Year S Auction

Sunday's radio auction for Center Stage raised $177,823, bringing the 22-year auction total to more than $2 million."We're delighted, absolutely," said Sydney Wilner, coordinator for the Baltimore theater's auction. Sunday's figure was the second highest in its history.The top item was a 10-day Caribbean cruise, donated by Holland America Line Westours, which fetched $4,340 from Virginia Humphries, a businesswoman from Eldersburg. Humphries was also the successful bidder on two other trips -- a six-night stay in St. Maarten and a week in Snowbird, Utah.

The Kennedy Center in Washington has announced a new $125 million commitment to performing arts education. "The size of this financial investment is an indication of the Kennedy Center's commitment to arts education," Michael M. Kaiser, Kennedy Center president, said yesterday. "With the expansion and development of these programs, we hope the arts will become an increasingly integral part of the lives of people everywhere." Among the many facets of the five-year plan are: A new 320-seat theater due to open in December and designed to accommodate performances for young audiences; A program created by the Kennedy Center, Disney Theatrical Productions and Music Theatre International to develop musicals in the schools; Internet components such as a jazz Web site and interactive arts programs for teachers and students; Career development for aspiring artists, such as a summer program in which student musicians study with members of the National Symphony Orchestra; Enhanced arts management training.

The Kennedy Center in Washington has announced a new $125 million commitment to performing arts education. "The size of this financial investment is an indication of the Kennedy Center's commitment to arts education," Michael M. Kaiser, Kennedy Center president, said yesterday. "With the expansion and development of these programs, we hope the arts will become an increasingly integral part of the lives of people everywhere." Among the many facets of the five-year plan are: A new 320-seat theater due to open in December and designed to accommodate performances for young audiences; A program created by the Kennedy Center, Disney Theatrical Productions and Music Theatre International to develop musicals in the schools; Internet components such as a jazz Web site and interactive arts programs for teachers and students; Career development for aspiring artists, such as a summer program in which student musicians study with members of the National Symphony Orchestra; Enhanced arts management training.

A Maryland-bred son of Not For Love attracted the high bid of $230,000 yesterday as the two-day Fasig Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearlings sale concluded at the Timonium fairgrounds. Buzz Chace, a prominent New Jersey buyer, purchased the dark bay colt whose sire, Not For Love, stands at Northview Stallion Station in Cecil County. Not For Love has sired 16 stakes winners. The colt's dam, Gala Goldie's Best, has produced two foals who have raced. They've combined for eight wins. The colt was one of 10 yearlings who sold for $100,000 or more at the auction, compared to six at last year's auction.

A Maryland-bred son of Not For Love attracted the high bid of $230,000 yesterday as the two-day Fasig Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearlings sale concluded at the Timonium fairgrounds. Buzz Chace, a prominent New Jersey buyer, purchased the dark bay colt whose sire, Not For Love, stands at Northview Stallion Station in Cecil County. Not For Love has sired 16 stakes winners. The colt's dam, Gala Goldie's Best, has produced two foals who have raced. They've combined for eight wins. The colt was one of 10 yearlings who sold for $100,000 or more at the auction, compared to six at last year's auction.

Whenever a major natural disaster occurs anywhere in the world, the victims can usually count on help from the Church of the Brethren, especially from the church's New Windsor Brethren Service Center.Last year, the center's Emergency Disaster Fund spent nearly $1 million assisting those in need, from West Virginia to Russia. Now, the Mid-Atlantic Disaster Response Network is asking for help at its annual fund-raising auction, which has generated more than $425,000 since 1981.This year's auction will be in Westminster Saturday at Carroll County Ag Center.

It's not exactly a yard sale, but county police say they'll have the best bargains in town tomorrow at the department's annual auction.Bikes, videocassette recorders, phones, stereos, tools and other things -- stolen or lost property unclaimed by owners or items forfeited by the courts -- will be sold for a fraction of their usual prices at an open-to-all auction in the rear parking lot at police headquarters in Ellicott City."

UPPER MARLBORO - Tobacco growers gathered at Planter's Tobacco Warehouse here and at four other sales barns in Southern Maryland yesterday, looking for a sign that this year's auction would not be the state's last. Many farmers were seeking a signal from buyers, especially those representing tobacco companies in Switzerland and Germany, that interest is still strong in the Maryland Type 32 leaf grown throughout the region. But the hoped-for signal didn't come yesterday. A 10-cent-a-pound price increase over last year would have been the encouragement the growers needed to reject a lucrative state buyout and continue growing a crop that has been a large part of Maryland history for nearly 370 years.

Boy Scout Troop 380 of Hampstead will hold its annual fund-raising auction March 4 at Snyder's Auction House on Mott Avenue in Hampstead. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. and end when all the merchandise is sold.This year's auction is the ninth for the troop, which is sponsored by Wesley United Methodist Church.Area businesses and restaurants are contributing new goods and services for the event. This year's auction will include sports collectibles, tools and accessories, and household goods.

