Louis Braille School

Sunshine and a view of ferries sailing back and forth across Puget Sound came through the picture windows of the South County Senior Center in Edmonds last Saturday, March 21st, as a crowd of Louis Braille School supporters attended the 2009 Benefit Auction.

Auctioneer Bobby Mills and Master of Ceremonies Tom Snyder, both of whom belong to the Edmonds Lions Club, served with humor and energy on a day when the auction raised a bit more money this year than it did in 2008.

Carolyn Meyer, Director of the Louis Braille School, gave the Louis Braille School Distingushed Service Award to District 19B Lions.

The award, initiated in 2007, is presented to those who have made a significant difference for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Supporters were serenaded by the SeaSharps, a barbershop quartet out of Seattle, and ate homemade, hand-cranked ice cream provided by Mark Hanberg, a milkman from Edmonds who calls himself the Moo Man.

Puppies in training to be Guide Dogs for the Blind made an appearance at the event and were petted and admired by the crowd.

Prior to enjoying dessert, attendees had pizza from Pagliacci’s (the Louis Braille School’s next door neighbor) and gourmet sodas from the Dry Soda Company in Seattle.

The most notable culinary contributions may have come from Cindy Van Winkle and her daughter, Amanda Wearstler.

Cindy baked a pineapple upside down cake that was truly mouth watering and spurred some lively bidding, while Amanda made a cake ingeniously decorated with braille fashioned from chocolate that rested atop a snow-white icing.

Two Louis Braille School students spoke at the event and each was joined by a parent.

Jennifer Wheeler, mother of student Brett Wheeler, spoke movingly about Brett’s early challenges in life and the more recent decision her family made to move from eastern Washington to Edmonds, so that Brett could attend the Louis Braille School.

Both Jennifer and Brett are glad they made the move.

Before the Wheelers took the stage, student Jordan Frank and his father, Steve, spoke to the audience of supporters.

Steve asked his son what he liked best about the Louis Braille School and Jordan loudly said, “Learning!”

With that answer, Jordan made us smile and think at the same time. If ever a single word could have summed up the reason the auction takes place, makes all the hard work worthwhile, and imparts a sense of purpose to the school’s supporters, what could serve better than “Learning”?

We want to thank the following volunteers, without whose help the auction could not have taken place: the Delta Gamma Beta University of Washington Beta Chapter, Essie Fletcher, Glen Hair, Nancy Hamilton, Grace Lackey, Julie LeMay, Virginia Low, Kathryn McMaster, the Meadowdale High School Leos, Claudia Mills, Georgia Snyder, and CathyYocom.

A special thanks goes out to the Imagine Children’s Museum of Everett. Under the direction of its Creative Arts and Volunteer Manager, Raniere, children at the Museum created large and colorful table doilies out of squares of recycled brailled paper that they covered with finger paints and attached to each other with knotted lengths of scarlet yarn.

The doilies coordinated well with the checkered tablecloths and bud vases filled with daisies assembled by Julie LeMay, as the photo, below, shows.

You’ll be entertained in unforgettable and unusual ways at the Louis Braille School Benefit Auction on Saturday afternoon, March 21st, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, in the South County Senior Center along the waterfront in downtown Edmonds at 220 Railroad Avenue.

The SeaSharps, one of Seattle’s finest barbershop quartets, will sing tight harmonies and beautiful melodies that appeal to all ages.

We’re bringing a hand-cranked ice cream maker to the auction for you to take a turn at creating a fresh dessert and eating it.

Puppies in training for Guide Dogs for the Blind will put on a demonstration. Pet them and watch how they begin to get a foundation as working dogs.

Inhale the fragrance of tomatoes, olive oil, and pizza crust topped with delicacies, both of the meat and vegetarian kinds, from Pagliacci Pizza. And try what many top food critics consider America’s finest gourmet sodas, supplied by the Dry Soda Company in downtown Seattle, made from the finest natural fruits, herbs, and flowers.

Enjoy all the activities while supporting the work of the Louis Braille School. It’s a wonderful arrangement when your money goes to the education of blind and partially sighted children while you can purchase a gift or practical item for yourself or a loved one.

With your chance to obtain something you want or need at a better-than-usual price, our auction items are especially attractive in the current economy.

If you’d like to get away for a trip, we have lodgings at the Inn at Cannon Beach (Oregon), weekend admission and camping passes for the Darrington Bluegrass Festival (in July), and a ride on the Chehalis Steam Engine Train.

Restaurant gift certificates for American, Greek, Japanese, French, health food, Thai, and other cuisines.

Premium compost and mulch, delivered to your home. Those aren’t the only delivery opportunities. How about hormone-free, home-delivered milk, cheese, and eggs?

Artworks. Cultural events. Clothing. Beauty and body care products. Jams and jellies. Husky football tickets. And a ride on an Edmonds fire truck.

Join us. You won’t forget the entertainment, you’ll help make homemade ice cream, pet puppies, and take home something you’re happy with. And you’ll know you’re supporting good, important work that makes a difference in the lives of blind and partially sighted kids.

Visit Auction Donations Online to preview items available for bidding. Questions? Call Eric 425 778-2384.

The Louis Braille School 2009 benefit auction is just two weeks away. Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 21, from 1 to 3 in the afternoon, at the South County Senior Center in Edmonds.

Root, root, root for the home team and bid on a “University of Washington Football Experience Basket” donated by the University of Washington Alumni Association.

Valued at $300, the basket contains 4 tickets to the UW vs. Idaho football game on September 12, 2009, and Husky memorabilia including a woven jaquard blanket, coffee mug, umbrella, sweatband, magnetic poetry, a mini fooball signed by the UWAA Executive Director, and the book A Football Band of Brothers signed by the author.

For Cougar fans, there are two tickets to the WSU vs. MSU game played in Pullman on September 19, 2009. Value: $80.

With the Louis Braille School benefit auction just three weeks away, our offices are filling with items donated by generous friends near and far. Soon those items will be on our website for your review. In the meantime, here is a sampling of what will be available for bidding on March 21.

The Hall Law Firm provided an estate planning package valued at $500.00. The package includes Last Will and Testament with option of Disclaimer Trust, Durable Power of Attorney and Living Will. Option of Community Property Agreement. The package is suitable for a married couple or a single person. The Hall Law Firm is located at 524 Main Street, Edmonds.

Stewart Family Chiropractic donated a New Patient Package valued at $839.70. The package includes a patient examination, x-rays, initial adjustment, and 5 additional adjustments. The Clinic is located at 547 Main Street in Edmonds.

The Rie Munoz Gallery of Juneau, Alaska, donated a nice grouping that will please Rie Munoz fans. The items include “Fisherman’s Cat–Unalaska,” a limited edition print of a watercolor by Rie Munoz, Alaska’s premier artist; “King Island Journal,” the 1951-52 journal of Juan and Rie Munoz, teachers on a Bering Sea Island; “King Island Christmas,” the story of a special Christmas on King Island, illustrated by Rie Munoz; 8 Rie Munoz note cards featuring Munoz watercolors; and 2 Rie Munoz enamel pins featuring her art. The total package is valued at $345. Items may be bid on individually.

Save the date — Saturday, March 21, from 1 to 3 in the afternoon — Louis Braille School Auction.