Christmas Trees Bear Exotic Trips For Winners

It took one empty ballroom, many dedicated volunteers, generous community and business sponsors, 10 trees, thousands of lights, hundreds of ornaments and a dash of Christmas music blended with care and creativity, to produce Christmas Tree Elegance.

The six-day holiday extravaganza was staged by the Spokane Symphony Associates to benefit the Spokane Symphony Orchestra.

Mary Jean and Joel Ferris, honorary chairmen for Christmas Tree Elegance 1995, were honored for “the positive influence they have had on the cultural, economic and intellectual quality of life in Spokane.” Joan Winston, chairwoman for this year’s event, served as official hostess for its many parties.

Opening the Sunday after Thanksgiving with three days of the public previewing the trees, Christmas Tree Elegance closed six days later with the Friday night Gala Dinner Dance and Grand Tree Drawing. The names of the 10 lucky winners were drawn from the many-thousand raffle tickets entered by more than 9,000 guests attending the various events during the week.

Brown paper packages all tied up with bright plaid bows (instead of string) were under the “Go for the Green” tree won by Penny O’Donnell. A golf cap topped the tree trimmed with clusters of golf balls, clear globes filled with tees, a pair of golf shoes and gloves and a golf club along with traditional decorations; it was sponsored by Nordstrom. A golf cart and trips to three golf resorts, including Pebble Beach, was part of the prize package.

The “Serenade in Silver” tree was elegant with clusters of silver balls, crystal tear drops and silver mesh ribbon reflecting the glow of miniature blue lights - like the sun reflecting off a snow-capped mountain, reminiscent of the Austrian Alps in winter. And, Lauren and Tom Wittstruck, who won the tree, can look forward to a trip to Vienna and Salzburg, Austria. The tree, sponsored by Sedgwick James of Washington, Inc., also held ski equipment and lift tickets for use at home.

Rustic, back-to-nature was the theme of “Rocky Mountain Wonderland” won by Kathie Vlahovich. Grapevine branches supporting votive candles encircled the conical tree of plant material for the environmentally conscious, sponsored by Midas Muffler. Along with a trip for two on Amtrak to Essex, Mont., Vlahovich won ski packages and a white water raft trip for two. And, following a day of outdoor activity, she can rest her weary muscles in a new rustic, four-poster bed.

The “Fire and Ice” tree won by Diane and Rick Thomas, featured swags of white fabric, red grapes, large brandy snifters and white silk poinsettias centered with miniature white lights. The decorated tree rested atop a large pine tree-trunk sculpture carved with a Santa bear in it. The Thomases will enjoy “fire,” basking in the Hawaiian sun on the island of Molokai, and “ice” during a seven-day luxury cruise to Alaska. The tree was sponsored by Central Pre-Mix.

One could almost make salsa from the decorations on the “Southwest Fiesta” tree with its blown glass onion, tomato and pepper ornaments, and chili pepper lights. As winner of the tree, sponsored by Columbia Paint & Coatings, Bonnie Cameron won two round-trip tickets anywhere Southwest Airlines flies, along with spending money and luggage. Summer entertaining will be easy with wrought-iron furniture and southwest motif dishes and linens, which she also won.

In celebration of the Spokane Symphony’s 50th Anniversary, the “50 Golden Years” tree featured a musical theme: two large golden French horns topped the tree decorated with paper ribbons of music, papier mache music-covered balls, and gold wire bars of music set off by hundreds of tiny orange lights. Winner J.P. Shields received a trip for two to San Francisco with tickets to the San Francisco Symphony. A collection of CDs, tickets to area musical performances and a portable CD system came with the tree sponsored by Inland Eye Clinic.

Rosemary and Sam Selinger will sip fine wine on their trip to Paris and the Loire Valley as winners of the “Le Tour du Vin Magnifique!” tree sponsored by Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P. Decorated with golden white grapes, grapevine garlands, large golden balls and twigs shot with gold metallic thread, the tree emitted a quiet country elegance. Once home, the Selingers can share their new-found knowledge of wines with friends at a party for 20 at Arbor Crest.

Large, colored satin-finish balls were scattered among the branches of “Your Ticket to Relaxation” tree, setting off other gold-and-white decorations that glittered with the reflections of hundreds of white lights. After she returns from her trip to Southern California’s La Costa Spa and Resort, tree winner Yvonne Morin can relax in her own Jacuzzi. BDO Seidman, L.L.P. sponsored this tree.

“Summer Dream” with giant balls of red, white and blue stars and stripes, swags of braided beads in the Olympic colors, and clusters of large, colored satin balls promised summer fun for winner Jane Sims when she attends the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. For the rest of the summer, she can enjoy patio furniture and outdoor recreation equipment which were included with the tree sponsored by Thomasville Home Furnishings by Spears.

Remembered dreams surfaced at the “Oh, to Be a Child Again” tree, as oohs and ahs were heard from the mostly adult crowd. Red and white lights formed a background for the red berries and Teddy bears nested in the branches of the tree topped by a giant red-and-white gingham bow centered with a fabric angel. Along with a child’s dream-come-true playhouse with gingerbread trim, winner Wendy Jones received a $1,500 travel certificate and tickets to Disney World. The tree was sponsored by Boise-Cascade.

As purchaser of “Dinner for Eight with Fabio Mechetti,” Walker Collins and guests will dine with Aida and Fabio Mechetti at the home of Bruce and Jayne Walker. The meal will be prepared by chefs Fery Haghighi and Jerry Geier, who recently returned from cooking classes in France.

Colleen Meighan was high bidder for a pre-Christmas English High Tea for 16, hosted by Katherine Gellhorn and Bud Cox, at the home of Sen. John Moyer and his wife, Joanne.

A one-of-a-kind Santa, handmade by Louise Sterling and dressed in vintage clothes with collectible toys was purchased by Debbie Coleman.

Christmas Tree Elegance is staged each year by members of the Spokane Symphony Associates to raise funds for the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. A check from the event’s proceeds will be presented to the orchestra at the Symphony Associates’ annual meeting.

Judy Johnson served as chairwoman elect, with Sima Ganji and Loreen McFaul in charge of procurement.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Betsy Carosella The Spokesman-Review