Sunday started with "Brunch With Bill" at 9 am (doors actually opened a half hour early.)

A very nice spread equal to any brunch at any fine eatery. (Guess it wouldn't be called an eatery if it was fine, would it?)

At each place setting was a matted print of Mark Sherman's new painting of Rose Island with the Newport Bridge in the background. Bill called it Mark's finest work so far!

Also at each place was a copy of the Harbour Lights Collectors' Value Guide by Collectors' Publishing. During the meal, we redeemed coupons for Thumbnail #4 - Southeast Block Island. Word is the quantities on these four thumbnails is much less than the 2,000 made last year of the first four.

An auction got underway next - first "items of absolutely no value" - as Kim described them - were Bus Sign # cards, placards with "Clambake Dinner", and the Helmsman and Quartermaster signs (from the tour groups). These items brought from $20-$60 or so in donations to the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association and the new Great Lakes Lighthouse Museum (now in development).

More serious items in the auction included a prototype of a watch "Dimestore quality at Rolex prices" Kim said. This sold for $500.

Kim surprised Bill by auctioning off a 4" statue of Bill dressed as a lighthouse keeper. That brought $1,600 and a kiss from Bill. The high bidder was also the recipient of the watch.

A package of two Harbour Lights sculptures brought top dollar. Both are of Kilueha (sp?) Hawaii. One was the artist's first attempt, which was rejected in favor a later, more dramatic model. I'm not allowed to say what this piece will be used for -- but look for them in dealers' stores only when they have a special event next year (hint). The pair went to high bidders Frank and Carolyn Carbone, for $5,000.

Other items sold at auction included a lighthouse apron with images of Harbour Lights lighthouses and a set of HL pins. This was one of 6-7 made as prototypes. It was donated by Dee Brandt.

The world's only remaining leafless tree from an Old Field Point was attached to a "genuine wood-grained plastic display stand" and went for about $500. (This is the original tree, now replaced by an evergreen.)

In the Opportunity Drawing, a number of artist's proofs and paint masters were given away. These included:

Roosevelt Island (Paint Master) - Jerry Posey
Canaveral Glow (Paint Master) - Jose Alvarez
Morris Island Now (Paint Master) - Rita Lynch
Hunting Island (Paint Master) - Tracey Clark
Montauk GLOW (Non Produced version) - Norman Harris
Point Judith (AP) - Robert Mitchel

Mark Sherman's ORIGINAL of the new Rose Island painting was won by James Hilton.

Peter Flihan won a Coquille River (the OLD one - Hint) and an ORIGINAL Cape Hatteras was won by Mike Kaiser.

The Youngers were thanked with a standing ovation.