Overcast skies with occasional drops of rain did not dampen the spirits of bidders at the 35th annual Possible Dreams Auction Sunday evening, hosted by the Winnetu Oceanside Resort in Edgartown.
Cambridge comedian Jimmy Tingle entertained about 450 guests under the grand white tent and tried to attract high bids for nearly 30 dreams up for auction, from an audience of generous supporters of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services.
The live auction, which ran for nearly three hours, raised about $210,000, slightly more than last year, when the total was between $180,000 to $200,000.
Clarence “Trip” Barnes, trucker, auctioneer, and an opponent of the newly installed Roundabout that replaced the Blinker light, a one-of-a-kind traffic feature on the Vineyard for decades, helped Mr. Tingle auction the historic light. The good-natured Mr. Barnes did so without abandoning his opposition to the new traffic control feature that was the focus of years of contentious community-wide debate.
The Blinker went to Stanley and Mary Ann Snider for $8,600. Mr. Snider wasn’t sure where the Blinker will now call home, but he said it may not be moving too far. He hinted at the possibility that it will live at the Winnetu. Ms. Snider said their son Mark owns the Winnetu and has a passion for history.
Big items, such as a trip to Nantucket aboard the 90-foot motor yacht KelDi, went for $10,500. A multi-course gourmet dinner for up to 12 with chef Christian Thornton of Atria in Edgartown and Hooked in Oak Bluffs netted $7,500.
A winning bidder gave $20,000 for the chance to escape for a week next spring to Abruzzo, Italy, one of the most competitive prizes of the evening.
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services delivers a wide array of programs and services to more than 6,000 Vineyarders annually. Community Services combines the Island Counseling Center, which offers behavioral health, and substance abuse treatment; Early Childhood Programs, including Head Start, child care services, and education and support through the MV Family Center; CONNECT to End Violence, a Domestic Violence Rape Crisis Center providing free and confidential services; and Disability Services, which offers programs for persons living with disabilities and their families.
