Noche en Españia

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 19

Where: VFW Hall, 22100 Vashon Hwy

How: Tickets are $20, available at Burton Coffee, Books by the Way, Vashon Bookshop and at the door.

For more more information, see www.vmcp.org.

A decade after its first fundraising auction, the Island’s cooperative preschool is still going strong, thanks in large part to the money raised on one big night each year.

To celebrate its continued success, the Vashon Maury Cooperative Preschool (VMCP) will put on a special 10th anniversary auction event Saturday, April 19, dubbed “Noche en Españia,” featuring food, music and entertainment to complement an Iberian theme.

Seattle entertainers and VMCP alumni Kevin Joyce and Martha Enson of EnJoy Productions once again lend their talents to the show as headliners. A local band, Candelites, will also perform. Gourmet food and drinks, including a tapas buffet, are included with admission.

As in years past, the list of auction items up for bidding in both silent and live auctions is long and wide-ranging, a testament to the generosity of local sponsors and contributors.

The list ranges from big ticket items — including a ski vacation in Big White, a cultural weekend in Portland and a trip to Disneyland—to parties, wine tastings and entertainment, as well as everyday goods such as toys and clothing.

“There will be something for everyone’s taste and budget,” organizer Gretchen Spranger said.

No Island auction would be complete without original works by renowned local artists. This year’s VMCP auction is no exception, featuring works by Pam Ingalls, Karen Crozier, John Anderson and Karen Dale to name a few.

The annual VMCP auction helps to offset the cost of preschool tuition as well as to raise money for scholarships. In addition to providing a needed childcare alternative for Island residents, the preschool, which is affiliated with the Home and Family Life Department of the South Seattle Community College, provides critical “parent-as-teacher” education by professional staff trained in early childhood education.

The Vashon Maury Cooperative Preschool is for just-walking toddlers to pre-kindergarten 5-year-olds, embracing not only the development of the child, but also the education of parents.

The school runs from September through May; class times vary by age group at the VFW Hall.

Monthly fees vary by age-group and are currently $43 to $173. For more information, see www.vmcp.org.

— Marty Krouse lives in Burton with his wife Dianne and two girls, Mary and Amelia,

both VMCP students.