, are also going up for bids.
Joining them on the auction block will be day trips to Philadelphia and New York, vacations to Cape Cod and West Virginia, a Super Bowl party package, Pellman’s desserts for a year, gift certificates for landscaping and restaurants, 100 gallons of home heating oil and a singing holiday telegram.
Auction chair Barbara MacMaster explained that for the first time this year’s auction has corporate sponsors, who CNH America LLC; Garden Spot Village; Chester County Solid Waste Authority; and Ephrata Charter Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association.
“Also, the high bidder for each live and silent auction item will have his or her auction number put in a hat,” MacMaster said. “At the end of the evening, three to five numbers will be drawn to win special gifts.”
Cost for the dinner and auction is $25 per person. Tickets are required for dinner and can be purchased at the library,at 11 Chestnut Drive, New Holland.
Auction preview takes place at 4 p.m. and dinner is at 5 p.m. The auction runs from 6 to 9 p.m. There is no cost to attend the auction. There will also be a silent auction.
“The dinner/auction is our biggest fundraiser and we appreciate the continued support from the community,” said Donna Brice, library director.
Jim Costello, treasurer of the library’s board of trustees, said annual state, county and municipal funding has fallen from a total of $175,991 to $95,804 since 2008 — a decrease of $80,187. Private donations have also decreased, from $199,000 in 2007 to $130,000 this year.
He said the board has adjusted operating hours, staffing and programs to accommodate the funding decrease. The 2014 budget accounts for planned deficit spending of approximately $15,000, spending down meager reserves for future capital repair needs.
“We provide this wonderful community resource, open to the public 46 hours per week, Monday thru Saturday, for under $250,000 a year,” Costello noted.
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