2011 Festival of Trees “An Overwhelming Success”

Thirteen Christmas trees lit up the old Bi-Mart location at Holiday Village Mall on December 2nd as a sell-out crowd gathered to celebrate the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line at the fourth annual Festival of Trees.
Over 250 people came out to enjoy catered food, lively music, and a friendly competition for silent auction items. The crowd applauded the Boys & Girls Club’s staff, board, and the organizers of the event, but saved their loudest cheers for the Champion of Youth awardees who went above and beyond in their giving in 2011.
Then they got down to business. The first live auction was Bidder’s Choice, and after some brisk auctioning Stu McIntosh emerged as the winner with a $2,300 bid. He chose the "Upside-Down Tree” decorated by members of First Presbyterian Church.
Other trees went for impressive prices as well. The "Wine Tree,” a wooden frame holding dozens of wine bottles, sold for $1100. The "Merry-ani Tree” was decorated by the Hi-Line Tavern Association and Holden’s Hot Wheels as a tribute to Marc Mariani, and went for $850.
Event chair Susan Somers called the evening "an overwhelming success,” and voiced deep appreciation for the many helping hands that made the event possible.
"It reminded me once again what a great community we have,” she said.