Auction of unique yard art auction benefits Dacano’s Fund for students

By Stuart Hedstrom

Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — For the last several weeks those turning in their bottles and cans at the Dover-Foxcroft Redemption Center could choose to donate their deposits to Dacano’s Fund in exchange for having their name entered in a drawing to win a yard art piece of flowers made of scrap materials and created by Tri-County Technical Center (TCTC) Student Services Coordinator Brian Welsh.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

AND THE WINNER IS … — Daniel Hurd, 8 of Sangerville, assists Brian Welsh in pulling the winning name in a raffle to win a piece of yard art Welsh made to benefit Dacano’s Fund, which assists students at the Tri-County Technical Center in Dexter where Welsh is the student services coordinator. Welsh’s mother ended up having the winning raffle ticket but instead of receiving her son’s art the piece will now be auctioned to raise more monies for Dacano’s Fund. Bids can be submitted to Welsh through messages to his Facebook page by the end of the day on Aug. 7.

The memorial fund was established by the family of Dacano Arno to help TCTC students overcome any issue that might prevent them from being successful in their programs. So far the fund has provided steel-toed boots, books for college coursework, eyeglasses and even food and other necessities.

“We raised approximately $500 for Dacano’s Fund,” Welsh said before the drawing on the Aug. 1 outside of the Dover-Foxcroft Redemption Center.

Eight-year-old Daniel Hurd of Sangerville assisted Welsh by pulling the winning name out of a glass jar full of entries, and the name on the ticket was that of Welsh’s mother Murlaine Welsh of Sparta, N.J.

Brian Welsh said that instead of the sculpture going to his mother, it will now be auctioned off to raise even more monies for Dacano’s Fund. He said those interested in placing bids can private message him on Facebook through midnight on Aug. 7.

 Several weeks ago Welsh said the one-of-a-kind, truly unique yard art sculpture was handcrafted “using the cheapest scrap materials available.” He joked that he was donating this “fine example of limited talent in the hope that someone will love it and give it a home despite its many flaws and blemishes. Those who donate bottles and cans to Dacano’s Fund may win some funny-looking flowers that will lower the value of your neighbor’s home when you place them in their garden.”