Ellington

Normally the romping grounds of canines learning commands, Play Dog Excellent will take on a new look as the setting for the 30th annual Red Bank Jubilee Auction May 19, with doors opening at 5 p.m. Red Bank Chamber Council sponsors the event to benefit local schools.

“We really wanted to freshen up the auction this year,” said Red Bank Chamber Council president Kathy Schein. “This event will feature a far more social atmosphere than in years past, with hors d’oeuvres and adult beverages available to guests, as well as the addition of new auction items that have broader appeal. Our goal is to attract people from both inside and outside the Red Bank community to this year’s event.”

Some auction items up for bid are tickets to Ober Gatlinburg, Dollywood, the Southern Belle, Comedy Catch and Vaudeville Café, a Chris Chiropractic visit, Doubletree Hotel stays, a Lane Funeral Home limo ride, Medieval Times dinners, oil changes, restaurant gift cards, Red Bank Pool memberships and auto parts gift cards. A unique auction item is being presented by Red Bank Vice Mayor John Roberts, who plans to devote a day of manual labor to the highest bidder.

Red Bank Chamber Council board member Joe Fuqua said he plans to bid on gasoline gift cards because it would be a great deal to get a $50 gas card to Raceway, Walmart or Mountain Mart for a bid lower than the gift card amount.

The auction will also feature a 50/50 drawing.

Patrons can view auction items in the arena from 5-6 p.m. Auctioneer Leslie Meek, of Meek’s Auctions in Red Bank, will volunteer his time and start the live auction bidding process at 6 p.m. All proceeds will benefit Red Bank schools and the tri-state region’s first child identification project, EZ Child ID, which offers resources to families with missing children and senior adults.

“We just think it’s great that we have a facility large enough to offer the Chamber for the auction,” said Play Dog Excellent managing partner Angie Jennings, who also serves on the Red Bank Chamber Council board. “We have 16,000 square feet of space in the arena for the auction.”

Council board member Sonja Millard said Red Bank Elementary School, Red Bank Middle School, Red Bank High School, Alpine Crest Elementary School and the Dawn School are all eligible for a $500 scholarship if school administrators apply for it. She said the council annually awards the scholarship to a teacher at each school that can benefit the most students.