Manchester-Essex Rotary - Calendar of Events

The Manchester-Essex Rotary Club extends a big “Thank You” to everyone in the community who came out in force Saturday night and helped make our “Sensation-al Auction 2010” such a grand success! We are especially grateful to Chris Shea of The Landing Restaurant and his staff for providing the evening’s excellent cuisine and arranging for Anthony Sciarappa, Wine Sales Consultant, Carolina Wines, who hosted the superb wine-tasting for our event. A big 'Thank You' also goes to Jean Sword of Sweet Deliveries for providing the memorable desserts. Applause rang through the Legion Hall for the MERHS Sound Waves acapella ensemble’s performance. They sure raised the energy level to get the evening off to a great start! Sen. Bruce Tarr kept that energy level flying with his superb skills as Auctioneer. Thanks, Bruce!

This year’s Auction highlighted original artworks from members of the Central Street Gallery in Manchester. We thank these talented artists for supporting the Rotary Club in this important way: Richard Giedd, Barbara Levine, Charleen Onanian, Barbara Walsh, George Martin, Linda Jo Nielson, Barbara Jones, Lynn Murray, Bill Fusco, and , of course, Rotarian Mike Storella

This annual Auction is a major fundraiser for the Club, and helps fuel the international service and local community service projects we undertake and the scholarships we grant each year. Here are some examples from our year ending June 30th. Besides our commitment to providing scholarships to graduating seniors ($10,000 in 2009), we sponsor M-E Little League, the Concert in Masconomo Park series, the annual Green & White Breakfast honoring the high school’s student leaders, and Open Door Dinners at Cape Ann Food Pantry. We have contributed to Holiday Toy Drives, Manchester and Essex community holiday decorations and activities, and the MERHS DECA program. Refugees in Nigeria and earthquake victims in Haiti now have the shelter and security of a tent and supplies to help their families thanks to our contributions to Shelter Box. And next Saturday we will dedicate the new Baseball Backstop & Safety Dugouts in Masconomo Park, our recent project joint with the Town of Manchester.

Thanks you to all who came, brought their family and friends, bid, bought raffle tickets, and helped the Rotary Club do what we do best: “Service Above Self”.

Visit our 2010 Sensation-al Auction web gallery to view the photos from our event.

Live Auction Items

Private concert by The Sound Waves - a 30 to 40 minute perfomance by Manchester-Essex Regional High School's acappella group
Red Sox vs. Orioles - Saturday, July 3rd - 2 tickets - State Street Pavillion Box
Local Art: Still Life by Richard Giedd
Let the Music Begin Celebration - 2 tickets to the opening week concert at the new Shalin Liu Concert Hall in Rockport, MA
Round of golf for 3 at Essex County Club with Tom Riquier
Local Art: Early North Shore Autumn by Barbara Levine
Local Art: Low Tide by Barbara Walsh
Autographed Jon Lester Picture
Local Art: Manchester Seaside by Charleen Onanian
Round of golf for 3 at Essex County Club
Patriots vs Buffalo Bills - 2 tickets for September 26th - 7 rows from the field
2-hour performance by Manchester's own Celtic singing sensations 'The Erstwhiles'
Round of golf for 3 at Turner Hill with Jeff Pallin
Local Art: At Home by George Martin
North Shore's best bartender donates 3 hours to serve cocktails, wine, and other beverages at your next home party.
Curtis Cup Golf Day at Essex County Club - 2 Adult Full Event Passes and a $100 gift certificate for dinner at The Landing
Toto Drake Highline - INSTALLED!
Instant Wine Cellar - 36 to 48 assorted bottles of fine wine
Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, May 10th - 2 tickets - State Street Pavillion Box
Local Art: Manchester Harbor by Linda Jo Nielsen
Week at the Lake House - Newfield, ME
Lonely Man's Weekend
Lonely Woman's Weekend
Dine Around Cape Ann - gift certificates to several Manchester and Essex restaurants
Red Sox vs. Orioles - Friday, July 2nd - 2 tickets - State Street Pavillion Box
Local Art: Essex Afternoon in Winter by Mike Storella
From Russia With Love Basket
Local Art: View of Tree Line at Greenbelt, Essex MA
Round of golf for 4 at Blackstone
Buffet on the Beach - Cookout on the famous West Beach, Beverly Farms
Local Art: Bermuda Blue by Barbara N. Jones
Private Wine Tasting at the Landing Restaurant - 5pm to 7pm, 20-30 people, 25 of the finest wines
September at Fenway with the Sox!
Opening Night at the North Shore Music Theatre - 2 tickets to see 'Gypsy'
Round of golf for 3 at Bass Rocks
Tug boat ride around Boston Harbor - dinner following for 4-6 people (no children)
Round of golf for 3 at Salem Country Club
Bottle of 1980 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
'Home Sweet Looking Home' Interiors Package by Olson Lewis Dioli & Doktor Architects
Patriots vs Jets - 2 tickets for Monday Night Football - December 6th
Week at the Lake House in West Newfield, ME
Local Art: Across the Quarry by Lynn Murray
Round of Golf for 3 at Essex County Club
Local Art: Barn in Essex by Bill Fusco
Complete Seafood Fest for 2
Essex River Cruise for 4 and Dinner at The Landing
Take a Hike! with experienced hiker Debbie Marcus to the White Mountains
Scott Brown personalized autograph

Silent Auction Items

5 hours Consulting with Carpenter & MacNeille Architects & Builders
Day of Sailing
It's 4 o'clock Somewhere Basket
Autographed copy of 'Stories from the South Pacific'
Learn Aikido
Deep Muscle Massage
Historical Map of Manchester c. 1872
Nautilus Shell Server from Mariposa
Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays - 2 tickets for Tuesday, May 11, Loge Box Home Plate