A MESSAGE FROM DICK

See you Saturday night, right?
7:00 at the Jewish Community of Amherst 742 Main Street.

3 TICKETS TO SPRINGFIELD SYMPHONY'S "THE PLANETS" BY HOLST

Courtesy of alumni parents Alan and Edie Lipp, we're offering three tickets to the Springfield Symphony's performance of Holst's The Planets on May 12th. Enjoy beautiful Symphony Hall and one of the northeast's best small city orchestras as they play this exciting piece. VALUE: $100

BEAUTIFUL AMHERST COTTAGE FOR ONE WEEK

Have friends or relatives coming in for a visit?  Short of space or patience? Give them their own private space for a week in this lovely Amherst Cottage (above). You'll enjoy their visit more. Available July or August 2012. Courtesy of CS grandmom Vera Matinsky. VALUE $800

1967: I LEFT MY HEAD IN SAN FRANCISCO

$50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO THE LUMBER YARD

Enjoy a meal at Amherst's exciting new bistro, The Lumber Yard. The reviews are in the the Lumber Yard is a hit! VALUE: $50

SIGNED COPY OF NEW CHRIS BENFEY BOOK

Former CS parent at MHC Dean of Faculty Chris Benfey has written a well-received family memoir stretching back generations. "Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay: Reflections on Art, Family, and Survival. The NY Times says it was "like stumbling upon a curious piece of craftsmanship, a vessel containing centuries of lost time". VALUE: $26

"RHYMES WITH ORANGE" PRINT

Framed print of "Rhymes with Orange" comic, signed by cartoonist Hilary Price
VALUE: $150

PLAYDATE AT JEN'S HOUSE

CS nursery teacher Jen Jarrell invites your child to come and play with her and her daughter Nellie (up to three children). Run in the sprinkler, bounce on the trampoline, explore the stream, help Jen clean the garage of old pesticides and weed killer. Then come inside for a craft and story. Lunch and snack provided. 9AM-2PM, ages 3-5 (nursery). Date: June 28, 2012 at her home in Florence. Please note there are three cats in her home. VALUE: $100

HOMEMADE ENDANGERED ANIMAL TEE-SHIRT & ONSEE COLLECTION

E1 hellions Zora Dallman and Holliday Wear have put their time in Chris's office to good use with this wonderful collection of tees and onsees all created around the movement to protect endangered species.
VALUE: $25

MORE GREAT BABY ITEMS FROM THE KEN & ANN RAPOPORT COLLECTION

Awesome annual auction advocates Ann and Ken Rapoport (E2 Orlee's grandparents) have put together a terrific collection of baby items:

Handknit baby cardigan in black and white with matching hat (12 month size)
Handknit baby matinee jacket and hat (6-9 month size)
Handknit cotton jumper (12 month size)
Hanbdknit hooded baby cardigan (6 month size)
Handknit reversable cable scarf in alpaca/Merino/cashmere
Handknit scarf in silk/mohair/lambswool blend
All auctioned separately.

There's never been a better reason to have another baby!

3 NIGHTS IN NEW YORK CITY

WOW! Stay across the street from Gracie Mansion in NYC's upper east side. Well-appointed studio with full (galley) kitchen and bath. Two queen size beds (one is fold out couch). Lovely, safe building with doorman. Across the street from great park with playground. Mutually convenient date will be arranged. Generously donated by CS grandmother Vera Matinsky. VALUE: $750

GHANAIN AKAN UNITY BOWL

Courtesy of CS parents Renae Brodie & Mwangi wa Githinji, we offer this beautiful round black wooden bowl with carved three-person stand. Bowl is decorated in white with three Andinkra symbols (Akan script). These include Gye Nyame (God's supremacy), Akoko Nan (for disciplining and nurturing, and the traditional Akan stool a symbol for the home of the soul), and Se Okra (for an individual or nation). VALUE $50

REJECTED JEFFERSON AIRPLANE ALBUM COVER OR JUST A COMMON SCHOOL TEACHER?

1967: NO ONE GETS BETWEEN ME & MY BEST FRIEND

1967: CAN'T WALK. CAN DANCE.

