Homegrown 'Antique Road Show' Debuts Oct. 23

Who knows what valuable treasures are lurking in the attics, basements and closets of Maplewood, Millburn, South Orange and beyond?

Well, it's time to raid those nooks and crannies and pull out the accumulated knickknacks — Aunt Mable's old lamp, those dusty vases, that painting you picked up at a flea market in Maine. The and Nancy’s Fancy Antiques are going to help you determine if they are treasure or trash with the first annual to be held at on October 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Maplewood, NJ.

The event is in the vein of the PBS television series “Antiques Roadshow.”  According to Caroline Gosselin of the Rotary Club, "We have some top-notch antique appraisers including Maplewood’s own Norman Scrivener, Staci Elster, Leslie Marshall as well as Lee Dowdy, Michael Locati and Charles Rudig. If you were to take your items to be appraised by one of these appraisers, it would cost you $300 to $400 an item! These wonderful antique appraisers have donated their time and for a fee of only $25 you can bring up to two items to be appraised."

All proceeds will go to the Maplewood Rotary Club’s Local Needs Fund. For a list of the local needs supported by the Rotary visit the website.

In addition to getting your clocks, watches, jewelry, porcelain, pottery, coins, stamps, musical instruments, toys, sports memorabilia, fine art, photos, small furniture and collectibles appraised, the event will feature a game of “Guess What This Is?” 

This emcee'd event will also be looking for local items that can “Stump the Appraiser,” and there will prizes given out for the highest value item, lowest value item and the most unusual item. will be serving food in front.

A drawing will be held every 30 minutes. Prizes include:

• a $100 cash donated by ,
• a free getaway night at ,
• NJ Devil Tickets donated by MSG Media,
• a set of BBQ tools and 2 Propane Refills donated by ,
• an ice cream cake for 25 donated by Coldstone Creamery,
• a drill set donated by Home Depot,
• lunch for two, compliments of ,
• a toy from , and
• gift certificates in the varying amounts from the following businesses , , , , , and

Noah Miller, President of Maplewood Rotary, notes, “I am excited that Maplewood Rotary and Nancy’s Fancy Antiques are presenting this remarkable Expo. It will be an exciting day for both the appraisers and attendees alike. Together, we hope to uncover some hidden treasures while raising money for our Local Needs Fund and look forward to hosting the Maplewood community.”

Event Co-Chairs Caroline Gosselin and Angel Calvosa both agree. “With the popular success of the PBS series Antiques Roadshow, most of the general population is familiar with the format of an Appraisal Event. We’re very excited about this new event and the best part is it’s a win-win for all," says Gosselin. "That's right," says Angel, "because many people have items in their homes that they wonder the value of and they can get a professional appraiser at the fraction of the cost that it normally would cost and it all goes to charity.”

Nancy Marshall of Nancy’s Fancy Antiques promises, “Nancy’s Fancy Antiques and the Rotary Club has created this fun-filled charity event for the Maplewood community to spend a beautiful fall day together.... The best part is that it’s all for a good cause.”

Tickets can be purchased online via Maplewood Rotary Facebook Page or at Event Brite or from any Rotary member or at the following locations:  Maplewood Train Station Concierge, Coldwell Banker, Scrivener’s, , Alchemy Hour, L’entropot, Little One & Co, or Crane’s Deli.

Tickets will also be sold at the door. For more information or advance tickets, please contact Angel Calvosa 973-570-0388, angel.calvosa@usinter.net or Caroline Gosselin 973-985-6117, caroline_gosselin@hotmail.com.