Archive: Around Town

Last Saturday the Lakewatch Inn held a rockin' beach party when the Corporate Development Committee of Lansing Central Schools, Inc. (CDC) held their annual auction to raise money for technology equipment in the Lansing schools.  The 'Hang Ten' party was a slight departure from past years when people dressed to the nines to attend the event.  Many people came in beach attire and sunglasses, with some wearing grass skirts.  Joe Bruno and 'The Beachbums' rocked the hall as bidders viewed items for sale and enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and played 'Beach Blanket Bingo.'


"I heard from a lot of people that they really liked the casual atmosphere," says board member Bobbi Wasenko.  "They had a lot of fun with it."  Wasenko says ticket sales average about 325, but this year only about 260 tickets were sold.


Earlier this year the CDC presented $34,000 worth of equipment to the Lansing Schools including computers, ceiling mounted projectors, and Elmo overhead projectors.  Over the ten years the auction has been held the CDC has donated more than $300,000 worth of equipment to the schools.  CDC is a not-for-profit corporation made up of about 17 parent volunteers. 


There were 93 silent auction items, 12 live auction items, 50 balloons, and 49 items in the duck pond.  All the items were donated by businesses and individuals.  When you paid $10 for a balloon you received an item worth at least that much.  A chance at the duck pond went for $20 and you were guaranteed to win a prize.  Beach party bingo was also offered, and there were ten winners for the evening.  The person who covered the whole card won a digital camera.


Items were numerous and varied, including a party from Rick's Rental World, a Dianne Hickerson Watercolor, overnights, makeovers, a box at Big Red Hockey, an Ithaca Country Club membership, and a hot air balloon ride.  The most expensive item was a limousine tour of wine country that went for over $1,000.  One item was even over-bid, going for $130 more than its value.  The silent auction contained just about anything you could imagine, including a SU basketball, jewelry, sub sandwiches, paintings, a weed eater, and even an ad in the Lansing Star.


Despite the casual theme, some people decided to dress up anyway.  "We don't put out a dress code," Wasenko explains.  "Last year, because it was so close to Halloween we thought about doing a costume party.  But as committee members were talking about the event and discussing it with friends a lot of people said, 'Instead of going out and spending money on a costume I'd rather save my money and use it to bid on items.'  Some people like to dress up and some like a more casual atmosphere.  We just want people to come and have fun, and spend money to support a good cause."


Master of Ceremonies Geoff Wright conducted the auction, pausing just long enough at the last moment for that last bidder to get into the fray.  This year the list of auction items was sent out before hand and Wasenko says this gave bidders a chance to decide what to bid on beforehand, or form groups to bid on items.  She thinks this helped increase the bidding, and says that it gave the donors the recognition and press that they deserved for their generosity.  

The committee is a sleeves-up working group that does all the jobs themselves.  "It's fun," Wasenko says.  "It's a lot of work, but it's amazing to see everybody pull it together.  (President) Bill Curry is a detail man.  His organizational skills are phenomenal.  He takes this very seriously as all of us on the committee do."  Everyone gets donations, and takes jobs during the event, greeting at the door, manning the duck pond or balloons, hosting the bingo game, and making the auction run as smoothly as possible.


This year there was a good turnout of school administrators, including Superintendent Mark Lewis, Middle School Principal Jamie Thomas, and Curriculum Coordinator Deb Pichette.  A few teachers attended as well.  


The final numbers are not in as of this writing, but the committee estimates that while attendance was down this year, the total money raised was up.  "We know that we've had another record year,"  Wasenko says.  "We've broken the $25,000 mark and they're still running the credit cards."

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