The annual Optimist Club Friend of Youth (FOY) Auction and Barbeque will be held Thursday, November 19, at the VFW Post 5899 on Andrew Drive in Washington.

Frank Bentley's pork barbeque, stew, and all the trimmings will be available for eat-in or take-out beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets for the barbeque are available for $7 from any Optimist Club member or at The Company Store or the main office of F&M Bank.

The auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. Items to be auctioned are provided by Optimist Club members and/or donated by local businesses. Available again this year will be a number of autographed Major League Baseball hats, baseballs, and uniforms, as provided by Optimist Club member and MLB Umpire Marvin Hudson. All proceeds will go to fund the club's many youthoriented service projects.

Optimist Club member and auctioneer Mark Walker will chair this year's event. A number of door prizes will be given away throughout the auction. To be eligible for door prizes, persons must buy a ticket to the barbeque and must be present to win.

Everyone is invited to attend. Local club members invite the public to come and enjoy a delicious meal, and bid to purchase some great home items or maybe even early Christmas gifts. All ticket sales and auction purchases will be greatly appreciated, by the local Optimist Club and on behalf of the youth of our community.

The Optimist Club also reminds everyong that its annual Christmas tree sale will begin on Wednesday, November 25, at Washington Ford Mercury's former used car sales lot across from McDonald's.