DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS SET `MARDI GRAS,' AUCTION

Merchants annually plan projects to keep the downtown Cape Girardeau area looking good and running smooth.

"One of the main projects on schedule now is to replace some Christmas lighting," said Judith Ann Lang, president of the Downtown Merchants Association. "And, we're looking at some other projects."

In past years, the association has contributed to the "Wall of Fame" mural, have installed speakers for background music for shoppers and have installed new lighting along the floodwall.

Much of the funding for these and other projects and special events, such as the annual Christmas of Lights Parade, comes from the association's auction.

The 10th annual auction is scheduled next Saturday at the River City Yacht Club, above the Port Cape Girardeau restaurant.

As many as 200 people are expected for the auction, which features a New Orleans-style "Mardi Gras" theme.

Auction chairwoman Dionne Hoffmeister said the event will feature jazz and Dixie-land music, costumes and masks, king cakes, and "we'll elect a Mardi Gras King and Queen."

Hors d'oeuvres, provided by the Port Cape Girardeau restaurant, will be available after 6:30 p.m., with the auction to start at 8.

Masks will be available at the event, said Hoffmeister.

Tickets are available, and prices remain at $10 a person.

The annual auction has averaged more than $13,000 a year, with more than $18,000 during one event. The auction netted more than $13,000 last year and has provided more than $125,000 since it started 10 years ago.

One of the early projects was construction a 72-by-20-foot open-air turn-of-the-century-style pavilion at a cost of more than $35,000.

The pavilion, constructed in the parking lot along South Main Street, opened in August 1991 and is a focal point in the downtown area. The pavilion is used each year as a farmers' market where area farmers sell vegetables.

Over the years, the association has used funds to help pay for two floodwall murals, including the "Wall of Fame," which stretches almost a city block.

The association's auction funds have annually helped promote Riverfest.

More than 100 items, including clothes, jewelry, furniture, gift certificates, art prints and gift certificates, are available for the 1998 event. A number of items are also available for a "silent" auction preceding the regular auction.

The items are auctioned through the donated services of Chug's Auction Service.

Headlining this year's auction will be a scarlet-dyed mink jacket, valued at $4,500, donated by Hecht's.

Other notable items include a 27-inch Magnavox stereo television; an oak table and six chairs, an oak roll-top desk, both by Hutson's Furniture; a limoge hand-painted collectible box from France, a collectible clock and 13-carat gold earrings, all by CP McGinty Jewelers Inc.; a $500 Education Services Inc. seminar by Jan Gerard; a case of beer a month for a year by River Eagle Distributors; and a sitting and portrait by Pat Patterson.

Numerous other items will be available, including restaurant gift certificates, artwork, savings bonds and gift certificates.