COMMUNITY NEWS

The Festival of Trees takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Betty Ehart Senior Center. The event will include free photos with Santa, a mini mall, bake sale, the silent auction of 80 items, the sale of poinsettias and more. The 2019 event is the 16th annual celebration of the fundraiser that benefits youth and senior citizen programs.

“Los Alamos Retired and Seniors Organization and Champions of Youth Ambitions have done this event for many years,” said Lauritzen, executive director of both organizations. “Pauline Powell Schneider and I started this event with five trees and it has grown by leaps and bounds at the hands of some pretty stellar volunteers.”

Those volunteers include; Kay Burick, Louise Hassman, Linda Hoffman, Linda Hull, several chapters of the Beta Sigma Phi, Cheryl Pongratz, Home Instead, Los Alamos Volunteer Association, RSVP members, and many more.

A small amount of vendor tables, are still available for those looking for a place to sell their wares. The fee is $25 for senior center members and $40 for non-members. Membership is free for those 60 and over and the centers offer a variety of activities, events and classes.

Those visiting the Festival of Trees can show receipts from local businesses of items purchased during the month of November for a chance to win a Chamber Check.

“If you happen to be at Morning Glory Bakery, Aspen Copies or Metzger’s, stop by and show us your receipt and we will give you one ticket for a chance to win,” Lauritzen said. “We also have our annual CommUNITY tree, where raffle tickets are $1 each for 6 tickets for $5.00.”

For more information call C’YA at (505)-695-9139 or the senior center at (505) 662-8920.