Left, Rich and Ann Lukas sit in their antiques store, Rich and Ann's Pasttimes & Bloomers, on Route 18 north of New Wilmington. The couple is returning to the General Federation of Women's Clubs Intermediate League Antiques Show and Sale from March 15 to 17 for the eighth year. They are bringing two game tables to sale at the show this year, including the one below.

It will be a mixture of old and older at the 63rd annual General Federation of Women's Clubs Intermediate League Antiques Show and Sale next weekend.

Items from near and far and from the 1700s to the 1950s will be for sale at the Tanglewood Center, 10 Austin Ave., Lyndora, which plays host to the show.

Antique dealers from three states will gather for the event running from March 15 to 17.

Rich and Ann Lukas of Rich and Ann's Pasttimes & Bloomers said they are delighted to be invited back to the show for their eighth year.

“It's a fun show and we do well. It's worth the work,” said Ann Lukas.

The couple has a business on Route 18 north of New Wilmington, where they sell antiques year-round and operate a greenhouse spring through fall.

“We enjoyed collecting together and when we retired, we made it our business,” she explained.

Her passion is for unique pieces.

“We found a dog sled in central Ohio that piqued my husband's curiosity. It is a great piece from the early 1900s. We'll be bringing it to the show next weekend,” she said.

“Game tables seem to do well at this show, so we are bringing two,” she said.

Game tables date from the 1930s and 1940s and often were easily folded into a corner or contained drawers.

“People are really interested in these practical pieces. They have great spaces for cards or game pieces,” she explained.

The green-and-white table they are bringing is made of wood and was purchased at an estate auction.

“It has two matching chairs and is from the 1940s. The painting is in a checkerboard pattern,” she said.

The other game table is made of cherry wood with a heart-shaped bottom from the 1930s.

“Primitives and furniture never seem to go out of style. Retro stuff from the 1950s and 1960s seems to be becoming really popular as of late,” she said.

For new investors, she advises buying quality, unique pieces, as that has been a working strategy for her and her husband.

Local dealers Cynthia Marshall and her husband, William Smith, from Antiques, 102 N. Main St., have been selling at the show for years.“We specialize in early Victorian pieces and jewelry,” Marshall said.They find the trend in their business is collectors purchasing antiques as art forms.“Arts and crafts, pottery, paintings, anything to be displayed as art objects seem to be doing well for us,” she said.They will be offering a Victorian cylinder roll-top desk made of walnut.Marshall's advice to the novice is to choose rare and quality not quantity.“While the United States government declares antiques to be anything 50 years or older, we think that valuable antiques range from 50-100 years old, are made of good quality and are rare,” she explained.A 50-year-old mixer is old, but if thousands of them were made and still available they are not a wise investment.Investing their time and effort into the show this year are a host of volunteers with the general chairman, Luella Gold, and the co-chairman, Carole Goldinger, leading them on.“A major portion of this year's show as in past years will benefit local charities,” said Judy Neigh, current president of the GFWC Intermediate League of Butler, noting that more than $300,000 has been returned to the community courtesy of the club.Area recipients include Associated Artists of Butler County, Broad Street School, Butler Public Library, BERI, Butler County Historical Society, Butler Meals on Wheels, Community Health Clinic, Paul Lawrence Dunbar Center, Maridon Museum, Tanglewood Center, VNA and YWCA.The preview gala will be at 6:30 p.m. March 15, kicking off the weekend-long show. There will be a quilt raffle and drawings during the weekend.A concession area with luncheon items will be available March 16 and 17.

<B>WHAT: </B>63rd annual GFWC Intermediate League of Butler Antiques Show and Sale<B>WHEN: </B>6:30 to 9:30 p.m. March 15; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 16; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 17.<B>WHERE: </B>Tanglewood Center, 10 Austin Ave., Lyndora<B>TICKETS: </B>Available at the Butler YWCA and from Intermediate League membersFriday Gala preview tickets are $9 in advance, $10 at the door. Advance Saturday and Sunday tickets are $5, $6 at the door. Quilt drawing tickets are $1<B>INFO: </B>Call 724-287-7959 or visit www.pittsburghantiques.net