Derby Gala on Saturday at Pennhills Club

By SANDRA RHODES

It's a true case of win, place or show. The winners are the ticket holders, the place is Pennhills Club and the show is the Derby Gala.

This year's Derby Gala, an annual event that benefits the Bradford Area Public Library Endowment Fund, will run from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pennhills Club. The event centers around the running of the Kentucky Derby, but this year has many new facets, including a casino night.

"We wanted to add more fun to the event," said Kristin Asinger, co-chairwoman of the event. "After the race is over people would leave. We hope this will entice more people to come and stay."

The price of the ticket will include $850 of "funny money" that can be used in the casino that will include slot machines, roulette, black jack and Texas Hold 'em. More money can be obtained through a donation. The funny money can in turn be used to win funny money raffle items at the end of the evening.

The fun will start at 4:30 p.m. when the doors open. A hat parade will take place at 5:30 p.m. followed by the race itself between 6 and 6:20 p.m. A live auction will be held at 6:30 with Casino Night running from 6:45 to 8 p.m. Participants can place a bet on their choice for the winning horse.

Perhaps the main draw, other than the race itself, will be the four auction items. Tim Asinger and Woody Woodruff will serve as auctioneers. Asinger will also serve as Master of Ceremonies.

A unique, one-of-a-kind Zippo lighter is one of the auction items.

"This is one of one made especially for the Derby Gala," Asinger said. This is the third year such as lighter has been auctioned off in this collector series. "Last year's lighter went for $2,000."

But the lighter isn't all the winner gets. Zippo also added a private tour of the manufacturing facility to the winner and a guest. This includes the customization area where the lighter was designed.

Another auction items is a set of Zippo lighters - one pocket lighter as well as a table lighter - that were decorated in the Derby theme by Roseart.

"You could say these also are one of a kind," Asinger said.

A bronze sculpture by Bradford native Dave Hodges is also on the auction block. "Woodland Phantom" is of a deer leaping through the air.

The fourth auction item is a Florida vacation package. It will include a stay up to two weeks long at the Fort Myers home of Dr. Steve and Gail Herrmann that can be taken anytime before mid-December. A $500 Visa gift card is also included.

Southern cuisine is on the menu. This includes soup and salad, an appetizer station, a sandwich station and choice of four desserts There will also be a champagne fountain.

The evening is open to "anyone who just wants to have fun," Asinger said.

One of the most fun aspects of the Derby Gala is back again this year - the hat parade.

"There are some beautiful hats," Pecht said, noting wearing elaborate hats is a staple for the Kentucky Derby. Both men and women are encouraged to wear hats and take part in the parade and have a chance to win prizes.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Bradford Area Public Library Endowment Fund, something both Pecht and Asinger believe in.

"It's very important that we have a library. We can't read enough books as far as I'm concerned," Pecht said.

"(The library) does so much for the community," Asinger added. "There are always people here, children at storytime. It's a very important hub of the city."

"And it's free," Pecht added.

Tickets are available at the Bradford Area Public LIbrary, Graham's Florist, Grandma's House Teas & Gifts and Tina's Hallmark. Tickets will be available at the door, however, pre-sales are encouraged.

Pictured, Kristin Asinger, left, and Karen Pecht look over some of the items that will be part of the auction at this year's Derby Gala Saturday at the Pennhills Club. The auction items include a sculpture from Bradford native Dave Hodges, a one-of-a-kind Zippo lighter that is part of the collector series of Derby Gala lighters and a set of Zippo lighters - consisting of a pocket and table lighter - decorated with the Derby theme by Roseart. The fourth auction item is a Florida vacation package. Asinger and Pecht, co-chairwomen of the Derby Gala, are sitting in the Wi-Fi area of the Bradford Area Public Library. Proceeds from the Derby Gala benefit the library's endowment fund.
Photo by Sandra Rhodes