More than 1,400 volunteers have worked a nearly incalculable total number of hours to make sure the 57th Bainbridge Island Rotary Auction &Rummage Sale is ready for a fresh wave of treasure hunters this year.
The goodies are stacking up, even as the hours are racing by. There’s lots of lawnmowers, a bevy of boats, a bounty of books, a sea of sofas, an army of appliances, a slew of sports gear, an array of art, a ton of tools — and a whole lot more stuff, too, awaiting those willing to sojourn within the walls and around the grounds of Woodward Middle School.
Drop-offs officially closed Wednesday night, giving those working behind the scenes just a bit less than 48 hours to get ready for the annual preview, which allows edge-seeking shoppers to conduct a scouting mission around the auction and prepare a plan of attack.
The preview is 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 30. There’s a $2 donation for each adult looking to sneak a peek, but kids younger than 18 can get in for free.
Then, the line begins forming early the very next day, and the fun begins promptly at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 1. Visit www.bainbridg erotaryauction.org for more information.
Though the fun’s all over by 2 p.m., there’s even more than just the sale and auction going on.
This year, the Rotary Auction &Rummage Sale raffle will again offer rewarding and exciting prizes. Raffle tickets only cost $5 each for a chance to win one of these prizes: $1,500 in cash, a $500 shopping spree at Town &Country Market or an emergency preparedness backpack. Only 3,000 tickets will be sold, officials said, so the odds of winning are a sight better than the lottery.
There will also be food and drinks available for purchase during both the preview night and auction, including pulled pork sandwiches, chips, macaroni and cheese, candy and coffee to keep your bargain-hunting engine running.
Last year’s auction was another record-breaker, and more than $560,000 was raised for community projects and grants, international humanitarian aid projects and scholarships.
Woodward Middle School is located at 9125 Sportsman Club Road. Traffic on Friday and Saturday will be very heavy, officials said, particularly along Sportsman Club Road and New Brooklyn Road. On the day of the sale, there will be revisions to the normal traffic pattern on Sportsman Club Road. Normally, traffic between Highway 305 and New Brooklyn Road is two-way, but from 5 a.m. until 3 p.m. both lanes are restricted to one-way, southbound traffic only.
For a map showing the location of Woodward Middle School and the roads around the school, visit the above mentioned Rotary website.
Some notes about parking:
Parking on the Woodward Middle School Campus
During preview night and the sale, there will be no public parking available on the Woodward Middle School campus except for three spaces reserved for people who require special needs parking.
Parking on Sportsman Club Road
During preview night and the sale, street parking along Sportsman Club Road between Highway 305 and New Brooklyn Road is severely limited.
If you park in this area on Friday night to attend the preview and intend to leave your vehicle overnight, please be sure your vehicle is parked facing the southbound direction. Also, make sure your vehicle is not in a “No Parking” zone and is 100 percent off the roadway. The police will ticket vehicles violating either of these restrictions.
Parking on New Brooklyn Road
In case of an emergency situation, it is essential that the Bainbridge Island Fire Department have unrestricted access to the Woodward Middle School campus. So, no parking is allowed along the north side of New Brooklyn Road between Madison Avenue and Sportsman Club Road from 4 p.m. Friday, June 30 until 3 p.m. Saturday, July 1.
Parking in North Town Woods
Parking in the North Town Woods subdivision will be restricted to one side of the street from 4 p.m. Friday until 3 p.m. Saturday, July 1.
Parking on Grizdale Lane
No parking will be allowed on either side of Grizdale Lane from 4 p.m. Friday until 3 p.m. Saturday.
Free parking is available at the following park-and-ride facilities from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday: Bethany Lutheran Church (7968 Finch Road NE), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (8677 Madison Ave. NE), Ordway Elementary School (8555 Madison Ave. NE), First Baptist Church (8810 Madison Ave. NE), and the Island Church (9624 Sportsman Club Road NE).
