Cobblestone Museum’s annual fundraising dinner nets about $30K for organization

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Chris Capurso, left, and Mollie Radzinski show the audience a quilt being auctioned off during the live auction at Wednesday’s Membership Fundraising Dinner to benefit the Cobblestone Society. (Right) Doris Antinore of Albion, a regular supporter of the Cobblestone Museum, sits with some of the items she bought and won at the annual membership dinner Wednesday at Carlton Recreation Hall.

CARLTON – The eighth annual Membership Fundraising Dinner to benefit the Cobblestone Society and Museum was a resounding success, according to director Doug Farley.

“As people understand our goal, this gets better every year,” Farley said. “We had close to 100 people who donated items for our auctions and raffle. This fundraiser helps keep our operation going.”

Approximately 100 people attended the event Wednesday night at the Carlton Recreation Hall.

Larry Albanese filled in as auctioneer in the absence of Randy Bower, who was unable to attend. This was Albanese’s  first attempt at auctioneering, he said.

The evening featured an early bird raffle for prizes for those who purchased their tickets on or before March 31, a money tree raffle, split club, basket raffle, live auction and silent auction. Early bird winners were Kathleen Smith, Larry Albanese, Marcia Graczyk, Ann Czajkowski and Gene Graczyk.

Donated prizes included everything from handcrafted jewelry, a quilt made by Brenda Radzinski and lunch for 10 at the Vagg House, to a new grill, smart TV and 30-gallon ceramic crock.

Gail Johnson has been chair of the fundraising dinner for all eight years.

“Even though the Membership Dinner is a fundraiser, I like to think that our members get together primarily to socialize and have a good time,” Johnson said. “This year our event netted $30,821. This is due to a large part to our sustaining members – Bronze ($250), Silver ($500), Gold ($1,000) and Diamond ($2,500).”

(Left) Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Society and Museum, welcomes the crowd to the annual Membership Fundraising Dinner Wednesday at Carlton Recreation Hall. At rear, Larry Albanese, who filled in as auctioneer, chats with guest Delbert Young of Medina. (Right) Chris Capurso sits in an antique rocking chair, which was donated for the Cobblestone Society’s annual fundraising dinner Wednesday at Carlton Recreation Hall. She is demonstrating how ladies could sit and knit or crochet without any arms in the way.