Main Street auction tonight
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Sports memorabilia, art, and a host of other donations are being packed and carted to the Emporia Country Club this week in preparation for Emporia Main Street’s annual auction.
A silent auction and social hour will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, with special music provided by S. C. Dixon and the Usual Suspects. Ron Thomas will be master of ceremonies for the live auction, which will be run by auctioneer Kevin Flott.
Proceeds from the annual event finance special projects and accessories that are used to make the downtown more attractive and, this year, to inform residents and visitors of Emporia’s history and upcoming events.
Mary Helmer, Main Street director, talked Monday morning about the upcoming auction before she headed out for a radio interview, then on to Manhattan to pick up an auction donation.
“This year, (proceeds) are going to go toward purchasing informational kiosks that will be in the downtown area. Coffelt signs is going to design it for us,” Helmer said. She saw kiosks being used in Garden City and said she thought something similar would work well in Emporia.
The kiosks will hold flyers with historical information about the city and, on the other side, information on current events, which will be updated regularly. Helmer said she hopes the auction will provide funds for eight or 10 kiosks.
On Monday in Manhattan, Helmer was to pick up a basketball signed by Kansas State University coach Bob Huggins.
“We have a K.U. basketball signed by the team and the coach,” Helmer added.
Professional football will be represented by a pennant signed by Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson.
“There’s also a pontoon boat ride and barbecue which will be fun, fun, fun at Wabaunsee Lake,” she said. Kevin Nelson donated that item.
Photography and artwork have been donated by Charlotte Nickel, Harland Schuster, Harry Hart, Josh Finley and Franz Donelson. Mary Stauffer also has donated some work by her late husband, Richard, a well-known Emporia artist.
David Edwards, who works in metal, also has donated an item.
“We have irises from him,” Helmer said; “They’re gorgeous.”
Sports tickets, decorative items, a sewing machine, life-sized cutouts from “Pirates of the Caribbean” cast members and a Tiffany lamp also are among the inventory of auction items. Alan Tollakson, whose sculpture was purchased with funds from last year’s auction, has donated a stone carving with initial of the buyer’s choice, and a personalized name rock has been donated by Trent Schnakenberg.
Helmer said she is especially thrilled at the prospect of offering a Granada Package that will include a party at the Granada Theatre, catered by the Sweet Granada and the Granada Coffee Company. Renovations at the theater should be finished in early 2007.
“There’s always fun every year,” Helmer said, mentioning several items she would like to bid on, if she had time to bid. “The artwork is always a favorite of mine, too. I like it all.”