Trails and Lodge Huzzahs
Benefit for Galena Lodge and the North Valley Trails excels
By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer
Galena Lodge and the North Valley Trail System benefited from community
largesse Saturday night with their annual gala auction and dinner at the Limelight Room in
Sun Valley.
While Sagebrush Reunion played, free-heel enthusiasts meandered around the
festive ballroom perusing silent auction items and schmoozing with their friends.
Nearly $70,000 was raised this year, and 125 more people attended than
last year, said event organizer Jenny Busdon. There were approximately 450 tickets sold,
among whom were Tizz and Scott Miller, Cathy Jones, Bill and Diane Morris, Magoo, Buck
Drew and Narda Pitkethly, and John and Jennifer Seiller.
Also reveling were Steve and Lisa Horowitz, Roberta Ochi, Lynn McCarthy,
John Heinrich and Suzy Hayes, Cindy and Ned Hamlin, Jytte and Rolf of Jytte Mau Designs,
who had designed the hats for this event, as they do every year.
Spotted dining as well were Ellen Glacccum, Jude Hawkes just back from
Cuba, and Lori and Lee Shepardson, who has generously donated a new generator to Galena
Lodge, and ironically won a programmable thermostat during the raffle drawing.
Other partiers were Jed Gray, who won a season’s pass and threw it
back into the auction, Tom and Roberta Heinrich, Andy Munter and Janet Kellam, Char Roth,
Jima Rice, Beau and Chip Mills, Lisa Laajala and David Hertel.
"You know, [it’s] absolutely the best locals event of the year,
[it’s] the people you recreate and procreate with," Hertel said.
Speaking of which, Kris and John Miller were out for the first time since
the birth of their third baby, Kinley, two weeks ago. Also in attendance were the
expectant Mollys-- ERC’s Molly Goodyear and Mike Wolter, and Molly and Pete Prekeges,
whose baby may be the first born in the new hospital. Others at Wolter’s table were
Rick and Bridget Kapala. Chris and Laurie Leman, Muffy Ritz and Kim Nalen.
Scott "Father O’Malley" Harder and Sallie Castle were among
the group sitting with Kelly and Bruce Martin, of the new design firm Bruce A. Martin
Interiors, Anette and Thad Farnham and Tom and Laury Keenan of Town and Park Fine Jewelery
in Sun Valley.
While Jenny Busdon did "Carol Merrill" duties, the Perch’s
Bob Rosso was ably doing honors as MC and auctioneer.
Last year 3,900 ski passes were sold, up from 500 in 1990, Rosso said.
There were also 975 dog passes sold in 1999.
The committee of Keith Perry, Tim Hamilton, John Shay, Jenny Busdon, Dick
Hare, Terry Freidlander, Tizz Miller, Ted Angle, Bob Rosso and Phil Usher---who is
retiring this year---acted as hosts for the evening, which included a silent and live
auction, raffle drawings, and a dinner of turkey, roast beef, salmon, zucchini and Caesar
salad.
The money raised will help build a garage and an apartment for the
groomers to use during storms.
Already this year, money raised has gone to renovate the Titus Creek
Cabin, which was originally built in 1900.
Hailey builder Bob Closser and his family volunteered their time to help
restore the red cabin, while the Blaine County Recreation District paid for the materials
and contractors. It’ll be used as an employee cabin for Galena Lodge.
One of the more amusing moments of this chummy evening was when Nappy
Neaman came up to help pitch his live auction item called Natural Wonders with Nappy
Neaman. Included were a day for four in the mountains with Neaman, observing mountain
goats in their habitat. Also included were a new pair of snow shoes, backcountry poles and
a lunch provided by Susan Neaman.
"Think about having that beer in Galena," Neaman yelled,
attempting to put a new spin on the idea of goat-watching.
"If Rosso beats me, I’ll be way pissed off," he added.
Rosso’s Ultimate XC Ski Package included two hours of private
ski lessons for two with new poles, skis, boots and bindings from Backwoods and The
Elephant’s Perch. It went for nearly $3,000.
Ultimately Neaman’s package fetched $1,300 despite the fact that he
declared "I’m not going that cheap!"
