Newton Community Comes Together for Annual NewTV Auction

There are only a handful of times in the city when you can find elected officials, Newton business owners, community members and local celebrities come together for a common cause.

The annual NewTV auction is one of those times.

"It's a good way to string together members of the community and [Newton] businesses," says Shelly Kamanitz, marketing manager for . 

Starting tomorrow night, the NewTV auction will kick off its fourth year of highlighting local businesses and promoting the programs, courses and services NewTV provides for the Newton community. Money raised during the auction will fund those programs, as well as scholarships for local NewTV interns. 

The auction runs three nights (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. with a preshow starting at 5:30 p.m.

Alderman Charlie Shapiro, a veteran NewTV host, will join Newton News anchor Jenn Adams for that preshow as well as the closing hour (9 p.m. - 10 p.m.) on Wednesday. 

"I’m excited to team up with Jenn Adams again this year as a co-host," Shapiro says. "I’ve spent over 20 years of my life helping provide broadcast scholarships nationally, and I’m thrilled to be involved with this effort to give young people in Newton the training opportunity to help launch their careers."

With local businesses donating products and services to the event, Kamanitz says the auction is a time when Newton residents can get to know their community and learn more about the merchants they walk and drive by every day.

"I moved here a year ago just when the auction was about to start and after the auction, when I was walking around Newton I recognized all the businesses we had highlighted. It's a good way to get familiar with the community," Kamanitz says. 

The local business owners who have donated their products and services will team up with NewTV staff and hosts as well as local elected officials to auction off the items during 30-minute segments. 

Some of this year's donations include tickets to Patriots and Bruins games, a two-night stay at Hotel Indigo, massages, haircuts, a wellness package as well as a $4,500 infrared scanning and treatment from Chapman Construction that allows businesses to assess their energy efficiency. 

Each person who bids during the auction, regardless of whether he/she has the winning bid, will be entered into a raffle -- a new feature for this year's event, Kamanitz says. At the end of each auction night, a name will be drawn to win either an Amazon Kindle Fire, an iPod Touch or a Blue Ray player (each night will have a different item).

But as much as the auction is about highlighting local businesses, it's also about bringing more awareness and visibility to NewTV, Kamanitz says. With a recent rebranding and revamping of its website, the local media service has a lot to show off.

"The final piece was the website, and it's something we're really proud of," Kamanitz says. "It helps us communicate better."

The station also looks to promote its new set of courses available for budding TV and film stars. Classes like screenwriting, film composition and animation will join the regular roster of production, lighting and directing courses the station already offers, Kamanitz says. 

Money raised with the auction will also help provide scholarships for those who intern with the station and go on to careers in broadcast journalism and TV production. One of those graduates -- news anchor Phil Lipof -- will be on hand during part of the auction.

This year, Kamanitz says the station hopes to top the $23,000 raised . 

"It's a spirited event and there are a lot of items [up for bid]," Kamanitz says. "It brings Newton together and is something the community looks forward to."

Newton residents can catch the auction Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a preshow starting at 5:30 p.m. The auction will air on Comcast channel 10, RCN channel 15 and Verizon channel 34. This year, the auction will also stream live on the NewTV website.

To bid on an item, call 617-965-7200.