Highland Relay For Life Celebrity Pie Auction breaks record

The pies were big, and so were the bids.

The Square was packed with Relay for Life friends and supporters who came out to support the Celebrity Pie Auction held during the Peanut Butter & Jam Festival last Friday. The Celebrity Pie Auction, hosted by the Oldies but Goodies Relay for Life Team, has become an annual event to benefit Highland’s Relay for Life.

Celebrity bakers participating included Curt Libbra of the Highland News Leader (rhubarb pie), Howard Held of the Chamber of Commerce (peach-cherry pie), Jay Boulanger of Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home (mixed berry pie), Carla Riva and Martha Edmonds of Highland Health Care (“Team Peach Pie”), Chief of Police Terry Bell (cherry pie), City Councilman Neill Nicolaides (pumpkin cheesecake pie), City Manager Mark Latham (Toll House chocolate chip cookie pie), Superintendent of Schools Mike Sutton (pecan pie), and Mayor Joe Michaelis (blackberry pie).

Bruce Bellm of Highland Country Club made concocted a strawberry pie that included eight pounds of strawberries and was baked in a one-of-a-kind, 21-inch pie plate — custom made from a new trash can lid.

In light of all the tragedies in the world in recent weeks, Pastor Will VerDuin of Evangelical United Church of Christ had some good inspirational words before the bidding started on his “Fruit of the Tomb” pie, which brought a whopping $1,100.

Local auctioneer Virgil Straeter did the honors of taking bids. And they were flying fast and furious. In about 30 minutes, $4,575 was raised — $1,050 more than last year.

According to Paula Redman of the Oldies but Goodies Relay for Life Team, this was a record-breaking year.

“It just gets bigger and better each year,” said Redman, who also gave special thanks to all those baked pies, Straeter for serving as auctioneer, to Kevin Heim for providing music and sound equipment, and “especially to all those who came out to bid on these delicious pies!”

“The participation and generosity of the Highland community in supporting this event for the fight against cancer is awesome,” she said.

All proceeds will benefit Highland’s 2016 Relay for Life, which will be held July 8-9 at Glik Park.

This story was originally published June 21, 2016 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Highland Relay For Life Celebrity Pie Auction breaks record."