HIGHLANDS The annual tradition of fun, auctions, raffles and Chester Stasney’s famous chili will once again take place this Saturday Feb. 3 at St. Jude’s Social Hall on Main Street in Highlands. The all day event starts at 11 a.m. and runs until after 3 p.m.
Some people come for the music, some to see old friends, and some to take a chance on winning a new pickup truck or any of the other fabulous prizes in the charity raffle.
This year’s top prize is a 2007 Chevy Classic Silverado 4 door pickup, from Keating Chevrolet, but if you don’t win that you might be just as happy with one of the consolation prizes. These consist of an MP3 player, gas grill, camcorder, wooden patio furniture, digital camera, home theater system, flat screen TV, 270 cal. rifle and scope, $500 gift card, 5×10 foot tilt trailer, or a laptop computer.
Highlands Rotary Club uses the proceeds from this event to fund the many community projects, scholarships, and worldwide charity projects they participate in throughout the year. At least $350,000 has been given to projects over the years. This is the primary fundraiser for the club, and has been held every year since they raffled off a used Cadillac convertible in 1975. With the success of that first fundraiser, they have expanded it and made it a regionally famous event to all Rotarians in the Houston area.
All the club members and wives participate, as well as local Scouts, students from Chinquapin, the Pic n Grin seniors band, and Ken Garcia as the auctioneer.
Chairman of the event this year is Charlie Ward, with the assistance of Johnny Gaeke and Steve Miller. Tricia Scott is in charge of the silent and live auctions, and Chester Stasney of the Chili cookers.
Tickets for either the Chili Dinner, served from 11 am to 2 pm for $6 are still available, as well as the $100 raffle tickets. These can be purchased from any Rotarian, and also at Food Town, Rainbow Jewelry, Woodforest Bank, UPS store in Crosby, and many other locations.