Union Fire Company of Chesterfield, is holding its second annual art auction on Jan. 15.
By: Scott Morgan
CHESTERFIELD Art. It isn’t just for hanging on the wall. In the township this weekend, in fact, art will a source of income for the Union Fire Company, which is holding its second annual art auction on Saturday.
The fund-raiser, which began last year, is part of the company’s steady need to pay the bills, according to Union Vice President/First Assistant Chief Ed Grobelni. While the company already hosts pancake breakfasts and spaghetti dinners annually, Mr. Grobelni said, the recently added art auction helps pay for continuing maintenance projects around the station house on New Street in Crosswicks.
Recently, Mr. Grobelni said, the company has added a handicapped-accessible ramp and is building a bathroom for the disabled. Ultimately, he said, the goal is to have a hall that can be rented out for special occasions.
But first things first this weekend’s art auction, hosted by the Ross Galleries of Holbrook, N.Y., will offer contemporary, western, sports-related, traditional and various other kinds of paintings, prints and lithographs, Mr. Grobelni said. Last year’s inaugural auction, also hosted by the Ross Galleries, raised "quite a bit" of money (Mr. Gobelni didn’t say exactly how much) through the sale of moderately priced art and hosted about 75 people, Mr. Grobelni said.
But, he added, the company is hoping to double its audience (and its sales, of course) with this weekend’s auction. An extra incentive this year, Mr. Grobelni said, are some items donated by local businesses, items ranging from jackets to tools from businesses looking to lend a hand, Mr. Grobelni said.
The auction begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, with a preview held an hour prior. Tickets are available at the door and cost $5 per person or $8 per couple. Hors d’oeuvres, wine and cake will be served. For more information, call Mr. Grobelni at (609) 587-2466.