MAMMOTH COLEMAN WEATHERMASTER TENT

The Coleman WeatherMaster 10, 2 Room tent can sleep up to 10 very happy campers. The 17'x9' floor size has lots of space and can be divided into 2 rooms and is still simple to set up. A combination of steel and fiberglass poles provide a very secure and stable frame for the latest and greatest version of the famed WeatherMaster series of tents. The waterproof instructions are sewn to the bag for your convenience. The big wide hinged door is so simple and easy to use that it's almost like being at home. Great ventilation is provided by 6 windows and a mesh ceiling. The rugged poly floor will never let you down and the taped fly seams will keep water outside where it belongs. The room divider bisects the tent down the middle so you can have one large room or 2 8.5'x9' rooms. This is a great tent for the whole family for either a short or extended trip. Used only twice--in pristine condition. Donated by Megan Morey and Nate Budington. VALUE: $175

JEANETTE PASIN SLOAN'S "BASSANO STRIPES"

Courtesy of former CS parent Anna Sloan and her mother, acclaimed printmaker Jeanette Pasin Sloan, we offer this original print of Sloan's "Basano Stripes" Framed and ready to go. Approx 17"x16". VALUE: $1200

INTRODUCTORY SCULLING LESSON

One hour lesson to learn how to "scull," or row a one-person boat. Who better to teach you rowing than a top New England rowing coaches? Mt. Holyoke crew coach and Common School parent Jeannie Friedman will offer a one-hour introductory sculling (rowing a one-person boat) lesson on the Connecticut. Expires 8/24/12, but you'll want to get out and enjoy the river before then! VALUE: $100 (donation refunded if you go over the Holyoke Dam like last year's winner).

NEUROFEEDBACK CONSULTATION

Blake Scyocurka of Advanced Brain Play (and mother of Emily, GN) is a behavioral therapist and neurofeedback practitioner who specializes in the clinical treatment of children and families. She works primarily with children, ages two through nineteen, providing a combination of behavioral therapy and neurofeedback training that has proven to support emotional regulation and symptom reduction. She also consults closely with the parent or guardian and works with adults as well. For more detail, go to www.advancebrainplay.com. We swear: it doesn't hurt. VALUE $100

ASTROLOGICAL READING WITH BURLEIGH

How did Nancy Reagan learn to be in the same room with those tacky Soviets? By understanding her astrological chart. Astrology offers a vocabulary for understanding human behavior. There is no aspect of your personality that can't be channeled in a positive way. If you'd like to spend an hour talking with P-1 teacher Burleigh Muten about your own (or your child's) gifts, talents, and challenges with a look ahead to the future or back to past lives, bid on this item! VALUE $100

2 SPECIALTY WINES & 6 TASTING GLASSES

Generously donated by Deb Hanley and Andy Farnsworth (above), this package includes a Magnum of 6-grape port and a bottle of Anna deCordonia Sparkling Brut. For romantics only. VALUE: $99

KIDS' CRAFT PARTY WITH ZEVEY

Go out to dinner while P2 Lead Teacher Zevey Steinitz entertains your children. We will play outdoors, eat pizza, and do a craft such as decorate picture frames, paint flowerpots, or create original sculpy covered pens--your choice. 5-8pm on a Friday evening. (If parents arrive late for scheduled 8:00 pick-up, extra time will be spent teaching Three Stooges eye pokes, hammer blows, and dual face slapping). VALUE:  priceless

TRADITIONAL "NANTUCKET STYLE" RUG HOOKING LESSONS

{ORIGINAL POST DELETED BY COMMON SCHOOL GOOD TASTE OMBUDSMAN}

Local artisan Chris Lindeman made the most of her early release program by mastering the art of traditional Nantucket-style rug hooking. She will help you hook your own rug, pillow, or handbag. Chris will provide materials and take you from design to completion. VALUE: $100

ANOTHER CHRISTINE WEISIGER OIL PAINTING

Description: Original 8"x10" oil painting on panel in 2" gold leaf frame, "Connecticut Coast", by Falmouth artist (and Green Nursery grandparent) Christine Weisiger. Weisiger, who lives and paints on Cape Cod, studied drawing with Bill Flynn at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and landscape painting with Kevin Shea in Newburyport and Maine and with Terry Dunn in Falmouth.  She is currently involved with the Falmouth Artists Guild where she is a board member, a member of the Special Workshops Committee and has taught color theory.  Her primary interest is to produce paintings with light and atmosphere that evoke a mood or tell a story.  Her work has been shown at the Cape Cod Art Association, the Falmouth Art Center, BFW Galleries in Masphee, MA and Nashawannuck Gallery in Easthampton, MA.  Her studio in Falmouth, MA is open by appointment.

