HOULTON, Maine – The bids started rolling in Monday night on over $75,000 worth of merchandise for everything from a haircut, a log cabin kit, four lobsters with melted butter to 150 gallons of home heating oil.
With nearly $24,000 already in, bidders still have until Wednesday evening to compete for hundreds and hundreds of items including two dozen anadama rolls, a pint of homemade pickles, a box of maple candy, a 50-lb bag of locally grown potatoes, a Stihl chainsaw, 365 days of coffee at Tim Hortons or 270 pieces of long lap siding in the 68th Annual Rotary Radio, TV & Internet Auction.
On Monday night there were more than 1,300 bids placed.
“We were excited to get the 68th Annual Rotary Auction underway on Monday,” said Annette Beaton, chair of this year’s auction.
The Rotary’s largest annual fundraiser, the auction started in 1956 and as technology improved so did the opportunities to bid on the items donated from local businesses and residents. The auction is broadcast each night on WHOU Radio 100.1 FM, televised on both Spectrum Cable Channel 1302 and Pioneer Cable channel 100 and live streamed on the Rotary Clubs’ website and Facebook page.
On both Tuesday and Wednesday nights, from 6 to 9:45 p.m. there will be multiple, 20-minute bid specials as well as bidding on the Three Night Specials that have been running since Monday night, said Rotarian Nancy Ketch.
This year’s event will provide an equipment storage building for the Houlton Football Association, snack shack updates for the Houlton Sports Boosters and an equipment storage building for Northern Maine Lacrosse, according to Ketch.
Funds will also be used to support youth ski trails and programs at Big Rock Mountain, the Future Professionals of Aroostook Program, Backpacks For Kids and Cary Library. Other projects that will benefit from auction proceeds include Dollars For Scholars, Rotary Youth Exchange, Student Recognition Day and Salvation Army, she said.
On Wednesday night, the final bidding period will run from from 9 to 9:20 p.m. and from 9:20 to 9:30 p.m. the Wednesday Night Specials and 3 Night Specials. An additional 10-minute period from 9:30 to 9:40 p.m.was added for bidding on the 3 Night Specials.
“We thank all of the people that support this important community fundraiser,” said Rotary President Joe Fagnant. “Auction week is the most wonderful time of the year. We look forward to ending this year’s auction on a successful note.”
Successful bidders will be listed on the rotary website and items must be picked up at the auction storeroom in Watson Hall, Church of the Good Shepherd on Winter Street off Main Street no later than Friday. Bidders must bring a list of their item numbers and the amount of their bid, said Ketch.
Storeroom hours through Friday are: Wednesday, Nov. 22, 9 a.m to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to Noon; and Friday, Nov. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. The storeroom number is 538-1968.
Payments can be made by cash, check or credit card and all items must be paid for in full at the time of pick-up.
To call in a bid or to make a pledge, call (207)538-1537.
This story was amended to correct some of the bidding totals.
