SHARON

COX

Art Voices

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Get those reservations locked in. This is going to be an enormously popular venue for the University of Jamestown’s annual Dine & Bid gala. For the past 32 years, getting the proper location for UJ’s annual fundraising event has been a challenge. It’s been on campus and off campus, and had so many wonderful themes. This year it’s a very different event. This year, the venue is its first: the Harold Newman Arena on the campus of the University of Jamestown.

Over at the Hansen Center it was lovely, but didn’t quite fit. It has been in the Civic Center, but that didn’t quite fit. Like the story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” this venue fits just right. It’s close enough to campus catering to be an easy access for food and within the campus itself, so security, parking and many other aspects of a gala such as this will be easier to manage.

Kelsey Deragisch ( KDeragis@uj.edu ) or 252-3467, ext. 5638, will be happy to give you reservation tickets and even set up entire tables for families or friends. Tickets are $75 per person and reservations must be in by April 9 to secure a spot at this landmark event, so time is of essence.

The social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with live and silent auctions open for perusing until dinner at 6:30 p.m. and afterward. Dinner is always a very special spread. With the Sodexo executive chefs available and the cafeteria in close proximity to the Newman Arena, guests will be in for a real treat this year. There will be a menu choice for vegetarians as well as meat lovers, so be sure to note your choice when reserving your tickets. Also, if you have eight people wishing to sit together, a table can be reserved for that number.

Auction items this year are varied. Two of the top dollar vacation sites were shown inside this year’s invitation. One is a home in Belize and another is a private residence in Washington, D.C. Each has a minimum bid, but each elegant residence could go well above that amount listed. They would be vacation bargains at double the recommended minimum. Other items on the auction list includes services donated by local automobile dealers, jewelry stores, florists, restaurants, artists and clothing stores. There will be something tempting for every person there.

There will be original artwork by children’s book author/artist Barbara McClintock. She is an internationally recognized artist and author (from Jamestown) who, while here last month was in one of the art classes at the university. She drew some sketches in pencil (the kind of preliminary studies artists do before finalizing a composition to paint.) Her work will be auctioned off and whatever is bid will go towards student scholarships. Other artists from the area have donated original work for the auction.

Orr Auctioneering services will handle the live auction as well as clerking services.

Casey Stout and Warren Abrahamson are masters of ceremony and will keep the evening running like a well-oiled motor. Entertainment will be provided and the afterparty with music and refreshments follows at the Elks Club.

Sponsors were generous this year and are listed on the invitation. In keeping with the Oscars theme, categories include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Animated Feature. For certain, the decorations will feature movies and outstanding moments from the Oscars. This comes once a year, and this year is the first in the Newman Arena and with its new UJ president, Dr. Polly Peterson. Be sure to get your seats reserved by April 9.

If anyone has an item for this column, please send to Sharon Cox, PO Box 1559, Jamestown, ND, 58402-1559.