‘Time To Try Something New’; Festival Of Trees Benefit To Be Replaced
After a successful 10-year run, organizers have decided that a Valley Christmastime tradition has run its course.
The annual Festival of Trees, a benefit for Valley Hospital and Medical Center, has raised approximately $500,000 during the past decade, according to Lisa Orton, special events coordinator for the sponsoring Deaconess and Valley Healthcare Foundation.
“It was a very successful event through the years, but all good things must end,” Orton said. “We were hearing from a lot of people who said they felt it was time to try something new. We’re responding to community sentiment.”
Orton said the foundation plans to develop another fund-raising event to take the place of the Festival of Trees. But the new event is likely to be held either in spring or summer rather than during the Christmas holidays, she said.
“We’re exploring a lot of possibilities,” Orton said. Among those possibilities are a golf tournament, a dinner theater and a Shakespearean festival, she said.
The Festival of Trees, the highlight of which was the diplay and auction of elaborately decorated Christmas trees, had grown from a two-day event in 1987 to a five-day event. Last year, in addition to the gala dinner and tree auction, the festival also included a children’s craft workshop and a luncheon fashion show.
“While the festival has served the hospital and the community well, the event has experienced a continuous decline in several areas, including net proceeds and the average cost of trees sold,” Valley Hospital Chief Executive Officer Michael Liepman said in a letter to festival supporters. “Additionally, this event has become labor intensive for staff and volunteers in proportion to the results realized.”
Said Barry Jones, president of Deaconess and Valley Healthcare Foundation, “We are confident that the new event, once chosen, will be both a positive activity for the Valley and another opportunity for people to help others in our community.”
Carnival of Safety coming up
The 12th annual Kids Carnival of Safety takes place Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of Valley Hospital and Medical Center.
The free carnival, which offers activities and exhibits presented by nearly 60 community agencies, is expected to attract thousands of kids and their parents.
Children learn about water safety, fire prevention, first aid, bicycle safety, and other safe-living skills. Popular attractions include a puppet show, a bicycle rodeo and such games as “musical safety belts” and “wheel of safety.”
Bicycle helmets will be given away randomly throughout the day to children attending this year’s carnival.
Last year’s Carnival of Safety was recently honored as the best safety program in the state run by a medium-sized hospital by the Washington State Healthcare Safety Council.
Iris sale today at U-City
The Town and Country Iris Society’s annual sale is today at University City Shopping Center.
About 1,000 iris plants will be offered for sale, all priced at $1 each, according to Barb Midkiff, club spokeswoman.
“These are all tall, bearded iris, but we won’t have any old-fashioneds,” Midkiff said.
“These are new varieties. We’ll have the pinks and peaches and royal blues, with fringe and ruffles. They’re gorgeous - the kind you might pay $35 for.”
The sale begins at 9:30 a.m. and will continue until the stock is completely sold out.
, DataTimes