American Red Cross Festival of Trees kicks off the holiday season

  • By Sharon Haught
  • December 1, 2010
  • 458
                        
For the past 19 years and counting, the American Red Cross Festival of Trees has signaled the official start of the Christmas season in Wooster. To kick off this cherished Wooster holiday tradition, the buildings on the campus of the Wayne County Historical Society were decked out for the holidays with Christmas decorations containing thousands of lights, hundreds of ornaments and miles of garland. Businesses and organizations from throughout the area underwrote the costs of 75 elaborately decorated Christmas trees, wreaths and table top decorations on display at the Wayne County Historical Society in the days leading up to Thanksgiving weekend. Trees and decorations of all shapes and sizes with themes ranging from the traditional to the highly innovative were presented throughout the historic buildings that comprise the Historical Society’s campus. The area’s top designers took up the challenge of creating the most beautiful Christmas decoration, competing for awards in nine different categories. Judges Deb Grenert, Teresa Wengerd and Diana Gerber were charged with the task of selecting 18 award-winning designs, including this year’s Award of Distinction, which was presented to Kathleen Nussbaum for her stunning design entitled, All is Bright. Special guest judges Mayor Bob Breneman of Wooster, Mayor Dave Handwerk of Orrville, Mayor Bill Roberts of Rittman and Mayor Bill Armentrout of Creston, joined forces to present a special Mayor’s Award to Lita Cholley of Starlight Antiques for her Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star themed tree, which was also honored with the Coordination Award from the three judge panel. Also on display at the Historical Society were 60 items donated by area businesses and retailers including a Disney vacation package, a bed and breakfast getaway, airline tickets, diamond and gemstone jewelry, a model train set and Cavs and Indians tickets. Visitors to Festival of the Trees also had the opportunity to voice their opinion on their choice for the most beautiful Christmas tree by voting for the People’s Choice Award. Festival of the Trees visitors were also treated to entertainment by local performers throughout the event including Keepsake and the Unity Singers, vocal and instrumental groups from the College of Wooster, vocalist Amy Gardner and the Borderline Dancers. The Christmas trees, holiday decorations and special auction items were auctioned off during the Festival of Trees patron auction on Nov. 30 at the Greenbriar Conference and Party Centre in Wooster, with the proceeds benefiting the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross. According to Red Cross officials, all funds raised during the Festival of Trees remain in Wayne County to benefit the American Red Cross Wayne County Chapter Disaster Services program. The local American Red Cross chapter’s goal this year is to raise $40,000 through the auction. While traditional funding sources for the Disaster Services fund has been down in recent years due to the struggling economy, the need for disaster assistance and the costs associated with providing those critical services has increased. In the past five years alone, the local American Red Cross Chapter’s Disaster Services program has assisted 455 local families – 1,359 men, women and children – who needed a helping hand after fires, floods, power outages, tornadoes and other disasters, large and small. The organization helped these families get back on their feet by providing such essentials as temporary and long-term housing, food, clothing and medical needs to those involved. For more information on making a donation to the Disaster Services fund or on the Festival of Trees, call the American Red Cross at 330-264-9383 or visit their website at http://www.arc-wayne.org.


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