A tasty afternoon in store for Swampscott

SWAMPSCOTT – After a three-year run by the graduated Class of 2014, the Swampscott High School Class of 2017 has taken the reins of A Taste of Swampscott.Joe Bennett, a special education teacher at the high school and an event organizer, said he was the Class of 2014 advisor and wanted to take on another class to keep the event going into its fourth year.?We had heard really good things about (the Class of 2017),” he said.The event, set for this Sunday, Oct. 19, in the Swampscott High School cafeteria, will showcase 18 food vendors from Lynn, Swampscott, Marblehead, Revere and even Middleton. Four are new to the event this year, including Cafe Avellino and Whole Foods in Swampscott, Rossetti?s Restaurant in Lynn and Treat Yourself in Middleton.?They?re all in one place, so you get to taste and learn about what they serve and (if you) would want to go there at some point,” said Andrew McLaughlin, 15, a member of the student council and an event organizer.Bennett said 30 sophomores will be helping out at the event, giving the vendors “an extra set of hands.”?We figured a couple years ago that it was nice to have kids working side-by-side because it?s benefitting them,” he said.Besides the vendor samples, the event will have raffles and a variety of auction items, such as a month membership to CrossFit The Swamp, across the street from the high school, and artwork from Kennedy Studios in Swampscott.Bennett said the event usually raises between $9,000 and $14,000, and the money will go toward the Class of 2017?s prom, senior banquet, graduation and yearbooks.Hannah Leahy, 16, another event organizer and student council member, said it?s nice that the class can start to squirrel away money for things down the line.?It?s a lot of preparation before and after, but it?s worth it,” she said.The event usually attracts between 600 and 750 people, Bennett said, and Taylor McBurney, 15, also an event organizer and Student Council member, said she thinks there will be a good turnout from the sophomore class.Bennett also said he carefully chose Oct. 19 for the event, as to not coincide with Columbus Day weekend or the Topsfield Fair.McLaughlin said he and other students have been selling tickets – which are also available in advance at atasteofswampscott.org – at the Swampscott Farmers? Market and have been getting a good response from patrons.?I?ve seen people come and say, ?I?m really excited about this year. I can?t wait to come,?” he said. “I feel we can make some money doing this.”