5
Thursday, November 19, 2020
GO! magazine — A&E in Northeast Oregon
LA GRANDE SOROPTIMIST FESTIVAL OF TREES
Chris Baxter/
The Observer, FIle
Festival of Trees
Soroptimist
member Marilyn
Fallow, right, and
Linda Whittemore
examine one of
the decorated
Christmas trees
up for bid during
the 2007 Festival
of Trees’ gala and
live auction.
ONLINE AUCTION OFFERS
HOLIDAY SHOPPING & A PERSONAL DECORATOR
By Dick Mason
The Observer
Montana, conducted previously this year, Larsen-
Hill said. The La Grande chapter contracted with
Auctria, an online auction company, to create the
upcoming virtual event.
“This platform will be very interactive for our
bidders,” Rollins said. “As soon as you place your
bid it pops up, and when someone outbids you, you
immediately receive an email and a text message
so you can place a new bid anytime during that
week.”
Bidders must register for the online auction by
going to Charityauction.bid/FestivalofTrees2020 or
www.auctria.com/auction/FestivalofTrees2020.
Net profi ts will go toward the La Grande So-
roptimist EOU Scholarship and Live Your Dream
Awards for 2021. Past Soroptimist scholarship win-
ners will be featured in imbedded videos through-
out the online auction.
For more information call Rollins at 541-910-
5511 or Larsen-Hill at 541-963-5341 or send an
email to FestivalofTrees2020@gmail.com.
LA GRANDE — La Grande’s annual Festival of
Trees began in 1987, the same year 800,000 people
gathered at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fran-
cisco to celebrate the span’s 50th anniversary.
Such a gathering would be impossible today
during the COVID-19 pandemic, and so would a
traditional Festival of Trees event, which in the
past has regularly attracted close to 1,000 people.
Yet fans of the annual celebration can relax.
Soroptimist International of La Grande is moving
its fundraiser online for 2020.
There will not be in-person viewing of decorated
trees, a gala or live auction, but people will be able
to purchase Christmas baskets and other holiday
items to raise money for the charitable organiza-
tion, which supports women and girls of the com-
munity.
The online auction will run from Dec. 6 at 1 p.m.
to Dec. 12 at 5 p.m.
“We had to think outside the box
due to COVID-19. It is important
that we are sensitive to the restric-
tions and health of our community,”
Soroptimist member Shayla Rollins
said in a press release.
The Festival of Trees has raised
more than $600,000 for community
projects during its history, accord-
ing to Di Lyn Larsen-Hill, also with
the group. A high percentage of the
Hours:
• Christmas Items
funds have come from the auction
• Disposable
Tues - Sat.
of decorated Christmas trees at the
annual holiday festival.
Masks • Diapers
9:30 AM
White decorated trees will not be
• Toys • Misc.
to
sold at this year’s online auction,
the services of a tree decorator will
6:00 PM • Household Items
be. The tree decorator, a Soroptimist
Come see our
International member, will bring
ever changing
lights and ornaments to the home
Inventory
of the winning bidder and decorate
their Christmas tree.
Soroptimist International of
A Little of This & That
La Grande is modeling its online
2013
1st
Street • Baker City • 503-477-3398
auction after a successful one the
facebook.com/ALOTTBargains ALOTTBargains@outlook.com
Soroptimist chapter in Hamilton,
ALOTT Bargains
Dick Mason/
The Observer
People check out
the decorated
Christmas trees
up for auction at
the 2019 Festival
of Trees. Due to
the pandemic,
this year’s fund-
raising event will
be virtual.
Open Thanksgiving Day from 11 AM -5 PM
Take Out Orders Only:
541-856-3639
TURKEY, SMOKED BRISKET, HAM,
PRIME RIB, SHRIMP, MAC AND
CHEESE, AND ALL TRADITIONAL
SIDES AND DESSERT
Annual
Steakhouse
Thanksgiving
Dinner
OPEN
11:00 AM TO 5:00 PM
10 miles north of Baker City on Hwy 30 in Haines, Oregon
541-856-3639 • www.hainessteakhouse.com