Annual fundraiser helps keep local historic site operational

The 40th annual Old Hotel Art Galley buffet dinner and auction fundraiser is set for Saturday night at Evergreen Implement.

“The theme is Kentucky Derby so think big royal wedding hats,” said Jenn Stevenson, Old Hotel Art Gallery manager. “We’re encouraging people to dress up, but it’s not mandatory to be able to attend.”

There will be a plethora of items in various price ranges to bid on during the evening festivities, which kick off with dinner at 6 p.m.

Some of those items on the list include gift certificates from local businesses, rounds of golf at Frenchman Hills Legacy Resort and Sage Hills, four-day passes to Rafter Reef Water Park in Hayden, Idaho, painting and prints from Old Hotel Artist’s of the Month for September and October, Susan Wapole and Gretchen Durepo, and 90 minutes and two-hour pampering’s at the Healing Escape Massage on Hemlock Street in Othello.

“We also have certificates to the Tree House Bed and Breakfast in Fall City and Cave B Winery’s Inn & Spa Resort in Quincy,” Stevenson said. “You can stay in a private Cliffehouse, which is a cavern room that you enter through a cave-like basalt rock wall or a rugged back-to-nature Desert Yurt.”

There’s even something for memorabilia buffs to bid on.

“Orlando Favaro has provided some old belt buckles,” Stevenson said. “One of them is a 1984 State Basketball Championship buckle that has the names of the coaches and players and the scores of each game the team played.”

A couple of the most popular items provided and bid on last year were a catered Asian dinner for four couples and a wine refrigerator.

“Rob and Shelia Simmons, owners of Simmons Family Chiropractic in Othello hosted the dinner that went for $400 per couple,” Stevenson said. “We auctioned off keys to the wine fridge and the person who had the key that opened it got to take home 12 bottles of exceptional local area wines.”

Tickets are $20 each/$18 for seniors, and can be purchased at the Old Hotel Art Gallery or at the door on the evening of the gala. Proceeds will benefit the historic Old Hotel.

“We’ll use the money for operating expenses for the art gallery, the children’s art program and for maintenance and renovation on the building,” Stevenson said. “This is going to be a fun event. We hope to see a lot of people there.”