At last, what you’ve been waiting for: a gallery of pictures from our very successful dinner and silent auction and raffle held January 28, in (as you can see above) the bright and warm St Augustine Church basement. It was a full house, the most successful event of the Capital Campaign, netting some $5000 toward rebuilding the Senior Center – and fun as well. A great number of volunteers worked very hard to make it a success, unfortunately too many to thank individually.
$200,000 or Bust!
But at least they all got a piece of the scrumptious cake donated by NECI and a full meal from the kitchens of Hilltop Restaurant and Hunger Mountain Coop, with additions from Manghi’s Bread, Wayside Restaurant, Shaw’s, and Price Chopper. All these goodies were prepared by the cheerful kitchen crew of Center members and Unitarian Church SPUDS, some of whom are seen below awaiting the horde of hungry diners – they didn’t have to wait long!
Photo courtesy Rebecca Singer
The crew was ably captained by Irene Nightingale Nettler in the kitchen, and Tina Muncy all about; you see them both here on the right.
Unfortunately, although we have photos of the silent auction items, 
the organizers thereof, the three Barbaras: Gutheil, Smith, and Ploof, as well as Janet Ressler, all escaped the camera lens. However, Ron Merkin, 
fine pianist that he is, was so intent on his instrument as he accompanied our dinner, he never even knew he’d been shot. Did it hurt, Ron?
Photo courtesy Rebecca Singer
Elizabeth Dodge, Advisory Board Chair, led off the activities, then passed the baton, er, microphone, to our Master of Ceremonies, Geof Hewitt, who proved to be a very lively auctioneer as well as MC.
Photo courtesy Rebecca Singer
As MC, he introduced the talent of the evening. First well-known expert milongueros Gerd Hirschmann and Elizabeth Seyler brought a breath of Argentine summer with their a demonstration of Tango. 
Then not one but three flashing pairs of dancers, Sylvia & Ray Kingsbury, Ormond & Denise Mongeon, and Joanne Winters & Rick Codling performed a variety of ballroom steps.
Your intrepid reporter, however, has two left feet. While fascinated by the skill on display, he will regretfully remain only a spectator.
After proclaiming herself just a novice at Powerpoint, our director Janna Clar then proceeded to present a very clear and compelling account 
on the State of Just About Everything concerning the rebuilding of 58 Barre Street – and why You, yes You, should contribute.
$200,000 or Bust!
Rounding out the evening, and this long-winded account, Johanna Nichols, below, holds the box of raffle tickets up for Geof. He’s got a winner!
P.S. A quick Thanks to artist Frank Woods and to Louise Ellingwood for the hearts and ivy and quirky table decorations!