Est value: $225

CHRISTINE WEISIGER OIL PAINTING

Description: Original 16"x22" oil painting on canvas in 3" gold leaf frame, "Old Barn", by Falmouth artist (and Green Nursery grandparent) Christine Weisiger. Weisiger, who lives and paints on Cape Cod, studied drawing with Bill Flynn at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and landscape painting with Kevin Shea in Newburyport and Maine and with Terry Dunn in Falmouth.  She is currently involved with the Falmouth Artists Guild where she is a board member, a member of the Special Workshops Committee and has taught color theory.  Her primary interest is to produce paintings with light and atmosphere that evoke a mood or tell a story.  Her work has been shown at the Cape Cod Art Association, the Falmouth Art Center, BFW Galleries in Masphee, MA and Nashawannuck Gallery in Easthampton, MA.  Her studio in Falmouth, MA is open by appointment.

Est value: $300

PATRIOTS' KYLE ARRINGTON AUTOGRAPHED FOOTBALL

Courtesy of our friends in the Patriots front office, we can offer this one-of-a-kind collectable signed football. VALUE: $100

$40 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO MISSION CANTINA

Haven't yet visited Amherst's new Mexican restaurant, you know, the one next to Sibie's pizza that everyone's talking about? This is a good reason to check out the buzz. You can get quite a few margaritas for $40.

E2 BIRD BOXES

Courtesy of the master craftspeople in E2, this item includes two woodland bird boxes and two bluebird boxes, both constructed from local pine. Can be custom designed in your preferred colors (similar to above)! VALUE: $100

ONE HOUR OF I.T. CONSULTING

Shawn Haisnworth, President of Infinite Cloud LLC will give you an hour at Essalon Cafe consulting on strategic I.T. for your company. Areas of expertise include mobile/pad development, e-commerce, open-source technologies and flash development. Cigarettes and coffee not included.VALUE $250

THREE HOURS OF MOTHER'S (or FATHER'S) HELPER TIME

Courtesy of E2's Trixie, and E1's Hallie Barker, you can enjoy three, uninterrupted hours of pilates, gardening, running, pick-up basketball--whatever. The Barker Sisters will entertain your children with their characteristic charm and creativity, as only they know how. And for three hours! VALUE: irrelevant--it's worth it.

ONE WEEKEND STAY IN WESTPORT MASS FAMILY COTTAGE

One weekend stay at a private home in Westport, MA after Labor Day.  Two bedrooms, plus sleeping alcove and couches.  House sleeps 8-10.  Walk or very short drive to beach.  Close drive to Horseneck Beach State Park, the Westport Winery, Newport and the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Enjoy the proximity to Westport's beautiful beaches . VALUE: $500

1967: HARDEST WORKIN' MAN IN SHOW BUSINESS

BASEBALL AUTOGRAPHED BY RED SOX MARK MELANCON

Yes sir, possible future Hall of Famer Mark Melancon has signed this ball for the Common School auction. VALUE: $100

XBOX 360 HOLIDAY BUNDLE w/ KINECT & XBOX LIVE MEMBERSHIP FOR ONE YEAR

This premier gaming platform with a year's membership to Xbox Live is perfect for two hours on a rainy day, or the perfect diversion as you work on your pasty complexion. Thanks to Tom Shin & Chris Cianfruni for this awesome donation. VALUE $440

$35 GIFT CERTIFICATES FROM THE U.P.S. STORE

Courtesy of Common School parent Dan Feldman, here's three $35 gift certificates to the U.P.S. store. Have a delicate item that needs TLC for shipping? This is the place.

