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Festival of Trees raises $2,100 for charities

Judges and organizers of the 2016 Festival of Trees included, from left, Clinton County Commissioner Chair Pete Smeltz, Susan Daniels of the Dogwood Circle Garden Club, Lock Haven Mayor William E. Baney III, Festival Elf Lila Nestlerode, Judy Walker of the garden club, Festival Chair Gail Nestlerode of the Rotary Club of Downtown Lock Haven, and county commissioners Jeff Snyder and Paul Conklin.

LOCK HAVEN — Close to $2,100 was raised for local charities and worthy causes at the 2016 Festival of Trees.

Held at Covenant United Methodist Church, the festival is sponsored each year by the Rotary Club of Downtown Lock Haven.

Fifteen decorated trees were entered in this year’s event, as well as a variety of holiday wreaths and centerpieces. Members of the Dogwood Circle Garden Club also entered framed floral arrangements. All of these beautiful holiday decorations and trees were up for bid in a one-day silent auction.

Those who entered a tree or decoration named their favorite charities, and those organizations will receive the winning bid. The sponsoring Rotary club collected the funds and is in the process of disbursing it to all the organizations that will benefit.

The club also donated all the festival entry fees to Ross Library.

The Festival of Trees Elf, otherwise known as Lila Nestlerode, is seen with Mayor Baney, with the tree Baney chose for the Mayor’s Choice Award. The tree was sponsored by Swissdale United Methodist Church.

The festival was held on a Saturday in November this year, to align with other holiday fundraisers in the area.

Trees were set up the day before and judged for awards that evening. All names of tree sponsors and benefiting organizations were concealed until the judges had made their choices.

Festival Elf Lila Nestlerode chose a Shamrock-themed tree for the Elf’s Award, and it was revealed the tree was sponsored by Downtown Rotary to benefit Ross Library.

Lock Haven Mayor William E. Baney chose an angel-themed tree for the Mayor’s Award. Swissdale United Methodist Church entered the tree to benefit the church’s Camp Kids program.

Two judges from Dogwood Circle, Judy Walker and Susan Daniels, chose a tree decorated with dried flowers by Barb Schmouder (president of Downtown Rotary) as “Most Beautiful.” The winning bid on the tree goes to Ross Library.

All three Clinton County commissioners, Paul Conklin, chair Pete Smeltz, and Jeff Snyder, served as judges and chose a snowman-themed tree for the Commissioners Award. The tree benefited the Clinton County Life Center homeless shelter and was entered by Connie Eckholm. It also won The People’s Choice Award.

Everyone who visited the festival had the opportunity to cast money votes for their favorite tree, and the winner was declared The People’s Choice. The money votes for the individual trees go to the organization that particular tree benefits.

The festival was well attended, and both Olaf and the Piper Cub bear were on hand for most of the day.

The United Methodist Women of Covenant Church offered lunch during the event.

To find out how to enter the 2017 Festival of Trees, email Festival Chair Gail Nestlerode at festivaloftrees.lockhaven@gmail.com or call Wendy Stiver at 570-295-3443.

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