RotaryRoundup
Western style benefit planned for scholarship fund
by Mary Lancaster Independent Writer
If you all have ever had a hankerin' to dress up like The Lone Ranger, Billy the Kid or the invincible team of Dale Evans and Roy Rogers, well gosh dang it, your chance has arrived.

On Saturday, May 3 at Cisco Brewers, the Nantucket Rotary Club is hosting a "yee haw" western style fundraiser called "Blazing Paddles." The event will benefit its scholarship fund that will include your ribs, chicken, beans and other fixins' along with kicker liquid refreshment, lively country music, and silent and live auctions. Western attire is not required, but prizes will be given to those who attend with boots, spurs, flouncey shirts, fringed leather jackets or 10-gallon hats.

The time to get down is at 6 p.m. with cocktails, then a seated dinner (under decorated tents in case it rains) featuring caterer Jim Perelman's delectible menu with a western dessert. Live entertain- ment will be supplied by "Four E Z Payments," a local band with members Rob Dunbar on mandolin, Ybbob Dickinson on guitar, Paul Flynn on upright bass and Billy Humphries on banjo. NHS art teacher Ritch Leone will serve as master of ceremonies.

After dinner, silent and live auctions will be held with Emory Sanders as auctioneer. The Rotary Club sponsored a contest with Nantucket High School students for design of the live auction booklet. Senior Jackson Mulkern won and received a $500 scholarship.

Live auction items include a riding mower; a fancy push mower; a sterling silver heart pendant; an evening with astronomer Vladimir Strelnitski; a case of fine wines; a package of home products; a book collection; a bike; a package of gift certificates; an African safari; a strand of fresh water pearls; a Nantucket Health Club membership and round of golf; toys, treats and more for your dog; a package including a lawn mowing, barbeque by Jim Perelman and Cisco Brewers' delights; a sail on Endeavor; a package of dinner for four at 21 Federal, Lo La 41 and Blue Water Bakery catering; rock climbing for kids plus tickets to Circus Flora; a wood carving class; an SSA fast ferry commuter book; season membership with Nantucket Community Sailing; a painting by artist Vince Calarco; a trip to France; a carved bird sculpture; tickets to this summer's Boston Pops; tee time in the hospital's golf tournament; Bob Olson's home-brewed "Glog;" a fire starter kit for outdoor grills; tickets to the Wine Festival's grand tasting; hand-crafted beverage glasses and bowl; and the opportunity to purchase Mulkern's original, framed auction cover art.

Silent auction items include a spa blanket; Island Air tickets; book packages; chocolates; jewelry; a hand-knitted sweater; a case of wine; a travel kit, and more.

All auction proceeds go to the Rotary Scholarship Fund, which also awards monies to senior-year students participating in community service projects. The auction underwriters are Cisco Brewers, Triple 8 Distillery, Nantucket Vineyards, Stover Engineering, Bert's Electronics, The Inquirer and Mirror, Michael Allen and the Nantucket Association of Real Estate Brokers. Tickets cost $75 and are on sale at Bookworks, Egan Maritime Institute, Cisco Brewers and from all Rotarians.

Nantucket's Rotary Club was established in October 1950. All funds raised by the organization are used for local and international humanitarian causes. Rotary International now numbers 1.2 million members in 32,000 clubs in 200 countries. Rotary's motto is "Service

Above Self." I