PALM COAST, Fla. (January 15, 2023) – When the Flagler Humane Society hosts an event it’s usually to showcase animals under their care, but on Sunday guests to their fundraiser at Elite Dance and Travel left their furry friends at home and brought something else instead.
Laden with treasures of undetermined value, attendees forked over $20 to have an antique or piece appraised by a professional in hopes of striking gold.
Offering a look at a diamond bracelet and a painting, Margo Eaton and daughter Elizabeth Seymour spent their afternoon learning a little more about the pieces and some quality time together.
“I brought a diamond bracelet and ring that was left to me by my mother-in-law and I brought a painting that was a wedding present from my parents and it goes back to 1933,” said Eaton. “She was very good I thought, and she thought the painting might be older but it from an art gallery in Toronto, so it might have been hanging there forever. It was a wedding present to my parents.”
For Seymour, who traveled from Tallahassee to be with her mom, she was surprised to learn a bit of history behind the painting.
“I brought my mother,” she said, laughing. “I’ve seen this painting on the wall since I was a kid and never realized it was mom’s mom’s and all that.”
Certified appraiser Selma Paul is a familiar name to those who follow television programs like HGTV’s ‘If Walls Could Talk’ and ‘The Cathedral Antiques Show’ in Atlanta, Georgia, and Palm Coast residents were eager to interface with the celebrity appraiser.
Carrying a silver stand with decorative design, Anthony and Roxanne Cinelli were interested to learn more about the old piece while supporting a good cause.
“It’s a good fundraiser because it’s the humane society and we love animals,” he said. “This has been in my family since the late 70s and I’d like to find out something about it,” he said.
“I think it’s a great fundraiser for the humane society. It brings different types of people out to meet and some good information,” said Roxanne Cinelli.
Amy Carotenuto, executive director for the Flagler Humane Society has helped usher the organization through many years of service to the community, and tries to keep the events fresh and fun for supporters.
“This is the first time we’ve ever done this type of a fundraiser. It looks like it’s quite well attended, and everyone I’ve seen leave seems happy.”
“The venue is super nice and they took super good care of us. Elite Dance and Travel is giving a free dance lesson to everyone who registered,” she said with appreciation.
Among the projects on the list for the new year, supported by fundraisers like Sunday’s event and the upcoming 18th Annual Spay-ghetti Dinner, include a new roof for the facility, new laundry equipment and kennel gates.
“Since COVID, nationally shelters are seeing an increase (in animals). For years it had been a decrease and pet overpopulation was getting better and less of a problem. This year has hit everybody hard. It’s a lot more incoming because of the economy.”