People will buy anything at an auction or a flea market, especially if it's for a good cause.Witness some of the items and the prices paid for them at past Boy Scout Troop 380 auctions, conducted by Neal Owings of Snyder's Auction House in Hampstead."

UPPER MARLBORO - Tobacco growers gathered at Planter's Tobacco Warehouse here and at four other sales barns in Southern Maryland yesterday, looking for a sign that this year's auction would not be the state's last. Many farmers were seeking a signal from buyers, especially those representing tobacco companies in Switzerland and Germany, that interest is still strong in the Maryland Type 32 leaf grown throughout the region. But the hoped-for signal didn't come yesterday. A 10-cent-a-pound price increase over last year would have been the encouragement the growers needed to reject a lucrative state buyout and continue growing a crop that has been a large part of Maryland history for nearly 370 years.

THEY CALL it a silent auction, but don't let the name fool you. This Bollman Bridge PTA event is not silent, nor the least bit quiet. It is downright boisterous, but everyone seems to have fun competing to give money to the school. This year's auction, the fifth for the elementary school, was held March 8 in the Great Room at Savage Mill. About 230 parents, school staff members and local residents came to bid on nearly 300 lots, ranging from a golf ball gift set to a week's vacation in the Shenandoah Valley.

The cafeteria of St. Louis Catholic School was full of people talking, eating and drinking - but it wasn't lunchtime at the Clarksville parochial school. This crowd of about 500 was gathered a few minutes before 8 p.m. Saturday, many of them wearing night-on-the-town finery, sipping wine and munching appetizers as they chatted and examined artwork for sale. The school was holding its biennial art auction, this time to raise money for its crisis management program, started after the 1999 student killings at Columbine High School in Colorado, said Principal Terry Weiss.

Sunday's radio auction for Center Stage raised $177,823, bringing the 22-year auction total to more than $2 million."We're delighted, absolutely," said Sydney Wilner, coordinator for the Baltimore theater's auction. Sunday's figure was the second highest in its history.The top item was a 10-day Caribbean cruise, donated by Holland America Line Westours, which fetched $4,340 from Virginia Humphries, a businesswoman from Eldersburg. Humphries was also the successful bidder on two other trips -- a six-night stay in St. Maarten and a week in Snowbird, Utah.

Whenever a major natural disaster occurs anywhere in the world, the victims can usually count on help from the Church of the Brethren, especially from the church's New Windsor Brethren Service Center.Last year, the center's Emergency Disaster Fund spent nearly $1 million assisting those in need, from West Virginia to Russia. Now, the Mid-Atlantic Disaster Response Network is asking for help at its annual fund-raising auction, which has generated more than $425,000 since 1981.This year's auction will be in Westminster Saturday at Carroll County Ag Center.

Whenever a major natural disaster occurs anywhere in the world, the victims can usually count on help from the Church of the Brethren, especially from the church's New Windsor Brethren Service Center.Last year, the center's Emergency Disaster Fund spent nearly $1 million assisting those in need, from West Virginia to Russia. Now, the Mid-Atlantic Disaster Response Network is asking for help at its annual fund-raising auction, an event that has generated more than $425,000 since 1981.This year's auction will be in Westminster on Saturday at Carroll County Ag Center.

The person delivering your next singing balloon bouquet may be a round lady in a tuxedo.Mary Lee Keppler, alias Balloon and Tune, delivers airborne plastic posies with a selection of enthusiastic songs. Working from her Hampstead home, she has been on the road throughout the North Carroll area for about four months.Few know, however, that the queen of balloons is pregnant.She says she has "the extra large tux" that can expand as needed and that she intends to keep singing as long as the baby -- her second child -- will allow.

It's not exactly a yard sale, but Howard County police say they'll have the best bargains in town tomorrow at the department's annual auction.Bikes, videocassette recorders, phones, stereos, tools and other things -- stolen or lost property unclaimed by owners or items forfeited by the courts -- will be sold for a fraction of their usual prices at an open-to-all auction in the rear parking lot at police headquarters in Ellicott City."

Boy Scout Troop 380 of Hampstead will hold its annual fund-raising auction March 4 at Snyder's Auction House on Mott Avenue in Hampstead. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. and end when all the merchandise is sold.This year's auction is the ninth for the troop, which is sponsored by Wesley United Methodist Church.Area businesses and restaurants are contributing new goods and services for the event. This year's auction will include sports collectibles, tools and accessories, and household goods.

The person delivering your next singing balloon bouquet may be a round lady in a tuxedo.Mary Lee Keppler, alias Balloon and Tune, delivers airborne plastic posies with a selection of enthusiastic songs. Working from her Hampstead home, she has been on the road throughout the North Carroll area for about four months.Few know, however, that the queen of balloons is pregnant.She says she has "the extra large tux" that can expand as needed and that she intends to keep singing as long as the baby -- her second child -- will allow.