Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – With their first successful night of bidding behind them, Presque Isle Rotarians remind residents they have two more nights to bid on items during this year’s 61st annual Radio-TV Auction.
Photo courtesy of Bob Grove-Markwood
THE PRESQUE ISLE ROTARY CLUB RADIO-TV AUCTION, which continues through Thursday, Dec. 4, includes hundreds of auction items including a kayak package donated by Perception of Aroostook and Presque Isle Savings Bank of Maine. Pictured with the kayak are Leo Freeman of Perception of Aroostook and Susan Grove-Markwood, senior vice president of Savings Bank of Maine. The auction will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable and Channel X Radio. Proceeds from this year’s auction will benefit the Presque Isle Fire Department, Special Olympics, Martha and Mary’s Soup Kitchen, Pine Street Elementary School, American Red Cross—Pine Tree Chapter, Presque Isle Police Department, and the Nordic Heritage Sport Club.
The auction, which features more than $35,000 worth of merchandise up for bid, will be held Wednesday, Dec. 3 and Thursday, Dec. 4 from 7-10 p.m. live from the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle.
This year’s highest dollar item – valued at $1,499 – is a Toro Power Max 826LE Snowblower donated by Katahdin Trust Co. and Caron’s Equipment Sales & Service.
Other unique items include a gift certificate valued at $700 for a granite hearth pad – donated by Extreme Granite – with the highest bidder’s choice of color, and a child’s pink camouflage four-wheeler – valued at $900 – which is being donated by Griffeth Ford and North Street Auto.
“These are great gifts,” said Jane Towle, auction co-chair. “Gifts and items that everybody can use in everyday life. The auction is a great place to do your Christmas shopping and it’s a way to do a good deed.”
Rotary Club President Alton Hartt said money raised from the 61st annual auction will help support a number of organizations including the Presque Isle Fire Department, Special Olympics, Martha and Mary’s Soup Kitchen, Pine Street Elementary School, American Red Cross—Pine Tree Chapter, Presque Isle Police Department, and the Nordic Heritage Sport Club.
“Funds for this event will also help to support many community projects throughout the entire year including the Rotary Scholarship Endowment Fund, youth hockey, World Community Service Projects and countless more,” he said.
This year, the United Way of Aroostook is partnering with the Presque Isle Rotary Club to launch an effort to raise funds to help approximately 300 Aroostook County households get through the winter.
“Keep the County Warm,” a project sponsored by the United Way of Aroostook, is dedicated to keeping northern Maine homes warm by raising money for energy assistance. Grants from the Keep the County Warm Fund are awarded to pay for home energy costs, no matter what type of fuel is used – propane, kerosene, wood, electricity or fuel oil. The grant money will be made available to and distributed by those organizations that offer emergency heating assistance in the region.
With an ambitious target, the United Way of Aroostook and the Presque Isle Rotary Club have set a goal of providing enough funding for 30,000 gallons of heating fuel, translating to approximately $105,000. Also joining in the campaign effort are the Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP), the Area Agency on Aging, and Helping Hands of Aroostook.
An additional feature of the yearly tradition will be the sixth annual Rotary Art Auction which features local artists, including an artist that will create a unique piece during the auction itself to be available for bid as it is developing before the bidder’s eyes. To see art items and artist biographies, log onto www.umpi.maine.edu/~mccartnk/art08.
The auction can be heard on Channel X Radio (97.7 FM and 102.3 FM), and seen on Time Warner Cable Channel 9.
Bidders can call 764-6181 or 1-866-902-2003. Successful bidders will be notified following the last half-hour of each evening.
