Kailley Grantham, Orcas Key Club member, plays the piccolo for "Commodore"Mike Coughlin
Delicious dinners, incredible auction items, desserts to die for, a magical décor, and the very popular Golden Raffle were key elements of OPAL Community Land Trust’s Soiree by the Sea held Saturday evening, Sept. 12 at the Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall. This is OPAL’s major fundraising event of the year.
Auctioneer Mike Coughlin of Deer Harbor enchanted attendees in his persona, The Commodore. OPAL board members and friends welcomed him to the podium with song and lyrics borrowed from Gilbert & Sullivan, with apologies. “The Queen’s Navy” might never be the same!
Full of charm and wit, he lead attendees through a spirited auction romp of items including a week’s stay in St. Croix, skiing in Sun Valley, a catered summer picnic for 20 at White Beach, and so much more. The live and silent auctions were both very successful.
Christina Orchid of Red Rabbit Farm provided hors d’oeuvres and served three sumptuous entrees—Lopez lamb, Lopez pork, or a vegetarian option with polenta.
Penny Buttke chaired the event, supported by Joan Fletcher and Barbara Evans, the decorating chairs, and Bronwen Jones who acquired and managed the 13 beautiful desserts guests “dashed” for in the evening. Bronwen also recruited more than 50 volunteers for the party, including Key Club students. Joan and Chris and Vicki Brems created imaginative displays for the auction items. Chris and Vicki designed and created all the beautiful printed materials.
Generous sponsors of the event were Island Hardware & Supply, Orcas Excavators, Inc., Terra Firma NW, Red Rabbit Farm, Emmanuel Episcopal Church and Islanders Bank.
Helen Bee, John Fletcher and Scott Jones sold tickets for the Golden Raffle, and the ticket drawn by Craig Anderson belonged to lucky recipients Scott and Judy Whiting. They chose a week’s stay at Todos Santos, Mexico, in a guest house owned by Heidi Hudlet.
Event organizers were pleased with every aspect of the event. A final accounting will take place next week.
OPAL stands for “Of People and Land,” representing a commitment to protecting natural resources while also providing permanently affordable homes for people who are vital to the Orcas Island community. Incorporated in 1989, OPAL now provides homes for 84 households on Orcas Island, and continues to accept applications from people whose annual household income is at least $18,000 and who are not able to afford a home on the open housing market. For more information, go to: www.opalclt.org or call 376-3191.
