Oar Auction Nets Record Amount

CHATHAM – This year’s auction of Oars in the Stores rowed to a total of $19,713, topping last year’s auction by $4,811.

 Sponsored by the Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association, the auction included 39 painted wooden oars that were displayed in shops and businesses throughout the summer. The oars were the subject of a scavenger hunt; three of those who turned in completed brochures were awarded with grand prizes of gift baskets of items from local merchants.

 Half of the proceeds from the auction go to the artists, with a percentage of the net of the remaining half going to Monomoy Community Services, according to coordinator Janice Rogers.

 The top bid was for the Chatham Orpheum Theater oar created by William Burnham. It went for $1,056. At a very close second highest was the Pine Acres/COMPASS oar by Wellesley Pina, which went for $1,050. Coming in third at $1,000 was Samantha Lee’s oar for Chatham Kids.

 An artist appreciation reception will be held at the Creative Arts Center on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m., Rogers said in an email. Checks will be distributed to the artists and to Monomoy Community Services at the event.