GRAVETTE -- The second annual Gravette Library Gala was held Oct. 16 at the Cedaridge Event Center on Highway 72 near Centerton and more than $1,000 was raised for the library's building fund. One hundred and nineteen guests attended the event and were treated with a variety of festive activities.
Colorful centerpieces in a "Great Gatsby" theme and glittering pebbles decorated the serving tables. Many guests dressed in period attire to fit the theme. Guests visited and walked to a nearby building to browse through a variety of silent auction items during the social time before dinner. A disk jockey provided background music befitting the theme, and a photographer was on hand to record memories of the occasion.
When dinner was served, diners enjoyed a meal of Bourbon Street chicken or rosemary pork loin with a salad of mixed spring greens, dried cranberries, walnuts and feta cheese. Side dishes included roasted baby Red Bliss potatoes, flame-broiled squash, zucchini, onions and mushrooms and yeast rolls. Dessert was a choice of carrot cake or Kentucky bourbon chocolate pecan pie. The meal was prepared by KMAC Catering of Bentonville.
During the dinner hour, dance instructor Jerry Kendrick, his wife and two other couples entertained the crowd with a dance exhibition featuring the fox trot and the rhumba. The lively dances included a surprise dance with library manager Kim Schneider and her husband Dave.
Various casino games were available for play throughout the evening, including Texas hold'em, blackjack, roulette and craps. Guests were provided chips to play the games and awards were presented to the top winners at the tables. Centerton Mayor Bill Edwards was first-prize winner and was presented a $100 gift certificate to Ruth-Chris Steakhouse. Sundee Hendren of Gravette won the second prize of a $45 gift certificate to Bonefish Grill. Lillian Maletta, library staff member, was the third-place winner of a George Foreman grill.
An impressive array of quality items were donated by area merchants and individuals for guests to bid on in the silent auction. Many guests took home jewelry, home decor, household items, clothing and gift items, thanks to the donors.
Several groups and businesses bought seating for their employees and Schneider, library manager, expressed her thanks to these supporters: "I want to thank all who came out. We had a really good time playing the casino games and bidding in the silent auction. I know we had some who wanted to dance with Jerry Kendrick but were bashful. We had a lot of donors this year and my thanks goes out to them all."
Schneider sent special thanks to Mayor Warren and the city of Gravette employees, Gravette City Council members, city attorney David Bailey, Centerton Mayor Bill Edwards and his wife, Bank of Gravett employees, Lisa Singleton and Arvest Bank, Brent and Rhonda Cannon and Can-Do Hardware employees, Ron Teasley and Teasley Drug employees, OCH Hospital and Clinic employees, Dr. David Tucker, Dr. Nancy Jones and family, Mary Kay Kelley and the Billy V. Hall Senior Center group, Cassie Elliott and Visionary Milestone employees, Habitat for Humanity Restore, Dave Schneider and family, Gravette Public Library staff and past and present Gravette Public Library commissioners.
Proceeds from the gala all go to the building fund for the new 6,000-square-foot library proposed by the Gravette Library Commission. The fund now stands at $35,000. A "safe room" to accommodate more than 100 people is planned for the library, and a FEMA grant is anticipated to help pay the cost of that room. A community meeting room is also a part of the design.
Other fundraisers will be planned in the future, and area patrons can expect upcoming news of these events. The annual Renaissance fair next fall will be a fundraiser for the building fund, and another gala is planned next year.
Donations will be accepted at any time and may be mailed to the Gravette Public Library, 407 Charlotte Street S.E., Gravette, AR 72736 or may be made in person at the library or at city hall. Checks should be made to the Gravette Community Foundation. Anyone with questions may call the library at 787-6955.
Community on 11/05/2014