KENT — Everyone seems to be concerned about skyrocketing gas prices these days. The Kent Memorial Library appears to have a solution, at least for one lucky person.
The library launched its annual car raffle five years ago, with all the proceeds going to the library’s operating budget. Last year, a 2007 Mini Cooper was raffled, and netted $34,000.
Vintage cars including a 1953 MG, a 1931 Chevy Coupe and a 1967 XK-E Jaguar, have been raffled in other years.
This year, though, at a time when there is concern about global warming and gas prices, the Car Raffle Committee wanted to do something different. So the library will offer a red 2008 Toyota Prius this year. The Prius is a hybrid car with an estimated combined city/highway consumption of 46 miles per gallon. The car also generates 70 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than the average new car.
"I feel very positive about this," said Rudy Molho, one of the members of the committee. "I think and hope that, with this car, we will outsell the previous years’ raffles because of the attraction of the great gas mileage and the fact that the car is ‘green.’ "
The vehicle arrived in Kent from Dowling Toyota of Litchfield last week. It’s a five-passenger, four-door hatchback that teams a four-cylinder engine with a battery-powered electric motor for 110 horsepower. Add-ons include an AM/FM radio and CD player with six speakers, a Smart Key System and a backup camera.
A limit of 5,000 tickets will be sold for $20 each. They can be purchased at the library and at several businesses in town. The car will be displayed outside the library near the book sale almost every weekend during the summer, starting on Memorial Day weekend.
The committee will also be taking the Prius to several events around Litchfield County during the summer. The drawing takes place on Sunday, Oct. 26. For more information, call Kent Memorial Library at 860-927-4697 or Rudy Molo at 860-927-4969.
