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NEW HOPE: Education group’s auction is Saturday in New Hope

‘Best of Live’ feature available to attendees and to those unable to attend

   Board members of the Lambertville Area Education Foundation (LAEF) and community volunteers are making final arrangements for the organization’s 13th annual Auction Benefit.
   The event will be held at the Eagle Fire Company Banquet Hall, New Hope, on March 29, starting at 6 p.m.
   ”The annual event has a reputation for offering outstanding food and remarkable auction bargains,” said a spokesman.
   Proceeds support grants for programs proposed by teachers at Lambertville Public School, South Hunterdon Regional High School, Stockton Borough School, and West Amwell Township School.
   Area artists whose works will be featured in this year’s live action include Guy Ambrosino, Vincent Ceglia, Bill Claus, Jean Michel Dumas, Gordon Haas, Kathryn Hackyl, Holly Hagy, Bob Heath, J.P. Horan, Jacob Landau, Tony LaSalle, Nora Lewis, Porter Little, Ken McIndoe, Michael Madigan, Mike Mann, Judi Neiman, Guillaume Nelessen, C. Schlosser, Carol Scott, Collette Sexton, Kelly Sullivan, Eleanor Voorhees and Jane Wesby.
   Other auction items that are likely to attract spirited bidding include:
   — A tasting menu dinner for eight, with wine pairings at Anton’s at the Swan;
   — A summer family pool membership at the Colonial Sportsmen’s Club;
   — An elegant candlelit dinner for eight on the Wing Dam, in the middle of the Delaware River;
   — Family getaways in Wildwood and Vermont;
   — A Sneddon’s starlight picnic on the Delaware plus boat ride;
   — A wine cellar, with over 20 bottles of fine wine, plus a wine refrigerator and classic Baccarat wine glasses;
   — A birthday party, featuring Apple Gate Farms organic products, for eight children;
   — Tickets to New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Somerset Patriots and Trenton Thunder games;
   — A 2014 parking pass for the Lambertville Station parking lot, plus a $100 gift certificate;
   — Fine jewelry, some of it designed by local artists; and
   — Gift certificates for area stores, restaurants, inns, services, and children’s adventure venues.
   A “Best of Live” feature is available both to attendees and to those who can’t attend, but want to share the excitement. The auction typically features 50 to 60 live auction items that attract bids of up to $2,200 each.
   ”Best of Live” allows the winner of a limited raffle to withdraw the item of his or her choice before the auction even begins. Tickets for Best of Live cost $50. Only 100 will be sold.
   Food for the event will be furnished by an all-star array of area restaurants and caterers, including: Bitter Bobs, Cafe Galleria, Chicken Dog Café, The Chocolate Box, Cross Culture-Lambertville, El Tule, Emily’s Café-Pennington, Giuseppe’s, Hamilton’s Grill Room, Homestead Farm Market, Lambertville Station, Lambertville Trading Company, Manon, Ricks, Sneddons, the South Hunterdon High School Culinary Program and Tortugas Cocina.
   Tickets, at $50 per person, are available at Lambertville Trading Company, and Walkers Liquor Store. Event tickets, “Best of Live” tickets and tables also may be reserved by contacting Kathy Ferry at [email protected], or Jill Myers at [email protected].
   The LAEF, founded in 1992, is a nonprofit organization, run entirely by volunteers. Virtually 100 percent of its income is expended in grants to teachers at the four area public schools. More information is available at LAEF-for-the-kids.org.