WAITSBURG-The annual St. Patrick's Day fundraiser for the Waitsburg Town Hall was attended by around 150 guests on Saturday, March 18. Proceeds from the evening's ticket sales and auction will benefit the Waitsburg Town Hall Association's work maintaining and operating the historic community space.

Town Hall Board President and head chef Jim Romine served a delicious corned beef and cabbage dinner. Assisting Romine were board members Allen Huwe, Louie and Marie Gagnon, Ron Standring, and Ron Griffen. Board Treasurer Jim Davison organized the auction. Volunteers Andrew and Trisha Knee, Paul and Lynn Powers, and David and Joy Smith were of great help in the success of the fundraiser.

Though bidding had been higher in the past, the evening was a success. Local individuals and businesses donated various auction items, offering something for everyone. Items with the most competitive bidding action included a load of gravel, a wooden American flag plaque, a sport fishing package, and a Cutco outdoor knife.

Attendees won door prizes and gift certificates and were able to bid on ready-to-eat corned beef packages to take home.

Karen Huwe was the evening's entertaining MC and fast-moving auctioneer. Moving through the crowd, she kept the energy up and the bids coming. Eagle-eyed; she could turn an inadvertent nose rub into a successful bid for five pounds of mouth-watering corned beef.

The fundraiser could not have happened without the generosity of the following community members and businesses:

Claudia Abel, Auto Spa, Marge Benson, Jen Bishop and Burger Hut, The Blue, City Lumber & Coal Yard, Pat Davison, Dingle's of Dayton, Merry Lynn Donnelly, El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant, Elk Drug, Sherri Erikson, Marie Gagnon, Gaudy Gals, Hot Mama's Espresso, Ice-Berg Drive-in, Ironwood Solutions, Konen Rock, Laht Neppur, Ed Lambert, Les Schwab, Melissa Lambert/P.E.A.K, Liberty Theater, Amanda & Mason McCleary, McGregor Company, Jean Miller, Nancy's Dream Garden Center, New York Store, Amy Paolino, Jim & Virginia Romine, Simply Sawdust, Sportsman's Warehouse, Ron Standring, Tallman's Pharmacy, Ten Ton Coffee/Waitsburg Times, Tuxedo Bar & Grill, Van Ausdle Tire, Jim & Rebecca Wilson.