Palouse skate park fundraiser slated for Aug. 24

The Eiffel Tower, colorful parasols and delicious desserts will be found at the Palouse Community Center during a French-inspired fundraiser on Wednesday, Aug. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. for the Tony Kettel Skate Gardens. Donors from near and far have donated items to the silent auction event. Proceeds will benefit the construction efforts of the "Parisian Avenue" design vignette at the Skate Gardens.

The “Evening for the Gardens” will be an open house, drop-by affair with live background music, a no-host bar with beer and wine provided by Palouse Caboose Bar & Grill, desserts, coffee and tea, and aside from the silent auction, other giving opportunities to the project. A kid-friendly event, activities will be available to keep even the smallest supporters busy.

Drop-in guests and those who are unable to attend or stay for the duration are welcome to participate in the silent auction via absentee bidding, whereby they will communicate their highest bid on an item to auction committee members up to one day before the event or before departure from the event. This participation may be done in-person, or communicated to the auction committee at http://www.palouseskatepark.com/events.

If the absentee bid is the highest at the end of the silent auction closing, the bidder will be contacted the next day to arrange for payment and pick-up of their purchased item.

There are many gifts to the auction effort already, including two tickets for admission to The Butchart Gardens in Victoria, B.C., a French-themed dinner for six donated by The Bank Left Gallery & Bistro in Palouse, overnight accommodations from Days Inn Coeur d'Alene and Palouse Roadhouse, three days of dog boarding from Palouse River Kennels, a golfing-dining-overnight package at the Coeur d'Alene Resort, Premier Designs Jewelry items and even a personal visit from Old Saint Nick with wrapped gifts.

Every item received will soon be available for potential guests to view at the event website.

Attendees will be welcomed to make direct donations to the "Parisian Avenue" effort, or may choose specified naming opportunities for trees and seating benches. People will also have the option to pledge their own volunteer hours during work days at the site.

Call Nicole Flansburg or Marie Dymkoski in Palouse for more information.