10th annual CFBB auction raises about $28,000

Residents crowded into the Garden Bar last week for some libations and a chance to give back to the Village.

The 10th annual Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork auction Sept. 8 brought in roughly $28,000 to help support the organization's efforts in the community, organizer Gretchen Gates said. That means this year's event raised approximately $3,000 more than last year.

"We're happy with how it went," Gates said. "We had a good turnout."

The auction featured more than 100 items ranging from jewelry and clothing from local shops to artwork and vacation stays at locations throughout the United States.

The event also included 24 live auction options. Additional items for bidding were brought in until the start of the event.

"People just kept bringing stuff," Gates said.

The big ticket items, which came as no shock to CFBB members who put on the event, were the stay in New York and the Los Angeles Lakers tickets.

The funds raised at this event will primarily go toward CFBB's railing project along Grand Drive.

It's estimated that the remaining 400 feet that needs the railing will cost between $70,000 and $80,000.

The organization also works on a variety of other projects throughout the year including street sweeping, plowing sidewalks, maintaining the Swan River Nature Trail and giving grants to youth and community organizations.

For more information on CFBB, visit http://bigforkdevelopmentcompany.com.