AUXILIARY NEWS

The weather made Fair Day this year! August 5th was sunny and cool, after weekends of heat and rain. Families wanted to get out and the Townshend Common offered people the opportunity of the summer. We had new attractions: the Friesian horse carriage pranced up and down Route 35, two chair massage therapists worked all day providing relief to fairgoers, and the auction featured art items donated by local artists.

More about the Art Auction; for the first time we set aside a time when art would be put on the block. By doing this we hoped to attract people who want to give art and, also, more people who want to buy art. The art was on display at the Art Show and then moved to the auction. We received more art and sold more art. An additional feature of the show is that we assure donors that paintings by recognized artists that might not bring a sufficient price locally will be taken to an art auction in Boston - this year we took three paintings to this Boston auction.

This year’s fair grossed about $80,000, which will allow the Auxiliary to donate $22,000 towards the parking lot being built next to the hospital. Pending the necessary state permitting, we will also be able to construct a metal storage shed behind the ambulance garage off the upper level parking lot. The shed will be used by the hospital to store large equipment and will also give the Auxiliary a place to store all the Fair Day materials. Presently the booth frames are stored in a Brookline barn, the tables and benches for the bingo in a barn on Route 35, and the tents and other paraphernalia in a barn next to the Pharmacy. The shed will give us one- stop storage and make life much easier for Fair Day volunteers.

In conclusion, thank you Fair Committee and our many volunteers for a very successful day on the Common. And where would we be without fairgoers? Thank you for your wonderful support of Grace Cottage Hospital.

Stanley Holt, President

Membership News:
As of Sept. 1, 2006 we’ve received over $8,000 in membership donations, with 12 new members! The May membership drive was a success, and we continue to accept new members and contributions any time of the year. This year we have seen a number of remarkable successes due to your generosity.

In addition to the new kitchen that was made possible by a large grant from the Auxiliary proceeds from the 2005 Fair Day, three Grace Cottage staff members, who had been recipients of past Auxiliary education scholarships, have obtained state certification in their new medical specialties.

Barb Barber, Vice President