STRAWBERRY JAM KIT & GARDEN GOODIES

From Common School parents Sydney Didier and John Urschel comes this typically fun item from their store in Northampton (Essentials). It's most of what you need to make strawberry jam, including seed packets. VALUE: $50

SNOW DAY CHILDCARE WITH DANA

Dana Kadish will host your child at her home from 8:30-3:00 on one of next year's snow days. Cookies, snow play and hot cocoa provided. VALUE: you have to ask?

SAKURA BLOOM LINEN BABY SLINGS

From CS parents Teja and Jai Banach, we are offering three remarkable baby slings: one for actually carrying a baby and two children's play slings. If you haven't seen these beautiful Sakura Bloom items, you'll be impressed. Can also be used for ferrets. VALUE: $130

3 TIX TO RED SOX vs. RAYS

WOW! Courtesy of Ascher-Zimmerman Funeral Home in Springfield, here's three Red Sox tickets for Sunday May 27 vs. the red hot Tampa Bay Rays. VALUE: $156

Well, what did you expect them to donate?

$50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO GOHYANG KOREAN RESTAURANT

Hadley's Gohyang, a fine purveyor of Korean cuisine, awaits you. VALUE: $50

$50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO HOPE & FEATHERS FRAMING

Been mulling over a frame for that photograph that proves to your children that you once had a full head of hair? Now's your chance. VALUE $50

ONE-MONTH MEMBERSHIP TO THE HAMPSHIRE ATHLETIC CLUB

Start your transformation at the Hampshire Athletic Club. VALUE $69

GROUP DANCE INSTRUCTION

Upcoming anniversary party of Bar Mitzvah?The Common School's own Evelyn Bloom will teach you and your friends your choice from her vast repertoire of dance stylings. The Stroll? Temptation Walk? The Hustle? Electric Slide? The Cupid Shuffle? Classic Ballroom? Combine with the Holistic Touch massage for the day after and you'll feel like it never happened! VALUE $100

GUIDED FLY FISHING EXCURSION

Brian Comfort will take you on a day-long fly fishing trip on a local river, with equipment provided. VALUE $150

CUSTOM FIT MUSICIAN'S EARPLUGS

What?? What?? High fidelity custom hearing protection. Great for musicians, music lovers, concerts. Winner will call office to make an appt to have ear impressions made then return for fitting. Combine with the J Mascis guitar and you're ready to rock! Thanks to Hampshire Hearing Services and Deb & Glenn Shinner. VALUE $190

$20 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO DICK'S SPORTING GOODS

Here's $20 toward your next purchase at Dick's (cannot be used toward the purchase of a firearm).

2 GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE AT HOLISTIC TOUCH

A massage can reduce stress and tension as well as enhance the body's healing process when recovering from surgery, injury or disease. Massage also helps relax body, mind and spirit to maintain and promote health and well-being. So what's stopping you? VALUE $150

DINNER FOR SIX--COOKED IN YOUR HOME

Lily's aunt, Kim Comfort, has been in the restaurant and food business in
Newport RI for over 20 years.  She will cook dinner for 6 in your home (date
and menu to be decided at a mutually convenient time) using local, seasonal
&/or organic ingredients with a creative flair.  Value $500.

$100 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO THE BLACK SHEEP

Courtesy of Nick Seamon, Common School parent and owner of Amherst's Black Sheep, we offer this big gift certificate to put toward your next catered event, or to take your entire office to lunch--twice. Until you've tried their delicious deli sandwiches, homemade soups, and incredible baked goods, you won't know what you're missing. What a deli ought to be.

WASTE FREE LUNCH KIT

The lunch kit with waste is no longer available.

1967: DEAN MARTIN & FOSTER BROOKS

4 LBS OF HERITAGE GRAIN

Those good folks at Wheatberry Cafe in Amherst are happy to donate 4 lbs. of their famous heritage grain for all your baking experiments. VALUE $20

SPORTS MEDICINE CONSULTATION

Current parent Darius Greenbacher M.D., a board certified sports medicine specialist, offers--if you'll pardon the expression-- cutting-edge non-surgical treatments for adults and children. He uses a holistic approach for treating chronic sports and exercise related injuries. VALUE: $250