After a pandemic hiatus, Volunteers of Warwick Schools, VOWS, held its traditional chopstick auction Saturday at the Pilgrim Senior Center. Those participating can buy white or gold chopsticks that are numbered. Once the number of a white chopstick is drawn from a rotating drum, it is eliminated. However, those who purchased gold chopsticks stay in the hunt for prizes that ranged from gift cards to specialty baskets. Rotating the drum of chopsticks is Ward 6 Councilwoman Donna Travis as VOWS director Nicole Spirito reads off the numbers. Celebrating her lucky gold chopstick is Mary Townsend, VOWS president and president of the Warwick Independent School Employees union. With her is School Committee District 2 member-elect Lela Hazelwood. (Warwick Beacon photos)