Belfast Rotary Club this month presented a $10,000 gift, proceeds from Rotary’s Harbor Fest “Evening by the Bay” gala and auction, to the Waldo County Technical Center. Bonnie Klein, WCTC’s Student Services Coordinator, accepted the gift from Sue Beemer, the Club’s “Evening by the Bay” event chair.

The gift will be used by the Tech Center’s student fund to provide its students with specialized clothing and safety items they need as they pursue their training.

“We are pleased to support the student fund,” said Rotary Club president Kristine Wentworth, in a news release. “The Tech Center is an important part of this community, providing technical training and a high school education to so many local students. Supporting them, and the entire Belfast area community, is what Rotary is all about.”

Accepting the gift, the Tech Center’s Klein thanked Rotary and described the many skills that the Tech Center provides, including automotive repair, welding and culinary arts.

“We are proud to help so many wonderful students prepare for work here,” she said. “This donation will help in so many ways.”

According to the release, The Rotary Club’s 15th Belfast Harbor Fest this year was a resounding success, with activities ranging from a boatbuilding competition to a Cardboard Boat race, the Come Boating! rowing regatta, tours of Front Street Shipyard, children’s activities, Touch-A-Truck and live music. It opened at Paul Naron’s new Belfast waterfront event center on Front Street with “Evening by the Bay,” a gala with live and silent auctions. The event, sponsored by United Farmers Market, Mathews Brothers, Nordic Aquafarms and anonymous donors, was catered by Bell the Cat and featured live music by Jonesville.

Belfast Rotary Club, founded in 1925, is one of Maine’s largest and most active clubs. Its members meet in person or by Zoom Wednesdays at noon at the Shrine Club in Belfast. The Club raises funds year-round through activities such as the Belfast Harbor Fest, annual charitable golf tournament, 5K road races and pancake breakfasts. The Club donates more than $140,000 each year for scholarships, holiday gifts, food pantry support, special community needs and help for families in need.. For more information on membership or to make a tax-deductible donation in support of the Club’s year-round service programs, go to belfastrotary.org.