2nd annual Gordon fundraiser draws a crowd to help fill scholarship coffers

Sam Gordon and his mother Sue greet guests as they arrive for the 2nd Annual Heath Gordon Fund-raiser. Photos by Gloria Dufield. Click photo to launch gallery.

By Gloria Dufield
© 2015-Telegraph Publishing LLC

A brief return to winter temperatures didn’t keep friends, family and community members from attending the second annual Heath Gordon Scholarship Fundraiser at the Chester American Legion on Saturday night. More than 200 people attended the musical event, which also included a 50/50 raffle and both a live and silent auction.

Attendees were treated to a night of engaging musical performances. Holly May, a 17-year-old singer/songwriter from Massachusetts, opened the evening with a half hour of original songs and covers.  Vermont’s Troy Millette followed May and had the crowd singing the chorus to his cover of a Bon Jovi song by the end of his set.

The reunion show by Vehicle headlined the night.  The dance floor quickly filling up as the band – including Roy Brown, Bernie Moss, Keith McKane, Paul Bocchiaro, Jim Murphy and Gary Spaulding – started its first high energy song. This reunion show for the band was joined by Scott Bemis and John Yake, friends and bandmates of the late Heath Gordon, as the night progressed.

Two items from the live auction.

The live auction started at 8:30 p.m. and included six items that raised more than $1,100. The last item to be auctioned was a Ibanez guitar donated by Scott Bemis.  This guitar was owned by Heath Gordon and included his custom art work on both the front and back.  The winning bid for this one-of-a-kind instrument was $350.

A special presentation was made directly following the live auction.  Tim and Linnea Palmer presented a check for $700 to the scholarship fund.  This donation was from the sale of one of their AKC Lab puppies, which will be receiving training to become a therapy dog.

The silent auction, which ran until 9:30 p.m., included a variety of art work, clothing, gift baskets, hand crafted jewelry and gift certificates.  Of special interest was a print of a Heath Gordon original watercolor that hangs in his mother’s home.

A print of a Heath Gordon original was also up for auction.

Sam Gordon, Heath’s brother and event organizer, expressed his sincere appreciation and thanks to all the people that made the event a success.

In particular, he wanted to thank the auction donors including Louanne Metcalf, Mo’s Fudge Factor, Hannah Kingsbury, Tracy Metcalf, Greg Pajala, Shannon Parker, Jack Dowd Studios, Bromley Mountain, Sarah Yake, Stratton Adventures, Lew Watters, Bonnie’s Bundles, Donna Jarvis, Sue Gordon, Salty Sista, Gail Stewart, Green Mountain High, TD Bank, Erskine’s Feed and Grain, Chester Hardware, Misty Valley Bookstore, Holly May, Eclipz Salon, Scott Bemis, Sage Jewelry, Meditrina, Sama Yoga, Jiffy Mart, chandler4corners, Willow Farm, Running Bear Campground, Naomi’s Cose Bella, Claremont Country Club, Jiffy Mart, Chester Acupuncture and the Edgar May Recreational Center.

By the end of the evening, $5,100 was raised, which will be awarded to a Green Mountain senior or alumni pursuing a college degree in either art or music.

Vehicle rocked the night with a reunion performance.

Last year, Cheyenne Prescott was the first recipient of the scholarship.  She was awarded $5,000 and is attending the Berklee College of Music.

To apply for the Heath Gordon Scholarship, contact Shannon Parker at the Guidance Office at Green Mountain Union High School. Her email is: shannon.parker@trsu.org  To learn more about the scholarship visit https://www.facebook.com/HeathGordonScholarshipFund

Heath Gordon was a GMUHS alumnus who died in December of 2012 at the age of 44.  He was known for not only for his musical talent but for his visual artistry that included pen and ink nature drawings, abstract paintings and decorative shingle carvings. For the second year in a row, the fundraiser was held on what would have been his birthday.