The Hospice of San Joaquin Tots & Tail-Waggers Spectacular set for Thursday, March 29, from 6 until 8:30 p.m., has already sold 300 tickets for the Manteca Transit Center event.
There are 25 tickets left that will be sold at the door, according to Manteca Hospice Volunteers’ Association President Cavan Amerine. Proceeds will support the efforts of 25 registered nurses and licensed vocation nurses traveling to serve 116 patients in the area.
The “Tots & Tai-Waggers Spectacular” is a photo contest presented by the Manteca Butterfly Auxiliary of Hospice encouraging fun with family, friends and co-workers by submitting a photo of two of their favorite Tots or top Tail-Waggers as of Jan. 1 to Hospice with friends donating monies with their votes for the best entries.
The fun is designed to ramp up with the wine auction and closes with the revealing of the top Tot and Tail-Wagging winner in the photo contest.
Manteca Mayor Steve DeBrum and committee member Dave Macedo will act as the auctioneers following the dinner and its “Spectacular Party.”  Macedo will call the regular live auction and Mayor DeBrum the wine auction. There will be hors d’ oeuvres at a cocktail style reveal party early-on noting the winners in their Tots and Tail-Waggers competition. Fagundes Meats is providing the steaks for the dinner along with Ernie’s Food & Spirits to fill out the dinner menu.   Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
A marquee item in the live auction is a framed jersey of player No. 35 from the Golden State Warriors Team, the 2017 MVP, forward Kevin Durant.
Another of the special live auction items will feature Ernie’s Restaurant chef John preparing a private custom dinner for a party of four at his North Main Street Restaurant in addition to the many items offered in the silent auction and the wine auction.
Rina’s Grove is the presenting sponsor and Bank of Stockton the Gold Sponsor for the event with Kathryn Duclo Inc, Financial planning the Silver Sponsor.  Bronze sponsors include The Albert and Rina Brocchini Family Foundation, Raymus Homes, Wells Fargo Bank and Brown & Brown Insurance.  Listed as Friends of Hospice include Emerald Builders, of Ripon. 
In addition to Fagundes Meats, Ernie’s Food and Spirits and McManis family Vineyards of Ripon, thanks and appreciation go to Tony & Mrs. K’s Bakery-Café, Blue Diamond Almonds and to Burgess Baking Company of Ripon.
Chris Leonard of Leonard Photography Studio in Manteca has offered a $25 photo package to contest participants who must call his studio to set up an appointment.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.