Preparations underway for 2014 Festival of Trees

November 13, 2014

by Marcia Morman Director of Marketing and Communication Boundary Community Hospital When the first winter winds sweep down Clifty Mountain from the east, and down Roman Nose from the west, forming ghostly contorting figures of tiny pieces of ice and swirling white powdered snow, the inhabitants of Boundary County, wearing snug woolen hats pulled down over their ears and thick gloves encasing each finger, huddle inside of their heavy winter coats and dream of the Festival of Trees. The Festival of Trees? Really? Not warm sunny beaches with swaying palm trees? No, the warm sunny beaches and swaying palm trees are January and February yearnings. In November and December, the Festival of Trees sparks the imagination of the people of Boundary County. Memories of the past produce the scent of spices, pine boughs, and oranges intermingling with fresh baked cookies and a delicious dinner prepared and catered by Kootenai River Inn. In the hidden recesses of the mind, a vision is cast of Christmas trees ablaze with lights; each tree with its own theme and presents, of auctioned items that include tickets to professional and collegiate sports events, airfare to far away places, camping equipment, baskets with goodies that include night stays at resorts and hotels along with dinner at fancy restaurants, hand-crafted tables, wreaths laced with jewelry, professional artwork, golf passes, local scenic plane rides, and so much more. The memory of festivals past project the gentle greetings of friends not seen often enough, of the auctioneers in constant motion with exaggerated expression and movement. The sensitive ear of memory detects Christmas music played by The Four Saxes on their shiny brass saxophones. Later Jeanne Robinson on keyboard plays and sings favorite winter songs. For the past eighteen years, the Festival of Trees has been produced by the Fry Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors and friends of the organization. This year is no different. Many people are spending hours planning, organizing and preparing for the event which this year will be on Friday and Saturday, December 12 and 13. The Memorial Hall at the Fairgrounds is reserved. The entertainment is scheduled. The dinner is on its way. There are actually two events for the Festival of Trees. The first is Family Night where families come to view the trees, munch on decorated cookies, watch and listen as singers and entertainers perform, and to visit Santa with his long, white beard and big belly as he sits in his overstuffed chair listening to the boys and girls conspiratorially whispering their Christmas present requests. The doors open at 4 p.m. and close at 7 p.m. Admission price is $5 per family or a donation of canned goods for the Boundary County Ministerial Association's Christmas food baskets that are distributed throughout the county. The second event is Gala Night on Saturday, December 13. This is the night that funds are raised benefiting our local Boundary Community Hospital. This is the night of the silent and live auction, of fun games, music, friends, and dinner. Cost is $35.00. Last year, Fry Healthcare Foundation started a fund for the purchase of a 15-passenger, wheel-chair accessible van. This year's Festival of Trees will provide the remaining funding. Already sponsors of the Gala Night have donated cash towards the purchase of the van. The auctions, both silent and live, as well as the games, will increase the pot. Named for Dr. E.E. Fry who opened his office in Bonners Ferry in 1903, and four years later, opened and operated the first hospital in Boundary County, the Fry Healthcare Foundation incorporated under the State of Idaho as a 501(c)3 in 1994. This non-profit status allows Fry Healthcare Foundation to raise funds for continuous hospital improvements. In its twenty year history, the Fry Healthcare Foundation has purchased over one million dollars of equipment for Boundary Community Hospital. This benefits the entire community, increasing the medical treatment opportunities in our rural area. Sponsorships and donations for the silent and live auction are always welcome. The website, FryHealthcareFoundation.org, provides a way to purchase tickets and/or become a sponsor. The website is also a resource for more information about Family Night and Gala Night. Sponsorships and donations can also be made by calling Linda Hiatt, President of Fry Healthcare Foundation at 208-610-4175, or Marcia Morman, Director of Marketing and Communication at Boundary Community Hospital, at 208-267-6912.