It's a Night of Lederhosen and Laughs as Lakewood Lions Host Oktoberfest

There was beer, there were brats, and there was a good cause.

Friday night marked the Lakewood First Lions’ annual auction and dinner at the McGavick Center at Clover Park Technical College, and this year had a special twist. The Lions had done an Oktoberfest before – close to a decade ago – but this was their biggest venture into all things German.

The total raised will not be available until next week, but the primary goal was to collect enough to put a covered roof on the basketball court and add another picnic area at Springbrook Park, which could cost in the upward of $30,000.

The area, long one of the city’s poorest, is largely isolated from the rest of Lakewood because of Interstate 5. But unlike neighboring Tillicum, Springbrook lacks community resources or gathering places – except the park.

“We’re trying to build a community again,” said auction co-chair Larry Saunders, who was the city’s police chief for 10 years. “One of the challenges of this community is Springbrook. There are no community buildings there.

“It’s a high crime, high poverty area, and the Lakewood Lions want to lead the community back to Springbrook Park.”

Among the community members present – more than 300 tickets were sold for the event – were State Sen. Mike Carrell, Lakewood Mayor Doug Richardson, Clover Park Schools Superintendent Debbie LeBeau and representatives from the Lakewood Police Department and West Pierce Fire & Rescue.

“We want to show support to those who support our kids,” said CPSD School Board President Walt Kellcy Jr. “It’s all about the kids.”

Such sentiment was appreciated by Lions President Diane Formoso, the founder of Caring For Kids.

“Nothing else raises money like something big like this,” she said, referencing that the Lions put on an annual Easter-egg hunt, summer day-camp in partnership with the city, a back-to-school fair in conjunction with Caring For Kids, and a Halloween event, all at Springbrook Park. “(These activities) are a must for those kids. They have nothing else.

“It’s very sad and scary that these kids live like this on a daily basis. We’re working on the park and we’re working on a lot of things.”

Dinner featured bratwursts and sauerkraut, Jägerschnitzel, Sauerbraten, hot German potato salad and fresh pretzel rolls.

“It’s about as authentically German as you can get,” said executive chef Rick Stevenson, owner of Mr. Rick’s catering company. “It’s fun to bring the food in and teach people about what comes from different regions.”

Among the silent auction items were Cougar and Husky fan gear, baby baskets, an authentic footlocker from Iraq filled with Army toys and a Kindle. The most expensive item was a bronze golf statue starting at $1.900 – and worth $12,750. The dessert auction featured a red velvet cake, fruit torte and dozen assorted delicacies from Hello, Cupcake.

“We’ve always come to Lions events to show our support,” said Pat Price, whose husband, Bill, is a member of the Lakewood Rotary, as they selected a trio of cakes to take to his high-school reunion Saturday night. “It’s to raise money for the community and the kids.”

The live auction included a weekend stay at a Leavenworth cabin and a vacation to Mexico.

But the most money came from the Featured Item segment of the live auction, which gave attendees a chance to make outright contributions to the project. Mountain View Funeral Home donated $1,000, and several $500 donations followed. By the time Saunders reached the $25 mark, nearly everyone had already donated a larger amount.

“Kids use (the basketball court) 12 months of the year – so many go to it,” Saunders said. “We are asking people to join us in making it a better place for the children of Lakewood.”

Later, as Lions and their guests – and the 2-year-old grandson of one attendee – boogied to the sounds of old-time rock ’n’ roll on the dance floor, Formoso nodded in satisfaction.

“This is fun, and people are having a good time and they’re here to support what we’re doing,” she said. “I think it’s going to get bigger and bigger every year.”