Arboretum Invites Drivers to Take Wheel to Cleaner Environment

ESPERANCE, NY (12/03/2007)(readMedia)-- Landis Arboretum supporters are moving full-speed toward the Arboretum’s annual winter Festival Dinner & Auction – and the drawing of the winning ticket for a 2007 MINI Cooper – on Saturday, Dec. 8 at The Crossings of Colonie. (Loudonville)

Only 350 MINI Cooper raffle tickets will be sold. First prize: 2007 MINI Cooper or cash value. Second and third prizes are $250 and $150 respectively. Participants need not be present to win. Proceeds of the raffle to benefit the Landis Arboretum.

Starting with a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres, the evening will proceed to a tantalizing three-course dinner and hand-made desserts. Rick Hill with Tom White will provide the musical entertainment. Professional caller Randy Passonno will add to the excitement as he conducts a LIVE auction culminating in the drawing for the MINI Cooper and this year’s Arboretum quilt offering, “Migrating Geese and Cobblestones,” a beautiful 64'' x 85'' hand-sewn, cotton quilt with batting. Quilt tickets are $5 each or 2 for $15.

Mr. Passonno is President of Collar City Auction, a Licensed & Bonded Auctioneer and Certified Appraiser/Consultant, (www.collarcityauctions com).

MINI and More…

Raffle participants are invited to view the MINI Cooper model at the Keeler Motor Car Company showroom at 111 Troy-Schenectady Road (Route 7), Latham, NY (www.Keeler.com) or get details at www.landisarboretum.org.

Instantly recognizable by its unique styling, the car is considered to be a compact powerhouse whose near-instant and widespread popularity has made it a break-through highway icon. With its bravura bulldog stance, the handsomely equipped MINI features six airbags and side protection, an Ultra-Rigid body, 1.6 L 16-valve Alloy Engine, and 118 horsepower @6000 rpm.

The popular MINI includes an array of active and passive safety features, a boot-load of personal options, and impressive gas mileage of 32 MPG city/40 MPG Highway – making it one of the highest smiles for miles rating of any car in its class. MINI fans take pride in owning a car reputed for its huge impact on driving fun -- not the environment.

Take the Wheel to a Cleaner Environment

• Diner-Auction, MINI and Quilt tickets may be purchased in person at the Landis Arboretum in Esperance.

• Tickets also are available by mail: Send self-addressed, stamped envelope with check or money order payable to Landis Arboretum PO Box 186, Esperance, NY 12066. Indicate Keeler Mini-Cooper on the memo line.

• For credit card payments, phone the Arboretum at 518-875-6935. www.LandisArboretum.org.

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