Auction the seed of business fair?

By Meg Olson

Blaine city manager Gary Tomsic will be trying out his new auctioneer’s talents at an outdoor auction designed to raise funds for downtown beautification.

“We’re trying to raise funds to improve the Martin Street road end and convert it to another parklet,” said Blaine community and economic development director Terry Galvin.

Galvin said so far over 100 donations have come in to be auctioned off including lots of new and used sports equipment – golf clubs, bowling balls, bikes. Household furnishings, such as desks and lights, have been coming in steadily and a dozen pieces of art. Certificates for services are also being donated, such as an hour of chiropractic treatment or veterinary surgery.

The auction on September 21 is half inside the Pizza Factory on Peace Portal Drive and half out. Bargain hunters can start viewing auction items inside at noon and the auction starts outside at 1 p.m. In case of rain the event will move to the senior center.

Galvin said the intention is to start with a small auction this year and expand. ‘This one is short, simple and fun,” he said. “We want it to become an annual street fair to benefit the central business district. It’s an opportunity for the city to celebrate its commercial downtown.”

Galvin said he would eventually like to see the fair looping down Peace Portal Drive and back along the boardwalk. “This sort of thing has been very beneficial in other cities like Port Townsend and LaConner,” he said. “I came up with the auction idea because of Gary Tomsic’s recent training as an auctioneer.”

Items for the auction can be donated at the city planning department in the city hall annex...

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