Children's museum holds silent auction to raise funds

As Ricky and Zachary Frewert played at the dinosaur exhibit at the Children's Museum, their mom, Dee Frewert, a board member at the museum, looked after them, trying to get them to name the dinosaurs.

Although Ricky, 4 1/2, wasn't naming names, he was very interested in running around the dinosaur exhibit. Zachary, 2, changed his mind several times about his age, but was well-spoken, even saying "merci beauquis."

Mom, who lives in Incline Village with the kids, said she brings them to the museum about once every two weeks.

"They get to see the new exhibits and it's a great to have an enclosed place especially during the winter to do interactive things."

But the purpose of the balloon-bouncing, face-painting day was the silent auction and raffle to raise funds. While kids ran from the child-sized Smith's grocery store to the mock Carson-Tahoe hospital emergency room, most parents realized what a valuable amenity the museum is.

Heather Brazil's daughter, Shannon, 7, and her friend, Sierra Sheppard, 6, played in the emergency room and on the nearby oversized piano like the one in the movie "Big."

"Anything that helps the children learn is helpful," Brazil said. "And I don't think the schools are doing much. Anything that stimulates the mind is good."

Although she was busy keeping her eyes on the kids, other adults like board member Pat Gaskill were placing bids on items.

A half dozen gift baskets graced one table. San Francisco Giants memorabilia, like an autographed ball, and tickets, were available for bids near the entrance. An original watercolor by local artist Ginger Rose was available for bidding.

"I've got my name all over the place. I hope I don't win all this stuff," Gaskill said as he made a bid for a children's basket. "We're trying to raise a little money and get people to come out."

Denise Sins, executive director at the museum, hopes to raise close to $5,000 with the silent auction and raffle items. Funds would be spent developing a reading room and more traveling exhibits. Currently, the museum has more than 30 fun hands-on exhibits.

Sins also wants to refurbish the stage, which sits at the back of the main hall to its 1939 look. Sins said her secretary used to come to the building for dances when she was a teenager. The building became the children's museum in 1994.

The fund-raiser, which has been in the planning stages since March, brought in several hundred people, according to Sins.

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Admission to the museum if five dollars for adults, $3 for children and $35 for a family membership.