The Basket Lady

Holiday magic has been evident everywhere in the River Valley communities, and the anticipation of what wonders still lie ahead is, well, magical.

Basket Lady has never been more proud to be a volunteer on the Rumford Performing Arts Committee than this year, on the fourth anniversary of the Festival of Trees especially with only a handful of volunteers who reached out to the River Valley and asked individuals, businesses and groups for donations of their time, gifts for raffles, wonderful music and of course, seventeen beautifully decorated trees that filled the Rumford Falls Auditorium with a magical glow.

This year’s Festival of Trees was more than I had imagined and yes, it does take a River Valley Village of selfless folks to come together in support of our mission to bring affordable events to town as well as bring holiday joy to our precious children, families, and senior citizens so that they may “feel” the magic of love, generosity and kindness.

Four years ago, when the all-volunteer Rumford Performing Arts Committee met, we didn’t know what direction the performing arts would take…money does matter; but we had an ace in the hole, Burton deFrees, Mr. Brilliance of stage and all things artistic so, we merrily went about making plans to bring entertainment back to the hallowed stage of the Rumford Falls Auditorium.

It was the Rumford Performing Arts committee that asked for citizens to submit a name for the Rumford Town Auditorium as the auditorium had been nameless over the years and Brenda Espinoza, entered the winning name, the Rumford Falls Auditorium.

One evening after a meeting, Jolene Lovejoy struck up a conversation with me and Kim that really caught our interest when she began to describe her experience of going to the Shriner’s annual Fez-tival of Trees in Lewiston.

Immediately, a bell went ding, ding, in our heads and we knew right then that we had a theme for the holidays for the Rumford Performing Arts.

Obviously, the Rumford Performing Arts Committee is already planning and imagining what the possibilities can be for the fifth annual Festival of Trees and I can hardly wait to see what the tree sponsors will have in store for our community next year.

Enjoy your magical moments this holiday season. Be kind to one another.

We miss your kindness every day, Dot Sanchas! Until then, smile and live in the present.