Friends of the Livingston Library Asks the Community to Take A Chance

The Friends of the Livingston Library has launched its spring fund-raiser, Take A Chance on the Library. This annual event invites the community to “take a chance” by bidding in its silent auction and by purchasing cash raffle tickets.

Friends President Doreen Mollenhauer explains, “Thanks to the generosity of businesses and individuals, we have a large offering in our auction. We hope the community is as excited as we are. Auction bidders can bid online and on-site at the Library. ”

Mollenhauer adds, “The Friends’ dedicated website -- https://takeachance.livingston... -- has opened and members of the public can now visit it. There are currently more than 30 items offered across a range of categories and in the coming days nearly another dozen items will be added. Paper bid forms are also available at the Take A Chance Auction Table in the Library lobby.”

The centerpiece of the auction is an afternoon or evening of cruising and site-seeing in New York Harbor on a 46-ft. power yacht. The cruise will be offered twice for a group of up to 12 passengers for each sail. The winners of each cruise will have great flexibility in working with the donors of the cruises to accommodate schedules. Setting off from Liberty Harbor Marina for a 2-3 hour cruise, , passengers will also be given the opportunity to take a turn at the wheel under the guidance of the captain, as the boat sails around the Statue of Liberty and then heads up the river to the Hudson Yards. Donors Bo Wang & Cathy Chen will work with the cruise winners to accommodate schedules. Passengers may bring their favorite potluck for an on board meal or take advantage of the Jersey City waterfront restaurants.

The auction has a robust offering of performing arts and cultural items such as tickets for Paper Mill Playhouse, the Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey, Vivid Stage, the New Jersey Symphony, the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, and venues in New York City including cabaret and dining at 54 Below. The dining and food category includes gift certificates for Mezza Mediterranean and La Cucina Piccola along with gift packages from Fairchilds Market and Trader Joe’s. The gift category includes sports trading cards; a wine themed set; games & puzzles; clothing, home, accessory, and craft packages; as well as a West Essex Tribune gift subscription. Soon to be added items include beautiful Mexican-themed crafts and apparel and a Wegmans gift card.

The annual spring fundraiser which culminates on May 13 also features a 50-50 cash raffle tickets. Half of the cash proceeds from all ticket sales are distributed to three winners while the remaining half is retained by Friends to fund programs and services. Raffle Tickets can be ordered at the Library and at the offices of the West Essex Tribune. Information is available by contacting Friends at 973-992-4600 Ext 505, e-mailing at friends.liv.library@gamil.com, or visiting the website https://takeachance.livingstonlibrary.org.

Winners of the auction and raffle will be announced at the Library on Tuesday, May 13, beginning at noon. Winners need not be present. Proceeds of the event support the Library’s Museum Pass Program which offers free admission to many museums and other cultural venues.

Friends is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization whose mission is to support the Livingston Library. Friends funds programs and services not covered by the Library’s budget from the Township. These include the Museum Pass Program; craft, author, summer reading, and other programs for young people and adults; musical, performance and cultural programs; life-long learning lectures; Senior Happening; film series; technology acquisitions; and book and subscription purchases.