MOMENTUM BUILDING FOR SEPTEMBER 29 ROCKPORT AUCTION

Auction 2006, the annual goods and services auction sponsored by the Rockport Chamber of Commerce, is now just weeks away. This year’s auction will be held at the Rockport Golf Club on Friday, September 29, with an auction preview and silent auction from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, followed by the regular auction at 7:15 pm.

A 12-member committee, chaired by Laurene Wessel of Rockport National Bank, has been working diligently since mid-June to plan Auction 2006. Frank Kaminski will once again serve as Auctioneer for this year’s event. The evening will include a catered meal from LoGrasso’s Bistro and Caf’ and a cash bar.

Already over 150 items, valued at more than $35,000 collectively, have been donated by local shops, inns, artists, entrepreneurs and individuals, and new items are arriving daily at a pace expected to top last year’s total of 210 items valued at over $43,000. Early items include: original paintings and prints by close to 20 Rockport artists, vacation packages at New England and Virginia resort destinations, specially catered dinners at Rockport inns and seaside homes, and tickets to Celtics and Bruins games. A regularly updated list of auction items is available on-line at www.rockportusa.com/auction.

Additional donations to the Rockport Chamber of Commerce auction are still welcome and encouraged. Anyone wishing to reserve a table, donate a good or service, or make a financial contribution in support of Auction 2006 is invited to contact Peter Webber or Susan Lucas at the Rockport Chamber office (978-546-6575).