CATS Festival of Trees sparkles

Kathy Ballard-Cowell, a professional photographer, will be taking souvenir photos for a $20 donation. This is an opportunity for couples to have a formal picture taken while dressed in their holiday finery. Groups attending together can also take advantage of this new offering.

Kathy came to the San Juan Islands from Los Angeles, where she was a staff photographer for the Los Angeles Times for ten years. You can see her work at local restaurants and galleries as well as in well known periodicals such as Sunset Magazine. For more information about her family and special event pictures, children's portraits and wildlife photography you can reach Kathy at: kathleenballardphotography.com or ballard@rockisland.com. For that special formal evening photo, join us at the Festival of Trees on December 3rd at 5:30 p.m..

A new and exciting addition to the Festival of Trees will be a donation from Steps Wine Bar and Café. Steps, a new and fabulous restaurant in Friday Harbor, opened last May. By using as much fresh local product as possible and changing the menu every day, Steps has proved to be a fun and delicious experience for both locals and visitors.

Madden Surbaugh, Steps chef and owner, has a degree in Culinary Arts and in Restaurant and Hotel Management from New England Culinary Institute. He has worked all over the East Coast at some of the countries' top restaurants. Originally from Olympia, Madden decided to come back to the Northwest to open his own restaurant. While searching for his current location, San Juan Islanders were treated to his cooking as Sous Chef at Duck Soup Inn.

Steps is a great addition to San Juan Island and to Festival of Trees. You could be the lucky couple when Steps donation goes up for bid December 3rd.

Less than 40 tickets remain for this special event. Call the Theatre Box Office, 378-3210 to reserve yours.

Festival of Trees tickets on sale now

posted 10/22/05
Don't miss a night of fabulous food and festivities at the San Juan Community Theatre. The 17th Annual Festival of Trees, "Sleigh Bells Ring" takes place at 5:30 p.m. December 3. Join your friends and neighbors for an evening of give and give. Your generosity gives our local theater the means to give you the best possible entertainment all year. Presented by CATS (Community Arts Theatre Society), the Festival of Trees raises tens of thousands of dollars each year for capital projects at the theater.

This year's Festival is shaping up to be another great event featuring a variety of unusual and exciting auction items, from trips to local art and services. Great entertainment by Ted Soares will once again delight the attendees. Fabulous hors d'oeuvres will be prepared by Roche Harbor Executive Chef Bill Shaw. Bill has generously devoted his time to the Festival of Trees in the past, to rave reviews. This is an encore worth tasting.

New this year is an auction booklet with pictures and descriptions of the live auction items as well as a silent auction items listing. Another reason to get your tickets early, so you can mark the items you don't want to miss. The booklets will be issued with your tickets at the box office after November 17, 2005.

Tickets are $50.00 and will sell out fast. Call 378-3210 for reservations now.

Festival of Trees sparkles

Photos and story by Sharon Kivisto

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Widget Webert, Becky Philips, Margaret Hall, Bill Ament, Denise Volkmann and Ruby Putnam danced to "42nd Street"

The same group plus Jude Hennen performed "Smile"

posted 12/06/04
The Festival of Trees live auction was interspersed with performances by talented actors, singers and dancers. The evening's entertainment began with a rendition of "Deck the Halls" followed by "Santa Baby", "It Must be Him" and "42nd Street." After the first half of the auction, which raised more then $16,000, the entertaiment continued with more song and dance. The grand finale was "Wonderful Time of the Year" The second half of the auction raised more than $32,000.

Ted Soares, Linda Blue, George Ilff, Trudy Louchs, Barbara Marrett, Bob Querry and Richard Wills performed a "Wonderful time of the Year" to wrap up the evenings entertainment.

Julie Greene, Janet Ludwig, Christy DeFillips and Jenny Wangoe danced to "Take It All Off"

They introduced Anita Welch who sang about being asked to "put it back on."

Shirley King performed "Santa Baby."

Bill Ament danced and clicked his way through "Smile."

Ted Soares was a hit with his version of the Vicki Carr classic " It Must be Him."

Shirley King and Brad Welch drew plenty of laughs with "Cocktails for Two".

Denise Volkmann and Margaret Hall danced to a "Chicago Medley."

Avery Adams, Warren Baehr, Wynn Barnard, Christy DeFilipps, Kate Fyrqvist, Lynda Guernsey, George Ilff, Truday Louchs, Barbara Marrett, Eric Nash, Bob Querry, Matt Strum, Denise Volkmann and Richard Wills opened the show with "Deck the Halls." (Not listed in order pictured)

The entire cast gathered for a final bow.

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