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NOVEMBER 6, 2010 -- The Canton Historical Society is preparing for its second annual Gallery of Trees next month, and Cawasa Grange is one of the many donors helping them reach their goal.
Marge Harmon, event co-organizer, said the preparations are well underway for the event, and the Canton branch of Union Savings Bank, along with other local businesses and organizations, has already chosen to become one the event’s first sponsors.
The event, which has been organized by what Harmon refers to as a “wonderful” committee, features pre-decorated trees on display in the museum, and anyone can bid on the trees through a teacup auction, which will run for about three weeks.
The trees are donated by local businesses and members of the community, and range in size from small tabletop trees to full-size trees.
“It’s any theme, as long as it’s in good taste, and artificial,” said Harmon.
The event kicks off with a boutique and gala on Saturday, Nov. 20. The trees will be debuted, and there will be refreshments, hors d’oeuvres and music available.
Tickets for the gala event are $20 per person. Proceeds from the gala and the tree auction will go toward renovations at the museum.
“This is a major fundraiser for our museum,” said Harmon. “We need to collect money so we can get grants, because most of the grants are matching.”
The museum is trying to raise a grand total of almost $1 million over time, in order to bring the building up to code and make improvements such as installing an elevator.
“We’re trying to do it where we won’t owe anything; we want to do it as we go along,” said Harmon.
Last year’s event featured 28 trees, and Harmon said this year’s event has already topped that number, though it has not quite reached her goal yet.
“I’d like to top 30 if I can”
Harmon is close to meeting her goal. So far this year, the museum has received a total of 29 donations from the following people and organizations: Union Savings Bank — Canton Branch, Collinsville Savings Society, Gallery 101 Main LLC, Bahre’s Wine & Spirits, Vincent Funeral Home, Realty Works LLC, La Trattoria Restaurant, AT&T — Canton Office, Norcom Mortgage and Insurance, Arthur R. Lowell Accounting, Competitive Edge Mixed Martial Arts, Trinity Episcopal Church, The Ladies Guild of St. Patrick’s Church, Cherry Brook Health Care Center, Bank of America — Canton Office, Joni’s Child Care & Preschool, Lola and Me, Canton Senior Center, Cawasa Grange, Cherry Brook Garden Club, Pamela Huntington, Debbie Evans, The Barlow Family, The Lockwood Family, Doris Drawec & Family, Curt and Laura Edgar, Pat Juhl, Charlene Whalen, and Gloria Woodwell.
The museum is still accepting donations of trees. For more information or to donate a tree, contact Harmon by phone at (860) 693-2012 or by e-mail at harmontravel@comcast.net. |
