Silent Auction Fundraiser for Palatka Welcome CenterSilent Auction Fundraiser for Palatka Welcome Center Date: Saturday, July 24th Time: Public reception from 3-5 p.m. Location: Palatka Welcome Center, 900 St. Johns Ave. Event Details: * Silent Auction: Bid on various items, including large items, household items, utility items, gift cards, and more. * Public Reception: Enjoy refreshments and drawings while supporting the Welcome Center. Featured Auction Items: * Original pen-and-ink drawing by Wendy Beeson * Stained glass swag lamp * Vases * Book by G.A. “Jerry” Teske titled “100 Plus! Stories of Unique People & Special Events in Putnam County, Florida” Additional Information: * Silent bidding open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday. * Winners announced on July 30th. * Payment and collection from July 30th to August 2nd. * To donate an auction item, drop off at the Welcome Center or Gem City Cottage. * The Welcome Center is a supporter of local businesses and provides a place for tourists and residents to discover Putnam County businesses. * Volunteers are welcome to apply at the Welcome Center or Gem City College. About the Palatka Welcome Center: * Run by volunteers and a manager * Collects business cards for local businesses, restaurants, and services * Sells prints of original murals * Raises awareness for local talent and businesses
Develop Palatka Inc. and Downtown Palatka Experiences will host the Silent Auction, a Welcome Center Fundraiser with a public reception, from 3-5 p.m. Saturday at the Palatka Welcome Center, 900 St. Johns Ave.
“We have large items, household items, utility items, gift cards and much more,” said Wendy Beeson, event chair and secretary for both sponsoring groups.
Part of that “more” list includes Beeson’s original pen-and-ink drawing of 419 Mulholland Park in the city’s North Historic District, a stained glass swag lamp, vases and a book donated by Dunns Creek author G.A. “Jerry” Teske titled “100 Plus! Stories of Unique People & Special Events in Putnam County, Florida.”
Early in the book, Teske wrote, “The people you meet and the events you read about will transport you from one end of Putnam County to the other, giving you insight into the many remarkable people who live in our community.”
In “100 Plus!” there is a section titled “Big League Baseball in Palatka,” in which Teske wrote about Babe Ruth who had his own stint as coach at the Azalea Bowl in 1940 and 1941.
“If you are reading these stories for the first time, I am sure that many of them will bring a smile to your face, bring back a pleasant memory or even make the readers chuckle a few times,” Teske said.
TRISHA MURPHY/Palatka Daily News – GA “Jerry” Teske of Dunns Creek has donated his book, “100 Plus! Stories of Unique People & Special Events in Putnam County, Florida,” to be auctioned off Saturday at a silent auction to benefit the Palatka Welcome Center.
Silent bidding in the auction is possible from 10:00 to 16:00 through Friday and from 15:00 to 17:00 on Saturday, before the reception begins with refreshments and drawings. The public is invited.
Anyone interested in donating an auction item can do so by dropping off items at the center or at Gem City Cottage, 218 St. Johns Ave., between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. through Friday. For more information, call 386-328-0909 or 386-530-1549.
The winners of the silent auction will be announced on July 30th. Payment and collection is possible from July 30th through August 2nd.
Beeson said the Welcome Center has been an advocate for small businesses in Putnam County and the surrounding area for many years.
“It gives tourists and new residents a place to visit local businesses, restaurants and services in Putnam County by collecting their business cards at the center,” she said. “Businesses are free to drop off their cards and rack cards at the welcome center.”
Additionally, according to Beeson, it’s the only place in the city where you can view the original murals.
“Visitors can purchase prints of the murals at the Welcome Center,” she said. “Our focus at the center is to raise awareness for the many talented people and businesses in our county.”
Anyone interested in working at Develop Palatka Inc. can apply at the center or at Gem City College.
Beeson said there have been other fundraisers to raise support for the Welcome Center.
“We’ve done the Gem City Market on Reid Street in Palatka seven times, where we raise money through vendor fees,” she said. “We’ve also had arts and crafts shows downtown and the Comic Book Show.”
Beeson said the center is run by four volunteers and a manager.
“Each lady is active one day a week, from 10am to 4pm, but we can always use more volunteers.”
For more information about volunteering, please contact Linda Brent at 904-612-7326.
