The auction committee for Dahlonega’s Bear on the Square Mountain Festival has begun collecting items for this year’s live and silent country auction, set for April 25. Sherry Moser, co-chairwoman of the auction, said this year’s focus will be handmade items. “In observance of our festival’s 18th year, we felt that the focus on handmade items fits right in with the mission of our event, which is to celebrate the music, traditional craft and folkways of the Southern Appalachians,” Moser said.