Folks around Carlton County are turning their sites toward this Friday's upcoming "Beastie Bash." Not to be confused with some wayward offshoot from Halloween, the annual fund raiser for the Friends of Animals (FOA) focuses instead on the canine and feline sort of "beasts." This year's event is slated for Friday, Nov. 7, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Lost Isle in Carlton.
Now in its fifth year, the proceeds from the Beastie Bash benefits the FOA to help fund such initiatives as the purchase of dog run fencing for the animal shelter, a Senior Adoption Program and a low income spay/neuter program.
"It takes a strong group of volunteers to care for the thousands of cats and dogs that receive some type of service from FOA every year," stated volunteer Jeannine Nordin. "Litters are left in boxes at the door, animals are rescued from abusive situations...and some relinquished due to unforeseen personal situations."
This year's family-oriented Beastie Bash will kick off with a "Paws-ta Bar," including salad and dessert, as well as a silent auction, featuring hundreds of items donated by area individuals, merchants and businesses. Bid on a VIP luncheon and tour of Sappi Fine Paper, personally conducted by none other than mill manager Tom Collins. The tour starts out at the railroad terminal roundhouse, where guests will board the train and travel to the luncheon and tour the entire mill operation, including the wood yard, pulp mill, loading dock and landfill. Or how about bidding on a kids' party for 20 to enjoy popular new movie "The Tale of Despereaux," the fanciful story of a mouse who falls in love with a princess. The party will start out at Vision Pro in the Pine Tree Plaza, where each child will be outfitted with ears and whiskers in honor of the movie's hero. Then, it's on to Premiere Theatres for a private showing, complete with popcorn and pop. The event will be capped off with cheese pizza and beverages at Southgate Pizza.
Other exciting auction items include tickets for two to enjoy popular country singer Tanya Tucker in person at Black Bear Casino Resort's Otter Creek Event Center, a one-hour flight for two on Cirrus Design's SR22 aircraft, a Stihl chain saw compliments of Cloquet Rotary and Northern Kawasaki, handmade totes from artist Bev Drentlaw, "paw art" creations by the shelter animals themselves, and a 22-inch LCD television set from Wal-Mart.
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There will also be grand prize raffle drawing for a 47-inch Vizio LCD-HD TV. Tickets are $10 each or three for $20. The drawing will take place the night of the event, and you need not be present to win.
The kids will love the traditional "Mutt Strutt," featuring adoptable and "alumni" pets from the FOA shelter. Bring your camera - you're sure to lose your heart to these endearing animals and perhaps consider giving one of them a home.
Adults can top off the evening by enjoying and dancing to the music of the popular area entertainers, "Blue Light Special," from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Talented local event designer Bonnie Pasek will transform the main dining room at the Lost Isle into a colorful backdrop for the event, and well-known artist Sue Pavlatos has created an original work of art, "Beastie Star," that will appear on the official Beastie Bash T-shirt as well as on cards and other decorative event items.
Tickets for the 2008 Beastie Bash are available at Cornerstone State Bank, 1516 Cloquet Avenue, Cloquet; Evergreen Knoll, 1309 14th Street, Cloquet; WKLK Radio, 1104 Cloquet Avenue, Cloquet, and 3707 Main Street, Barnum; and the Cloquet Area Chamber of Commerce, 225 Sunnyside Drive, Cloquet. Cost is $15.
For more information, contact Linda Quarnstrom at 218-879-4534.
