The Sanders County Arts Council was pleased at the results of this year's "Do Your Bidding" fundraiser at the Paradise Center Saturday evening, raising $2,500 with their baked potato dinner and auctions. The nonprofit organization also received a $2,000 check from an anonymous Plains donor, said Cinda Gazaway, the chief organizer of the event.

"It was a very successful auction. I was really pleased," said Gazaway, a Noxon resident whose oil landscape painting fetched top dollar in the silent auction, going for $80. There were 33 art items in the silent auction ranging from 5X7 photographs donated by Cheri Seli to a 24X36 waterfalls print by Rick Harter. The Plains man also donated 200 pounds of potatoes and cooked the chili for the dinner.

Just more than 30 people showed up for the second annual dinner and auction. The event was sponsored by the Sanders County Arts Council, but the money raised will be used to install plumbing in the third floor of the center. Gazaway estimated the work would cost about $2,000. Money left over will be used to support the 2019 Summer Arts Camp for Kids, which will include dance, visual arts, theater, and pottery, according to Karen Thorson, president of the Arts Council. Last year's event paid for a ceramic kiln, which is also at the center. The Paradise Elementary School Preservation Committee, a separate nonprofit entity, manages the center, which works with the Arts Council to help promote the arts.

"I think the quality and variety of the donated artwork was excellent," said Thorson. All of the art was donated by artists from Sanders County and included paintings, photographs, glassware, ceramics, wooden bowls, and five detailed Native American pencil drawings by the late Duke Nielsen. Silent auction items came from Sanders County residents and businesses, along with businesses from Kalispell and Missoula.

"I think people were very generous to donate their work," added Thorson, who was pleased with the event, which was competing with a VFW event in Plains and a fundraiser in Hot Springs at the same time. She said they plan to hold the event again next year.

Chris Borntreger of Plains donated his auctioneering skills once again. His son, Dan, and Celene Paulsen of Plains helped show the items to the crowd. Most of the items were gift certificates and most fetched a higher price than their actual value. The live auction included an inflatable Grinch, coffee, art, and two custom-made elm tree wooden bowls by Brad Stacey of Plains.

The two highest silent auction items were gift certificates from Quinn's Hot Springs Resort of Paradise and Rocky Point Ranch and Lodge, located between Plains and Thompson Falls. Each went for $135. A cheesecake by Dog Hill Bistro went for $100. Borntreger also auctioned off several bags of leftover potatoes – some cooked, some uncooked – that went for between $5 and $12 a bag. Some of the buyers planned to donate their bought potatoes to the Plains Community Food Bank. Justin Harris of Thompson Falls provided live music during the event.

The Paradise Elementary School Preservation Committee will be sponsoring a Second Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the Paradise Center on the evening of Dec. 9. There will be free admission and entertainment and treats for kids.