APTOS — Imagine driving to San Francisco on Highway 1 on a brand new, custom-designed Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster.
It’s dark red in color with lots of sparkling chrome, and fitted with drag bars, a custom leather seat and forward controls.
And you’re able to make that trip with peace of mind because the money you paid will help a grass-roots community organization buy a park for neighborhood children to play in.
The Harley, from Santa Cruz Harley-Davidson on Soquel Avenue, is one of dozens of items up for bid at the Feb. 15 "Find Our Park in Your Heart" auction presented by the Aptos Seacliff Park Committee, which is trying to raise nearly $2 million to buy a 3-acre strip of property in Seacliff.
"I think our fund-raiser is going to be a real success," said Pepper Golesh, co-chair of the Seacliff Village Plan Committee, which is leading the push to get the park. "Hopefully the community will get behind us and help fund the park."
If the transaction doesn’t go through in about a year, the Kumar family of Silicon Valley, which owns the property, may go forward with plans to build a hotel there.
Next Friday’s event is the first of many fund-raising events this year.
The county has set aside $250,000 for the effort. It will also kick in funds to develop the park once the purchase has been made.
| Until then, the committee is focusing on gathering and packaging donated items for the upcoming auction at the Seacliff Inn. |
There also will be paintings by local artists, a ride-along with on-duty paramedics and jewelry.
The action begins at 5 p.m. and will include a silent and live auction, as well as a raffle, food, beverages and live jazz by Don McCaslin.
Contact Ramona Turner at rturner@santa-cruz.com.
If you go WHAT: ‘Find Our Park in Your Heart’ auction fund-raiser
WHEN: 5- 9 p.m. Feb. 15
WHERE: Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos.
COST: $20 advance/$25 at the door
INFO: Pepper Golesh 662-0964, Rick Stoker 688-6948, Ron Franke 688-7012 or www.cruzio.com/~seacliff.
