BIDDEFORD — With phones ringing off the hook for a multitude of items up for auction, the 21st annual television auction of the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Saco Bay went off without a hitch Sunday.

The event is televised courtesy of Time Warner Cable, and was broadcast throughout the state.

The Rotary clubs received a generous amount of items to auction off ”“ about 500 ”“ and decided to add an extra hour to the auction. Typically, it runs from noon to 9 p.m., but this year, the event started at 11 a.m.

Event organizers weren’t sure how the first hour would go, but fears calmed when the event began.

“Two minutes after 11, the phones rang and they haven’t stopped,” said the Rotary Club of Saco Bay President Elect Dru Laduke early Sunday afternoon.

The approximately 500 items up for auction spanned a wide range, including gift certificates for local restaurants and service providers, cooking gear, athletic equipment, household appliances and gift baskets.

Members of Interact Clubs, the rotary’s service club for young people, from Thornton Academy, Biddeford High School and Old Orchard Beach High School answered the phones.

Rotarians from both groups served as auctioneers and updated tally boards as cameras spanned the room.

“This is going great this year,” said Laduke.

Monday morning, Laduke said that the auction raised about $52,000 worth of bids, though some expenses still needed to be paid off.

Proceeds are split between the two groups and are used for charitable endeavors.

“This is the biggest fundraiser by far,” said Dan Cote, past president of the Rotary Club of Saco Bay.

The first organizational meeting for the auction was held in December, and hundreds of hours go into the event each year.

The day is well organized, and volunteers work off a script.

“It all kind of comes together,” said Laduke.

“In spite of the economy, we’re doing very well, and merchants in the tri-city area have been very generous,” said Auction Co-Chairman Frank Dumais.

After doing the auction for so many years, said Dumais, “All the bugs have been worked out.”

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for surprises.

Jerry Lapierre, building manager for the community center, was honored, on live television, for his service to the community with a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Lapierre’s community service includes work with the Westbrook Skating Rink, The Community Bicycle Center and Trek Across America.

He was also honored for his help with the auction, and Laduke said Lapierre is an invaluable resource.

“He’s been a great partner when it comes to the auction,” said Laduke.

Paul Harris Fellowships, named for the founder of Rotary, are given periodically to recognize a person who demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives and mission of the Rotary Foundation.

A donation of $1,000 was made in Lapierre’s name and will be used for charitable service projects.

The award came to a surprise to Lapierre, who did not know he was receiving the award.

Lapierre had received a call that there was a problem with the credit card machine, which had happened last year, so he came down to the community center to fix a problem. Instead, a stunned Lapierre was whisked on camera while his wife and children watched as he received the award.

“It’s an honor,” he said. He said he enjoyed helping others and finds doing community service work rewarding.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.