First "Toasting the Community" a success

To the Editor:

The Greencastle Rotary Club's "Toasting the Community," held on May 10 was a huge success. This was our first such event, and the response from the community for this wine and beer tasting event was more positive than we ever expected. Our club is encouraged to make this an annual event by the number of people who came (approximately 150), by the great vendors who participated, and by the number and quality of silent auction items donated and purchased.

We were serenaded by Steve St. Pierre and Company and by Jared Wells as we tasted beer, wine, food, bakery items and coffee, all from local Indiana businesses. Many of the people who joined us didn't want to go home at the end of the evening!

Our club is most appreciative of Linda and Vic Hunter opening their home, known as Airy Knob, for our event. Both the home and the grounds provided a perfect setting -- even on a rainy evening.

We also want to thank the members of our team who worked so very hard to plan and make the event a reality: Mike Balka, Anne Clark, Jacqui Ellis, Tom Graffis, Ginger Scott, and Cindy Schrader. We also could not have been as successful without the people who helped set up and clean up; and special thanks go to Tracy Maynard for her help.

Proceeds from this event will help the Greencastle Rotary Club continue support of local programs such as the American Red Cross, Relay for Life, the Mary Allison Children's Trust and The Castle. It also allows us to support Rotary International's global programs; specifically, the PolioPlus program that aims to totally eradicate this terrible disease.

Carol Steele, President

Greencastle Rotary Club