Rotarians Jill Cook and Mike Lippiatt served as auctioneers at the Rotary Club of Los Alamos’ 4th annual Crab Fest Saturday evening at the Knight’s of Columbus Hall on DP Road. The dynamic dual entertained the sold out crowd and drove the live auction bid total to more than $9,000, shattering the previous record. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Little Prince Crab Lance Metcalf stops by to chat with, from left standing, IAFF Local 3279 President Bert Quintana and Deputy Fire Chief Justin Grider and seated from left, IAFF Local 3279 Vice President Danny Archuleta and Fire Chief Troy Hughes. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Anita Barela, Dan Osborn and at far right Paul Andrus of the Los Alamos County Community and Economic Development Department dined on crab and shrimp at the Rotary Club’s annual Crab Fest Saturday night. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Staff report
The Rotary Club of Los Alamos broke its previous fundraising record of $14,800 set last year during Saturday’s 4th annual Crab Fest.
More than $11,000 was raised during the live and silent auctions alone, without tallies in yet from ticket sales.
“We could scarcely have asked for a more successful evening,” Rotary President Linda Hull said. “Although our income tallies are not finalized yet and we still have to pay a few bills, we’ve clearly raised more money than ever before.”
The proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the purchase of an automatic external defibrillator (AED) for Fuller Lodge as well as Rotary student awards and other community and international projects.
Rotarian Skip King chaired Saturday’s Crab Fest and thanked the more than 200 people who attended the event as well as the many Rotarians and others who helped make it happen.
Owner Melissa Paternoster of the Blue Window Bistro received rave reviews for her delicious food and generous in-kind contributions.
King also issued a special thanks to the Crab Fest sponsors including top contributor Los Alamos National Bank, followed by Kelly Myers – RE/MAX of Los Alamos, Bob Gallagher – Albuquerque Friend of Rotary, James Dinkel – CPA, Abe Dispennette – State Farm Insurance, Eye Associates of New Mexico, Los Alamos Medical Center, Los Alamos Schools Credit Union, Bernadette Naranjo – Farmers Insurance and Zia Credit Union.
This 2008 Men’s Olympic Gold Basketball signed by players and coaches with a framed photograph of the team and a letter of authenticity donated by Rotarian Mike Lippiatt went for nearly $1,000 at the live auction Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Martha Katko of the County’s Human Resources Department, listens to table chatter as Los Alamos High School National Honor Society students begin serving dinner at the Rotary’s annual Crab Fest Saturday night. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Jennifer and Brad King of Oasis Landscape Construction, LLC, look over the program at Saturday’s Crab Fest event. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Kirsten Laskey and Greg Kendall of the Los Alamos Daily Post. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos artist Janis Parker Muir and her husband, Rotarian Lewis Muir, check out the auction items coming up for bid. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Rotarian Steve Ciddio assists LAHS National Honor Society students keep the crab flowing smoothly throughout Saturday’s fundraising event. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Diners from left, Frances and Don Kendall, David and Katy Korkos, Sal Zapien and his wife Marisa Monreal and Rotarian Bonnie Gordon feast on shrimp and crab Saturday evening. Photo by Karen Kendall/ladailypost.com
From left, IAFF Local 3279 President Bert Quintana, teacher Jodi Hughes and her husband Fire Chief Troy Hughes, Deputy Fire Chief Justin Grider and his wife Cori listen to a long story told by IAFF Local 3279 Steward Danny Archuleta, off camera at left. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
