Event raises money for restoration

By Staff
Tracy B. Cieniewicz, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle Historical Society will host a musical dinner theater and silent auction on Saturday to once again help raise funds for the restoration of the historic F.E. Burleson School building and the creation of a fine arts center.
The silent auction will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a lemon chicken dinner with dill potatoes, green beans, salad and rolls, catered by Ann Cagle. Italian cream, chocolate and apple dumpling cake will be the featured desserts.
Entertainment will feature music from Broadway classics, such as "Annie Get Your Gun," "The Sound of Music," "South Pacific," "My Fair Lady," as well as Disney animated classics, performed by 14 local entertainers. Entertainers are fifth graders through adults and family duos, including Ali Hampton, Chelsea Hale, Judith Roberts, Macon Armistead, Sandra Armistead, Michelle Reburn, Cheyenne Sanchez, Anna Craig, Amanda Craig, Sally Marsh, Sonya and Tim McKelvy, Melanie Roberts and Kayla Coots.
Tickets are $50 per person and are tax-deductible. For tickets or information, call 773-0708 or 773-9390.
Approximately $150,000 has been raised through the continued support of the Hartselle community for the renovation of the historic F.E. Burleson School building. Funds have been used thus far to repair and replace the building's roof, decking and columns. Complete renovation of the interior and exterior of the building, making it handicap accessible and restoring various unique features is estimated at $1,250,000. The next project will be heating and cooling, plumbing and electrical work.
The following helped organize the annual event: Jennifer Sittason, chair; Mary Ford Pheny, co-chair; Faye Walker, Bettye English and Beverly Waldrop, invitations; Amy Golden and Debbie Queen, entertainment; Mary Ford Pheny, Melinda Martin, Christy Bennich, Margie Adams, Gayle Strider, Susan Puckett, Gail Baggs, Mitch Coon and Catherine Halbrooks, auction; Barbara Bartlett, Fate Webster, Linda Webster and David Burleson, set-up; Daphne Sittason and Shirley Mullins, food; Laura Russell, LaNell Raley, Katrina Rieger and Catherine Ann Sims, decorations; and Tammy Moss, Myra Garrett and Terri Norwood, publicity.
The Hartselle Historical Society would like to thank Waymon Appleton of Apple's Florist for donating floral centerpieces, Moss Audio for donating sound equipment, United Stage Equipment for donating stage curtains, and Hutto Printing for donating printed paper goods.
Auction items
The fundraiser's silent auction includes a variety of unique and valuable items donated by local businesses. Items are still being accepted and added to the list. At press time, the list of donated items was as follows:
Rogers Select Dept. Store: Set of six crystal wine glasses