Landis Arboretum Holiday Festival Dinner & Auction, Dec. 8 at The Crossings of Colonie

ESPERANCE, NY (11/11/2007)(readMedia)-- Scores of supporters of the Capital Region’s Arboretum have contributed dozens of quality items to the Landis Arboretum’s festive dinner-auction fundraiser slated for The Crossings of Colonie on Saturday, December 8, 4 – 8 p.m.

In addition to both LIVE and silent auctions, the dinner auction will provide the perfect venue to select the winning raffle tickets for both the 2007 MINI Cooper and an annual hand-sewn quilt that has become an Arboretum tradition. A limited number of tickets remain available for both and check and credit-card reservations are being accepted at 518-875-6935. The Crossings is located at 580 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville, NY 12211

A cash bar (beverage service courtesy of Stuart Devenpeck, Hillview Tavern/Café, Esperance) and tasty hors d’oeuvres will provide the perfect party-mood prelude to a tantalizing three-course dinner and hand-made desserts by Dottie Gallo-Vojnar, Sweet Tooth Caterers, Esperance, NY. The evening's music -- by Rick Hill with Tom White -- will enhance the ambiance of the night as highly respected auctioneer Randy Passonno, Collar City Auctions Realty & Management, Inc. returns by popular demand to spearhead the bidding.

“Our committee has created a festive, pre-holiday shopping experience that guests will find as enjoyable and stress-free as A-B-C,” says Bonnie Keller, Vice President, NBT Bank, Duanesburg, and chairman of the Winter Dinner-Auction fundraiser. “Arrive early. Bring a friend. Celebrate in Style. The momentum is building and almost daily we get calls from area supporters wanting to contribute to this fun evening to benefit the Landis Arboretum.”

MINI: Environmental Choice

In a bid to raise operating funds – and attract a new generation of visitors to its spectacular 548-acre site in Montgomery and Schoharie counties -- the Landis Arboretum will raffle a MINI Cooper, with promotional assistance provided by Keeler MINI (Latham, NY). Only 350 tickets will be sold at $100 each. Interested raffle participants are invited to view the MINI Cooper at the Keeler Motor Car Company showroom at 1111 Troy-Schenectady Road (Route 7), Latham, NY (www.keeler.com) or at www.landisarboretum.org.

Landis Trustees and volunteers will be selling the tickets at Albany’s Crossgates Mall (www.shopcrossgates.com; (518) 869-9565) on Friday, November 30. The Landis booth will be located near Friendly’s and the Apple stores on the lower level of the mall complex. Only 350 tickets will be sold at $100 each.

Drawing of the winning ticket will take place on December 8 at the annual Arboretum Holiday Festival Dinner Auction at The Crossings of Colonie (Loudonville).

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.

Participants in the Arboretum Raffle MINI Cooper Raffle fundraiser are eligible for two additional prizes: 2nd prize: $250 3rd prize: $150

Participants need not be present to win. Proceeds of the raffle to benefit the Landis Arboretum.

Migrating Geese and Cobblestones

Each year the Arboretum offers a quilt sponsored and created by member-volunteers. This year’s offering is titled Migrating Geese and Cobblestones. The beautiful 64 x 85 hand-sewn, cotton quilt with batting will be unveiled at the Plant Sale. Volunteer Toine Wyckoff (Niskayuna) assembled the pieces that comprise the comely quilt and well-known Voorheesville craftsman Lew “Quiltsmith” Schedlbauer combined and stitched the pattern to backing.

“This is more than a mere wall hanging,” says Toine. “Because of its size, the more utilitarian among us might just as easily use it for as a bed cover; and its colors – ranging from woody greens to florals include golds, greens, yellow, red and blue -- and animals in fine detail – expand its possibilities for any home’s style.”

Shimmering Memento

Esperance jeweler Judy Helfrich has created a sparkling sterling silver interpretation of the Great Oak, iconic symbol of the 548-acre Capital Region Arboretum. Inspired by her admiration for the Arboretum, Esperance jeweler Judy Helfrich created her sterling silver homage to the Great Oak and all that it symbolizes.

Approximately one inch by one inch, the pin appears as textured/filigreed silver to create the leafy impact of the Arboretum symbol. It will be signed Landis Arboretum on the back and will be available as a pin and as a necklace/charm via a jump-ring attachment. The pendant/pin will be offered in a green satin pouch – perfect for gift-giving even to oneself! This wearable work of art will be available for display and on-site orders at the Holiday Dinner-Auction. Each piece is signed by the designer.

Why Wait? Tickets Available NOW

Tickets to the Landis Arboretum Holiday Festival Dinner are $60 each. Reservations required by November 30. And purchase your ticket to the excitement of the MINI Cooper and beauty of the Migrating Geese and Cobblestones quilt at the same time.

RESERVE BY CHECK OR CREDIT CARD. Call Vicki Hazzard at the Arboretum, 518-875-6935. The Landis Arboretum is a not-for-profit 501© (3) organization. Contributions are deductible as permitted by law.

Year-round Multi-faceted Jewel

The Landis Arboretum is a multifaceted natural jewel. It now encompasses 548 acres of trees, shrubs, old growth forest and, of course, breath-taking vistas and memorable gardens. Long a destination of choice among Capital District gardeners, environmentalists, nature lovers, hikers, bikers, and birders, the Landis Arboretum may be one of the best-kept secrets of the northern Catskills.

The Arboretum is central to the New York State Wine and Spa Trails and in close proximity to historic Sharon Springs. And, it is a natural stop for those traveling to the high-volume tourist attractions between the Albany, Cooperstown, and Finger Lakes Regions.

The Landis Arboretum is located 1.5 miles off scenic-designated Route 20 in Esperance, NY, a beautiful and easy drive from throughout the Capital Region. www.landisarboretum.org, info@landisarboretum.org, 518-875-6935.

Posted Sunday November 11, 2007 at 01:25 pm by Landis Arboretum