PLUM CITY – Nostalgia was in the air as guests arrived at Molly’s on Main for the 2025 Echoes of the Past - Gala of the Decades sponsored by Ave Maria Academy on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Guests were transported back in time as they arrived alongside vintage cars from the past. They were greeted and invited to make a call in the 1920s phone booth or see a Hollywood premiere as they walked the black carpet into the Old Hollywood entrance to the Gala of the Past. Complete with glitz, gold, and pearls the night was off to a shining start.

Perhaps guests weren’t in the attire to attend a Hollywood premiere, but they were in luck. Ave's middle school students served the best comforts of home, appetizers of open-faced Cheese Wiz sandwiches, relish/cheese skewers, ham/dill pinwheels, and jello cubes. At the same time, guests pondered the silent auction and gave their knowledge a test during a round or two of Jeopardy. Wine, served by Lynn and Kelly Coulson, was served undercover in the 1940s prohibition speakeasy. Provided by Eau Galle Cheese Factory, samples included Sileni Savignon Blanc, Oliver Cosmoberry, St. James Bubbly Cherry Moscato, and Conquista Malbec.

Chef Paul, and Assistant Chef Parker Bechel, along with Molly’s remarkable staff, prepared a meal inspired by nostalgic TV dinners of the past: Salisbury steak, fried chicken, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, rolls, and a tossed salad. Surely no one went hungry, especially after visiting the delectable dessert display by Bob & JoAnn Larson from BoJo’s Creations. Guests satisfied their sweet tooth with an extensive array of desserts including ginger cream cookies, Toll House cookies, fudge brownies, New York cheesecake, red velvet cake, magic cookie bars, key lime pie, French silk pie, tiramisu, and white chocolate macadamia cookies.

A hoppin’ stop was the silent auction centered around classroom projects. Projects included bead and chicken wire suncatchers, an upcycled patriotic wooden star wreath, a patriotic button tree, and a books of the Bible wooden cross. Many more items were sought to be won in the silent auction as well.

With the close of the silent auction and meal, it was time to start the live auction. Fred Winkler, our adored auctioneer, kept up the excitement of the gala bidding wars. Some auction items included gardeners/landscapers for the day donated by the Plum City/Arkansaw Knights of Columbus, a filet knife donated by Nick Mesenbourg of NDM Knives, an autographed 2024 season Green Bay Packer football, a quarter beef bundle donated by Brad and Jill Anderson with processing donated by J.M. Watkins, a week-long Colorado condo stay donated by Amerect, a day on the farm donated by Marie and Joyce Berger, a helicopter ride donated by Andy Wieser, a concrete/resin birdbath fountain donated by Jeff and Ann Bechel, a wooden eagle picture crafted and donated by Dan Nowak, a vivid quilt donated by Mary T. Wieser, an Ooni pizza oven donated by Pete and Irene Helmueller, a home cooked dinner with Deacon Mark donated by Deacon Mark and Linda Quayhackx, a Still of the Night print by Jim Hansel donated from the Joe Wieser Collection, locally grown poultry feed donated by Dan and Magda Schmidt, a Blackstone Griddle donated by Déjà vu Trucking & Excavating, a Jesus the Good Shepherd Quilt quilted and donated Dianne Lecheler of Designs by Dianne, and two dozen eggs a month for a year donated by Brandon and Faith Schladweiler.

Numbers for this year's gala are not finalized but the total will exceed $90,000. Ave Maria Academy is extremely grateful for this evening and the support for the school. Pictures from the gala can be found on our Facebook page as well as the school website AveMariaAcademyPC.org.

Ave Maria Academy is a private school teaching in the Catholic traditions. To learn more, call 715-647-4630. We are currently accepting registrations for the 2025/2026 school year for the 3-year-old preschool through eighth grade.

Submitted by Mary T. Wieser