Holiday Spirit Apparent

At Tree Festival

By Nancy K. Crevier

The Newtown Youth & Family Services Holiday Tree Festival and Raffle added a touch of gaiety and color to the C.H. Booth Library meeting room Sunday, December 2. Artificial trees custom decorated by various local organizations, clubs, and individuals ranged from tiny tabletop versions whimsically bedecked with Pez candy dispensers or photos of the Boston Red Sox team, or sophisticated miniature trees flowing with ribbons and bows, to more elaborately festooned floor models.

From Entertainment News came the tabletop tree featuring Breathing Room, the new CD from former Newtowner Jenna Von Oy, and other “oy-some” decorations. The Drug Center put together a festive gift basket of delicious goodies, as did Bagel Delight, and from the local quilting group, The Sew Together Gals, a delicate tree skirt in soft shades of pink and yellow garnered plenty of attention. The Junior Women’s Club decorated a small tree with rich, red silk poinsettias and holiday bows for an elegant presentation.

Wall swags and wreaths, some made of freshly cut evergreens and others of long-lasting artificial greens, adorned the walls, each one featuring the personal touch of the artist by whom it was created, while fancy tabletop arrangements to suit any home décor made chance-takers do some serious considering before dropping his or her raffle ticket into the box.

And with visions of winning dancing in their heads, the happy festivalgoers continued on their ways to discover the other holiday events of the weekend.

Money from the raffle at The Tree Festival and Raffle supports the Newtown Youth & Family Services a licensed, nonprofit youth service bureau and mental health clinic for local children and families.